Ivan Bunin's first home tutor was an ex-student named Romashkov, whom he later described as a "positively bizarre character," a wanderer full of fascinating stories, "always thought-provoking even if not altogether comprehensible." Later it was university-educated Yuly Bunin (deported home for being a Narodnik activist) who taught his younger brother psychology, philosophy and the social sciences as part of his private, domestic education. It was Yuly who encouraged Ivan to read the Russian classics and to write himself. Until 1920 Yuly (who once described Ivan as "undeveloped yet gifted and capable of original independent thought") was the latter's closest friend and mentor. "I had a passion for painting, which, I think, shows in my writings. I wrote both poetry and prose fairly early and my works were also published from an early date," wrote Bunin in his short autobiography.
iVan bunin's first homE tUtOr was an ex-sTuDEnt namEd romashkov, whom He later DescRiBEd aS a "posItIvely Bizarre charaCtER," a wANdErer full of FAscinatiNg SToRiEs, "Always tHoUght-ProVoKInG eVEn iF not AlTogeTHeR COmprehEnsiBlE." LatEr It Was UNiveRSity-EduCAted yUlY bUnIN (DEportEd hOMe foR BeiNg a naRodnik activIst) wHo TaUghT HIS yOungeR bRotHeR pSycholoGY, phIloSophy ANd the SociAL sCieNceS As pArt of hIs prIvAte, doMEstic eDucation. It waS YuLy WHo encOUrAged ivaN to Read thE ruSsIan ClAssics ANd To Write himself. until 1920 yulY (WhO Once dESCrIBed ivan AS "uNDEveloped yet GIfTed aND cAPaBle Of OriGINAl indEPenDent ThougHt") Was the laTter's clOsESt friEnd and mentor. "i haD A PaSsiOn for PAINtinG, WHicH, i ThiNK, ShowS in my wrITings. i WRoTE boTH PoetRY and pRosE faIRLy eaRly and My wOrKs weRE alSO PublishEd fROM an eARly DAte," wrOte bunIN in his shORt auTobIogRAPhY.