To My Friends

poem by Pushkin

Also known as: “Druzyam”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

"To My Friends" is a poem by Aleksandr Pushkin, written in 1828. It reflects his feelings of spiritual isolation and his justification of his political stance to his friends. The poem is part of a cycle that addresses the poet's complex relationship with society and authority during a period of personal and political difficulty for Pushkin.1

Aleksandr Pushkin (1799-1837) is widely regarded as Russia's greatest poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. His work, known for its simplicity, profundity, and mastery of language, significantly influenced subsequent Russian writers. Pushkin's poetry and prose explored themes of history, society, individual freedom, and the human condition, often with a blend of irony, playfulness, and deep philosophical insight.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Aleksandr Pushkin
Return from exile of Aleksandr Pushkin
…him of apostasy, forcing him to justify his political position in the poem “Druzyam” (1828; “To My Friends”). The anguish of his spiritual isolation at this time is reflected in a cycle of poems about the poet and the mob (1827–30) and in the unfinished Yegipetskiye nochi (1835; Egyptian Nights).
Read More
…him of apostasy, forcing him to justify his political position in the poem “Druzyam” (1828; “To My Friends”). The anguish of his spiritual isolation at this time is reflected in a cycle of poems about the poet and the mob (1827–30) and in the unfinished Yegipetskiye nochi (1835; Egyptian Nights).
Read More