Born in Moscow into a landowning family, Alexandr Pushkin is often said to have created the language of modern Russian poetry. Despite his aristocratic origins Pushkin came into conflict with the authorities for his unorthodox liberal views and was banished from St Petersburg for writing verse critical of Tsar Nicholas I. When the Decembrists - many of whom were close personal friends - staged their unsuccessful revolt in 1825, Pushkin, perhaps fortunately, was languishing on his mother's country estate. The poet was finally able to return to Moscow the following year, and produced a steady body of work in a number of genre and styles - his masterwork though is Eugene Onegin, his novel in verse. He met his death fighting a duel with a Frenchmen who was, apparently, pursuing the affections of Pushkin's wife.