Derzhavin's literary business card. Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin: short biography

Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin is the greatest Russian poet of the 18th century. Born in Kazan, in a family of small landowners. The future poet received a poor education, since he studied with the churchmen, a German convict in private school, after he entered the Kazan gymnasium, which he did not graduate from. Since 1762 Derzhavin entered the service and served for 10 years as a soldier in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment. At first, he lived in a barracks with "delivery" soldiers from the peasants and, on an equal basis with them, did the most dreary work. Together with the regiment, he participated in the coup that enthroned Catherine II.

The service was the most difficult period in Derzhavin's life. After the death of his father in an extremely strained financial situation, Derzhavin became addicted to the game of cards, became a notorious sharper, led a dissolute life, and committed a number of criminal offenses. Later, as an officer, Derzhavin, on his own initiative, took an active part in pacifying the Pugachev revolt as a member of the secret commission of inquiry... Derzhavin's activities during the Pugachev era are in many ways mysterious. He himself considered it a special merit that, being able to achieve "everything", no matter what he wanted, he did not betray Catherine. Despite this, he turned the higher authorities against himself: the commander-in-chief wanted to "hang Derzhavin together with Pugachev." Later, the future poet entered the civil service, reached high ranks: governor, secretary of Catherine II, senator, state treasurer, and finally, minister of justice. In 1803, due to the sharp opposition to the liberal tendencies of Alexander I, he was “dismissed from all affairs” and the last years of his life he lived in complete peace in St. Petersburg.

The activity of Derzhavin, who literally rose from the bottom to the Minister of Justice, was in fact a series of victories and defeats, ups and downs.

During the Pugachev revolt, Derzhavin was found "unworthy to continue military service," and his tenure as governor ended in resignation and being brought to justice. The next step in Derzhavin's career was the position of the tsarist secretary, but in this position he did not last long. The Empress complained about him that he was "not only rude in his reports, but also cursed."

The rulers who came after Catherine (Paul, and then Alexander), put him in disgrace "for an obscene answer" and for the fact that "he serves too zealously."

Contemporaries attributed Derzhavin's misadventures to his harsh, quarrelsome character ("he swears with the tsars and cannot get along with anyone"). Derzhavin himself believed that he was suffering for his unswerving adherence to "truth" always and in everything ("I thus became useless because I am hot and in truth the devil"). In fact, in the history of Derzhavin's official activities, the peculiarities of that social stratum of the poor service nobility, which in the era of palace coups, Pugachevism, and temporary workers with exceptional energy, moved to the front ranks of the class with exceptional energy, pushing back the nobility, becoming the main "support" of the illegal Catherine's throne, sharply affected. All official activities of Derzhavin are directed along the line of the struggle against the nobility, "tinsel tsars" (old nobility large-scale feudal lords) - a struggle in which he relies on temporary workers, "random" people (G. Potemkin, A. Zubov) and the empress herself. However, the temporary workers for Derzhavin were only more successful representatives of the social stratum to which he himself belonged. The Empress again owed all her autocratic power to the support of the noble "multitude" socially similar to Derzhavin. Hence the "Jacobin" pathos of independence, personal dignity, which, along with the need to "push in the front room" of the temporary workers, the willingness to zealously serve the empress and her "eagles" with his pen, is so characteristic of Derzhavin the courtier and Derzhavin the poet.

Derzhavin himself was inclined to look at his literary activity primarily as a weapon in the struggle that he waged, making his way from poverty and the lower classes to "honorary ranks", rising to the very foot of the throne. If you believe his own repeated statements, all of his poems, with the smallest exceptions, are of an unswervingly popit nature, all are written "on occasion", imbued with acute topicality. Fearing that they would become incomprehensible to the new reader, Derzhavin subsequently compiled a special "key", a detailed auto-commentary, in which he explained in detail what exactly served as the purpose or impetus for writing this or that thing. Regarding one of the most distant, it would seem, from any topicality of Derzhavin's ode, the famous religious ode “God,” one of the informed contemporaries noted: “There is no line, no expression in Derzhavin's humorous and important poems that he would have written without intention, without regard to persons or circumstances of the time.

Catherine and other persons for whom he mainly wrote, understood all this and knew how to appreciate ”. This remark acquires special weight if we turn to the dates of the biography: February 15, 1784 Derzhavin was dismissed by Prince Vyazemsky from service. "God" was published on April 23 of the same year. On May 22, Derzhavin receives an important appointment as governor of Olonets. Apparently, "God" was perceived by Catherine as a fiery hymn to the autocracy, and she, as always in such cases, hastened to generously reward her "own author" (the poet signed some of his letters - "her majesty's own author"). And in difficult circumstances Derzhavin constantly “resorts to his talent”. Derzhavin's service career begins with the famous ode "Felitsa" dedicated to the glorification of Catherine, who for the first time after her drew attention to Derzhavin and presented him with a snuffbox showered with diamonds and 500 ducats. After his resignation from the governorship, he corrects his position with a new ode to her, called "The Image of Felitsa", and "regains the favor" of Paul I with an ode to his accession to the throne, etc.

Derzhavin defined his odes as "trifles" that do not represent any value: "... all this is so, it does not have any important meaning for posterity around him: all this will soon be forgotten." However, it is the odes that occupy an important place in his work and go far beyond the official framework in which he placed them. Derzhavin's poetry is a monument of Russian literature and Catherine's Russia.

Gabriel Derzhavin is an outstanding Russian poet, playwright, prose writer and statesman... He was a real patriot of his homeland, which he often extolled in his works.

His work had big influence on further development Russian literature, which was recognized by all subsequent writers.

Biography of Derzhavin somewhat different from classical writers, and in some way resembles another great poet and diplomat -.

So, before you is the biography of Gabriel Derzhavin ().

Childhood and youth

Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin was born on July 3, 1743 in the village of Sokura, Kazan province. He grew up in a large family with a very modest income.

His father, Roman Nikolaevich, served as a second-major. He died at an early age, so Gabriel hardly remembered him.

In this regard, the mother, Fekla Andreevna, had to work hard to feed her children.

Education

The first educational institution in the biography of Derzhavin there was an Orenburg school, after which he continued to study at the Kazan gymnasium.

Gabriel began to take an interest in poetry from a young age. Most of all he liked the work of Trediakovsky and Sumarokov.

Remembering by heart many of the poems of these poets, he begins to compose poetry himself. And this immediately comes easily to him.

Army service

In 1762, Gabriel Derzhavin served as an ordinary guardsman in the Preobrazhensky regiment.

Derzhavin in his youth

It is interesting that in the future the regiment will take an active part in the coup, as a result of which it will come to power.

The army service did not bring the future poet any pleasure, since he did not have free time to write works.

In addition, Derzhavin became addicted to playing cards.

To outplay his rivals, he had to engage in cheating. It should be noted that because of this, he experienced serious remorse.

When, over time, he succeeds in leaving this heavy dependence, Derzhavin will thank God for this.

Second marriage

In 1794, a tragedy occurred in Derzhavin's biography. His wife Catherine died, with whom he lived for 19 years.

A year later, the poet married Daria Dyakova. He also had no children in this marriage. As a result, the married couple raised the children of a friend of their family - Peter Lazarev.

An interesting fact is that one of these children, Mikhail, in the future became a famous admiral, scientist, governor and discoverer of the Arctic.

Peak career

During his tenure on the throne of Paul 1, Derzhavin served as president of the Commerce Collegium and state treasurer.

When he became the next emperor, the poet found himself in the post of Minister of Justice. It is worth noting that both in the first and in the second case, he managed to perfectly cope with his duties.

In 1803 another important event took place in Derzhavin's biography. He decided to complete state activities and devote himself entirely to literature.

Derzhavin's creativity

Shortly before his resignation, Gabriel Derzhavin lived for a long time on the estate that belonged to his second wife. There he wrote over 60 poems and published the first volume of his works.

It is interesting that in addition to unusually deep and philosophical poems, Derzhavin wrote several plays.

It is important to note that he admired Derzhavin's work, who first met him at the lyceum exam. Then Gabriel Romanovich was among the members of the commission.

The still young Pushkin made an excellent impression on him. Derzhavin even wanted to hug the unusually gifted applicant, but he hastily left the room where the exam was being held, as he could not hold back his tears.

Death

Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin died on July 20, 1816 at the age of 73. He was buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral.

If you liked the biography of Derzhavin - share it in social networks... If you generally like the biographies of great people, subscribe to the site website... It's always interesting with us!

Did you like the post? Press any button.

    Derzhavin, Gavriil Romanovich is a famous poet. Born on July 3, 1743 in Kazan, in a family of small landowners. His father, an army officer, lived now in Yaransk, now in Stavropol, and finally in Orenburg. Derzhavin's parents did not have education, but ... ... Biographical Dictionary

    - - a famous poet, statesman and public figure of the second half of the last and first quarter of the present century (b. July 3, 1743, d. July 8, 1816). His ancestor, the Tatar murza Bagrim, in the 15th century, during the reign of Vasily ... ... Big biographical encyclopedia

    Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich - Gavriil Romanovich (07/03/1743, Kazan (according to other sources, the village of Karmachi or Sokura near Kazan) 07/08/1816, the village of Zvanka, Novgorod district and provinces), poet, state. activist. From the small noble family of the Tatars. origin. In 1759 1762. studied at… … Orthodox encyclopedia

    Derzhavin, Gavriil Romanovich - See also (1743 1716). At a public examination at the Lyceum (1814), young Pushkin, in the presence of Derzhavin, read his Memoirs in Tsarskoe Selo. The poet preserved the memory of this first performance in the literary field (Epistle Zhuk., 1816, ... ... Dictionary of literary types

    Famous poet; genus. July 3, 1743 in Kazan; by origin he belonged to the small landed nobles. His father, an army officer, almost after the birth of the child had to move further east on business and lived either in Yaransk or in ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary F. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

    Derzhavin, Gavriil Romanovich - (1743 1816) began his poetic activity with odes, in which he tried to imitate Lomonosov. However, starting with Felitsa, an ode in honor of Catherine II, the solemn tone of Lomonosov's lyrics gradually gives way to a more lively real place in Derzhavin ... Historical reference book of the Russian Marxist

    Derzhavin, Gavriil Romanovich - See also (1743 1816). The first book that Goncharov came across outside the classroom was D.'s works, which he copied and learned by heart (Autobiography) ... Dictionary of literary types

    Gavriil Derzhavin Portrait of Borovikovsky's work Date of birth: 3 (14) July 1743 Place of birth: Kazan, Russian Empire Date of death: 8 (20) July 1816 Place of death: Zvanka estate ... Wikipedia

    Gavriil Derzhavin Portrait of Borovikovsky's work Date of birth: 3 (14) July 1743 Place of birth: Kazan, Russian Empire Date of death: 8 (20) July 1816 Place of death: Zvanka estate ... Wikipedia

Books

  • Crimea in Russian poetry and art. Anthology, Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich, Annensky Innokenty Fedorovich, Benediktov Vladimir Grigorievich. Crimea - "Mecca" of Russian poetry and Russian painting - is presented for the first time in an anthology from the first Derzhavin ode of 1783 about the peaceful annexation of Crimea and the first paintings "by the artist Serene ...
  • Lyro-epic anthem for driving the French out of the fatherland, Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich. IN…

G.R. Derzhavin is one of the famous Russian poets, as well as a prominent political figure of his time.

Gabriel was born in 1743 in the Kazan province. His father, a nobleman and a major, passed away early, so Derzhavin was brought up only by his mother.

The beginning of his education is passable at home, then he begins to study at a German boarding school, after which he enters the Kazan gymnasium. Upon completion, he is sent to serve in the army. He began his service in the Preobrazhensky regiment, in 1762 he took part in a coup d'état.

Gabriel began his writing career in the 70s; his poems were first published in 1773. In the literary sphere, he is the founder of a new direction - philosophical lyrics.

After some time, Derzhavin decides to leave military service in the civilian. He worked for a short time in the Senate, then, on behalf of the empress, became the governor of Olonetsk, and then - Tambov. Derzhavin fought against the bureaucracy, tried to defend the interests of the common people, which is why the officials did not like it and often changed jobs. At 60, he decides to retire and devote his life to creativity. He becomes an honorary member of literary communities and an active poet of the time.

In 1816 G.R. Derzhavin dies.

Detailed biography

The fate of Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin is amazing: from an ordinary ordinary soldier, he climbed the career ladder to minister Russian Empire... He served as governor of two regions and was a personal adviser to Catherine II.

Born in 1743 near Kazan in the family of a poor nobleman, Gabriel could not dream of a brilliant education. His father passed away early, the boy grew up in the village of Sokura in the family estate.

As a sixteen-year-old boy, Derzhavin enters the Kazan gymnasium, the world of poetry of Lomonosov, Sumarokov opens up before him, he tries to start writing poetry.

In 1762 Derzhavin entered the Preobrazhensky regiment as a private guardsman. He received his first officer rank of ensign after 10 years of service. Since 1773, for two years, Gavriil Romanovich participated in military operations against the uprising of E. Pugachev. Being engaged in office work at the headquarters, he had the opportunity to touch the primary sources of events of that time, so his notes became an invaluable contribution to the study of the history and course of events of the peasant war. In the same period, Derzhavin's first poetic works appeared in the world.

Having retired in 1777, Gavriil Romanovich went to work as State Counselor of the Government Senate. A year later, he married sixteen-year-old Catherine Batidon, with whom he had been married for 17 years, until the sudden death of his wife.

Since 1784, for one and a half years, Gavriil Romanovich held the post of governor in the Olonets province. During his short reign, he made a great contribution to the development of the province: the first city hospital was built and opened, a system of city judicial, financial and administrative institutions was introduced. The period of his life is reflected in the works of the poet "Tempest", "Waterfall", "Swan".

From 1786, for another two years, Derzhavin held the post of governor of the Tambov province, where, on his initiative, a printing house, a theater, and educational institutions were opened.

The active life position of the poet helped in moving up the career ladder. Since 1791, Gavriil Romanovich has served as the empress's cabinet secretary, two years later he becomes her secret adviser, two years later he is appointed president of the Commerce Board by Catherine II, and from 1802, upon his retirement, he becomes minister of justice. All these years the poet did not stop creating. In 1791 he wrote the first anthem of Russia. During Derzhavin's lifetime, a four-volume edition of his works was published.

After graduation public service Derzhavin moved with his second wife Daria to his estate Zvanka in the Novgorod province. The family had no children, and since 1800 they took the children of the deceased friend of the poet P. Lazarev to raise the children. One of the sons Michael would later become the discoverer of Antarctica.

The remaining period of his life Derzhavin devoted to literature, he founded the literary circle "Conversations of lovers of the Russian word." The great writer died in 1816.

Option 3

Gabriel Derzhavin - great literary figure, Russian politician

Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin was born on July 14, 1743 to a family of an insolvent noble family. His ancestors were the Tatars who left the Horde lands in the 14th century. As a result, they served the Russian princes. His father died as a child. The mother could not pull the family out of the difficult financial situation. The boy was brought up by priests who taught him to count and write. At the age of 7, he becomes a student of the Orenburg boarding school. Gabriel's academic performance was satisfactory. But he had no equal in knowledge foreign languages... He spoke German especially well. As a result, the family moved to Kazan, where Derzhavin entered the local gymnasium.

The moment of studying at the gymnasium is a turning point in the life of the future poet. It was there that he became addicted to literature. He read the works of Lomonosov, Sumarokov and Trediakovsky. In addition, he liked art... The first attempts at writing were unsuccessful for him. As a result, he was called up to serve in the Preobrazhensky regiment. The army years were painful for Gabriel. A palace coup, in which Derzhavin had to participate, was added to the permanent teachings. It was under him that Catherine II ascended the Russian throne. Time for literature and their own creativity was sorely lacking. Nevertheless, the young man found minutes to compose his own poems. In parallel with this, he is fond of gambling, for which he was stripped of his rank and expelled from the regiment.

Derzhavin decides to start new life and in 1770 he went to the capital. Subsequently, he was sent to suppress the uprising of Yemelyan Pugachev. During this time he wrote the ode "Felitsa" and the poems "Waterfall", "God" and "The Vision of Murza". After defeating the dissidents, Gabriel took up the post of collegiate counselor. Because of his straightforwardness, the Empress transferred him to the Senate. He had a whole sea of \u200b\u200benemies who hated him for his freethinking. He denounced every official and minister. As a result, he was exiled to the Olonets and Tambov governorships. There, the writer is engaged in leadership and management. During his stay, theaters, schools, orphanages and hospitals were built in these territories. For his merits, he was returned back to the capital. By the end of his life, he was already working in the Ministry of Justice. Derzhavin's first wife, with whom he lived for 18 years, died happily. After her death, he marries Daria Dyakova. 1803 Gabriel buys an estate near Novgorod and leaves there with his family, where he devotes time to his hobbies.

In 1815, Gabriel attended the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where he acted as an examiner. There he met Alexander Pushkin, for whom Derzhavin was a real idol. It was on the model of his verse "Monument" that the great figure of Russian literature wrote his work, which became a reference. On July 20, 1816, Gabriel Derzhavin died on his own estate for an unknown reason.

Grade 7, Grade 9.

Biography by dates and interesting Facts... The most important thing.

Other biographies:

  • Platonov Andrey Platonovich

    Andrey Platonov is a famous playwright, writer, poet and publicist familiar to Russian readers with his interesting stories and publications. Movies based on his stories were shot

  • James Cook

    James Cook is an outstanding English navigator and discoverer who made 3 voyages around the world.

  • Gabdulla Tukay

    Gabudalla Tukay is a Soviet, Tatar folk writer. He is considered the founder of modern tatar language... He made a huge contribution to the development of Tatar literature. For his short life he was able to change many writers, including Russians.

  • Alexander Fedorovich Kerensky

    Kerensky was born not in the richest family, but not in a very poor one, in 1881, in May, in the city of Simbirsk. In addition, Lenin was also born in this city. Alexander's parents were good friends with Lenin's parents.

  • Victor Golyavkin

    Viktor Golyakin is a man who possessed many unique skills, a man who succeeded in many fields of art, made a huge contribution to the development of the infrastructure of his country, a contribution to the development of painting

Date of birth: July 14, 1743
Died: July 20, 1816
Place of birth: Sokury village, Kazan province

Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich - an outstanding Russian poet and politician, Derzhavin G.R. - was born on the third of July 1743. His work embodies the peak of Russian classicism. During his lifetime, he managed to visit the governor of the Tambov province, the ruler of the Olonets governorate, personal secretary under Catherine II, the minister of justice, the president of the Commerce Collegium and an honorary member Of the Russian Academy (since its foundation).

Gabriel was born in a small village in the Kazan province. His father, Roman, was not a very wealthy nobleman and had honorary title major. According to family legends, the Derzhavins clan stretched from the Tatar Murza Bagrim. He left the Golden Horde in the 15th century and went into the service of the prince (in the reign of Vasily the Dark). Prince Murza was baptized and named Ilya. One of Ilya's sons was named Dmitry, and that, in turn, had a son Derzhava. This is how the Derzhavin family came about. Gabriel lost his father at an early age. He was raised by his mother, Thekla.

Derzhavin initially studied reading and writing at home. The clergy taught him. At the age of seven, living in Orenburg, the father gives his son to the boarding house of the German Rose, which was not particularly famous good education or culture. Nevertheless, after four years there, Derzhavin began to speak German satisfactorily. A little later, Gabriel studied at the Kazan gymnasium (in 1759-1762). Then he goes to serve.

Since 1762, he has learned the full burden of military service. Derzhavin began with the Preobrazhensky regiment. He was lucky in terms of participation in the most important historical events, but unlucky as a young warrior. From the very beginning of the service, one has to participate in the most important event - a coup d'état. The result was the accession to the throne of Catherine II. Ten years later, he was elevated to the rank of officer, and again he had to immediately take an active part in pacifying the Pugachev uprising.

Gabriel published his first poems in 1773 (at that time he was already thirty years old). In his works he tries to inherit Sumarkov and Lomonosov, but since 1779 he understands that it is worth working out his own way of writing. He became the founder of a new, original poetic style, which over the years turns into an example of Russian philosophical lyrics. In 1778 he married E. Ya. Bastidon, whom he calls Plenira at home.

An excessive vanity lived in Derzhavin's soul, which made him constantly convinced that the empress underestimated him as a military man. It is for this reason that Gabriel leaves the military post and completely surrenders to the civilian service.

The beginning of his service was in the Senate, in which he could not get a job due to an increased desire for truth.

In 1782, he wrote the well-known "Ode to Felitsa", in which, under a light veil, there was an appeal directly to the empress. In turn, Catherine II liked his work, and she appointed Derzhavin governor of Olonets, and after a while - governor of Tambov.

It should be noted that Derzhavin in every possible way fought against the bureaucracy, defended the interests of the local people, and also made every effort to turn these lands into one of the most enlightened in Russia.

Unfortunately, the politician's energy, directness and sense of heightened justice often played a cruel joke on him. He was disliked by the higher nobles, and often positions in the public service changed.

In 1791-1793. - becomes a personal cabinet-secretary under the empress Catherine II herself, however, even here he could not get along with her policy, which is why he was immediately removed. In the summer of 1794, his wife died, and a year later he married DA Dyakova, whom he preferred to call Milena in his family circle.

In 1802-1803. - Minister of Justice, but at the age of sixty (1803) decides to retire.

When Derzhavin retired from state affairs, he completely devoted himself to creativity. He was also hospitable to various writers of St. Petersburg. A little later, he decided to settle in St. Petersburg, but at the same time he visits the estate of Zvanka in the Novgorod province. In 1811 he became an honorary member of the literary community "Conversation of lovers of the Russian word." One of the most active poets in the local environment.

Derzhavin died in July 1816 in the village of Zvanka. He was buried next to his second wife Daria in the Transfiguration Cathedral (Varlaamo-Khutynsky monastery), located not far from Veliky Novgorod.

During the Great Patriotic War, this monastery was subjected to serious artillery fire. In 1959, a decision was made to reburial Derzhavin and his wife in Novgorod Detinets. When the restoration of the cathedral was completed in 1993, their remains were returned again for the jubilee (250th anniversary of Derzhavin).

Achievements of Gabriel Derzhavin:

The work of Gabriel Derzhavin became a wonderful basis for the poetry of Pushkin, Batyushkov and the Decembrist poets.
He is the founder of Russian classicism.

Dates from the biography of Gabriel Derzhavin:

1743 - birth.
1759-1762 - Kazan gymnasium.
1762 - served in the Preobrazhensky regiment.
1772 - receives an officer's rank.
1778 - Marries Catherine Bastidon.
1782 - "Ode to Felitsa", dedicated to Catherine II.
1784 - the ode to the philosophical bias "God" is published.
1784-1785 - Olonets governor.
1786-1788 - Governor of the Tambov province.
1788 - writes "Autumn during the siege of Ochakov".
1791 - the unofficial anthem of Russia comes out from the pen of Derzhavin: "Thunder of victory, resound!"
1791-1793 - Cabinet secretary under Catherine II.
1791-1794 - writes "Waterfall"
1794 - headed the Commerce Collegium. Death of the first wife. Poems "Grandee".
1795 - second wife, Daria Dyakova.
1799 - another philosophical ode "To the death of Prince Meshchersky".
1800 - the poem "Bullfinch", which was written in memory of the deceased Suvorov.
1802-1803 - Minister of Justice.
1803 - retires.
1811 - enters lit. Society "Conversation of lovers of the Russian word."
181101815 - is working on "Discourse on Lyric Poetry or Ode" (treatise).
1816 - death.

Interesting facts about Gabriel Derzhavin:

Derzhavin was a connoisseur of eroticism. He loved to write erotic prose. An example is the Aristippa Bath. He gave it a special softness, excluding, if possible, the hard letter "r". He was pleased when such works were read in front of the ladies in his presence.
The image of Derzhavin is immortalized in numerous monuments: St. Petersburg, Kazan, Tambov, Petrozavodsk. Derzhavinskaya street is located in Tambov, local state University also bears his name, and even a crater on the planet Mercury was named after him.
During his life, Derzhavin managed to learn both need and wealth. The story tells that once, left with the last 50 rubles in his pocket, Gabriel decided to play cards, although he had never played before. At the end of the evening, Derzhavin leaves with 8,000 rubles. Later, he even won in a short time 40,000, which he spent on urgent debts. However, like any wise person, he stopped in time.
In 1815, the entire Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum was awaiting the arrival of the famous Derzhavin. Everyone was dumbfounded when the first thing an important guest asked was where their outhouse was.