Iwan A. Gontscharow

Ivan Alexandrovich Goncharov (1812–1891) was a Russian writer of the 19th century. Born in Simbirsk to a merchant family, he spent many years in government service in Saint Petersburg, working among other roles as a civil servant and censor. His major works include the novels *A Common Story* (1847), *Oblomov* (1859), and *The Precipice* (1869). From 1852 to 1855, Goncharov accompanied Admiral Putyatin as secretary on a sea voyage that took him to places including England, Africa, and Japan. He later described his experiences in *The Frigate Pallada*. The character of Oblomov became one of the best-known figures in Russian literature.