Nadson's father was a Jew who converted to Greek Orthodoxy, and was a civil servant in St.

[2] His mother, Antonina Stepanovna Mamontova, was the offspring of an old noble Russian Orthodox family, the Mamontovs.

Despite publishing only one book of poems, Nadson enjoyed significant success, although he was underrated by critics for long time.

[5] Nadson's works, which focused on decay, depression, sickness, and death resonated with their sympathizers and students with antimonarchistic convictions.

[6] He was considered Russia's most popular poet in the three decades that preceded the Russian Revolution and was the first Jew to have achieved such national renown.