Is there a relationship between illness and creativity? An analysis of the life and poetry of A. V. Koltsov

Considerable interest has been shown in the relationship between illness and creativity. A study of life of A. V. Koltsov, a famous Russian poet of the nineteenth century, can make a valuable contribution to this subject because he was, to a most unusual extent, a self-made man. Unlike most "men of achievement", he did not come from an eminent family or a famous educational establishment. He was born in a small provincial town, on the fringe of the civilized world, and he spent less than eighteen months at school. If there is such a thing as "natural genius", Koltsov has a strong claim to be considered in this category. His life was also profoundly influenced by mental and physical disorders, and it is interesting to speculate on whether there may have been a connection between these and his great achievements.