Pushkin's works are celebrated for their elegance, emotional depth, and mastery of the Russian language. His first major poem, "Ruslan and Lyudmila" (1820), established his reputation. His masterpiece, the verse novel "Eugene Onegin" (1823–1831), is considered a classic of world literature and introduced the concept of the "superfluous man" to Russian fiction.
Other significant works include the historical drama "Boris Godunov," the narrative poem "The Bronze Horseman," the short story "The Queen of Spades," and the novel "The Captain's Daughter." His fairy tales, such as "The Tale of Tsar Saltan," remain beloved classics.
Pushkin's life was marked by political exile and personal turmoil. In 1837, he died at the age of 37 from wounds sustained in a duel defending his wife's honor. His legacy profoundly shaped Russian literature, influencing generations of writers including Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov.