Alexander Izmaylov (critic)
Alexander Alekseyevich Izmaylov was a Russian literary critic, writer, poet and parodist.
A Saint Petersburg Theological Academy alumnus, Izmaylov was a versatile author, whose poems, short stories and a 1902 autobiographical novel V burse, all concerning Russia's religious life, earned him critical respect. What proved to be more important in retrospect, though, was his work as literary critic. An insightful and stylish author, shying faction feuds and working upon the purely aesthetical set of criteria, Izmaylov developed and mastered his own peculiar genre of impressionist critical etude. He published several acclaimed essay collections, as well as Anton Chekhov's biography.
Izmaylov's popular set of poetic parodies came out in 1908 as Krivoye zerkalo.
