49. a) Work in pairs. There are two texts about A. S. Griboedov, the famous Russian diplomat (Text Two is in Ex. 57 on p. 104-105). 1) Read a text each 2) then ask questions to get more information. Text One. AN OUTSTANDING RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov, the famous Russian diplomat and writer, was a many-sided personality. He got profound knowledge in various spheres, learned several foreign languages, became a talented writer and able musician and an outstanding diplomat with instincts of a real politician. He was born on the 4th of January, but the year of his birth is not exact- ly known. Some historians say he was born in 1790. others believe that hap- pened in 1795. Little is also known about his years of education. Information about the diplomat is very uncertain. Some biographers think that Griboedow graduated from three departments of Moscow University but there are no offi cial papers to prove that point of view. After the war of 1812 Griboedov lived in Belorussia where he got interest ed in the theatre and began writing literary pieces. In 1815 he translated the comedy A Young Couple" from French into Russian. The play was staged and had a certain success. In 1823-24 he wrote his immortal comedy "Wbe from Wit" (Gorye ot Uma). In 1825 Griboedov had his second trip to the Caucasus At that time he felt like writing a tragedy based on the facts of Georgian history and even began doing it living in Tiflis (now Tbilisi). In 1828 he got married. His wife Georgian Princess Nina Chavchavadze was the daughter of Griboedov's old friend, the poet Alexander Chavchavadze Your partner has more facts about A. S. Griboedov. Find out about: ■the reasons why he didn't get PhD; ■his activities during the war of 1812; ■his occupation in 1816; 日 ■the reasons for his leaving St. Petersburg. ■the beginning of his career as a diplomat, ■his arrest in 1826; ■his work as a diplomat in Persia, ■his death: ■the place where he is buried. b) Say what new facts you have learned about A. S. Griboedov from the text and the discus- sion with your partner. Do you find anything striking in Griboedov's life and career?