poet Gavril Derzhavin combined his writing with a military career, followed by appoint
During the early nineteenth century, as the market for books and painting grew, it became
During the early nineteenth century, as the market for books and painting grew, it became
During the early nineteenth century, as the market for books and painting grew, it became
23
24
‘intelligent’
Only two of the great nineteenth-century Russian writers (Gonch-arov and Saltykov-Shchedri
Only two of the great nineteenth-century Russian writers (Gonch-arov and Saltykov-Shchedri
Only two of the great nineteenth-century Russian writers (Gonch-arov and Saltykov-Shchedri
25
Unwilling to conform to their fathers’ rules and bored by the
Unwilling to conform to their fathers’ rules and bored by the
Unwilling to conform to their fathers’ rules and bored by the
routines of the civil service, the young men of Pushkin’s generation sought release in p
routines of the civil service, the young men of Pushkin’s generation sought release in p
routines of the civil service, the young men of Pushkin’s generation sought release in p
Tales of Belkin
26
27
28
The young men of the Decembrist circles spent much time in revelry. Some, like the seriou
The young men of the Decembrist circles spent much time in revelry. Some, like the seriou
The young men of the Decembrist circles spent much time in revelry. Some, like the seriou
29
Friendship was the saving grace of these wild orgies, according to Pushkin:
Friendship was the saving grace of these wild orgies, according to Pushkin:
Friendship was the saving grace of these wild orgies, according to Pushkin:
For one can live in friendship
For one can live in friendship
For one can live in friendship
With verses and with cards, with Plato and with wine, And hide beneath the gentle cover of o
With verses and with cards, with Plato and with wine, And hide beneath the gentle cover of o
With verses and with cards, with Plato and with wine, And hide beneath the gentle cover of o
30
Volkonsky said the same of his fellow officers. They happily transgressed the public code
Volkonsky said the same of his fellow officers. They happily transgressed the public code
Volkonsky said the same of his fellow officers. They happily transgressed the public code
31
War and Peace
felt for the first time how close was the bond that united him to Denisov and the whole regi
felt for the first time how close was the bond that united him to Denisov and the whole regi
felt for the first time how close was the bond that united him to Denisov and the whole regi
32
Through such bonds young officers began to break away from the rigid hierarchies of the ser
Through such bonds young officers began to break away from the rigid hierarchies of the ser
Through such bonds young officers began to break away from the rigid hierarchies of the ser
This outlook was shared by all the cultural figures in the orbit of the Decembrists: not j
This outlook was shared by all the cultural figures in the orbit of the Decembrists: not j
This outlook was shared by all the cultural figures in the orbit of the Decembrists: not j
Some monumentalized the peasants’ daily toil; they raised it to the status of patriotic
Some monumentalized the peasants’ daily toil; they raised it to the status of patriotic
Some monumentalized the peasants’ daily toil; they raised it to the status of patriotic
33
Pushkin holds a special place in that enterprise. He was too young - just thirteen in 1812
Pushkin holds a special place in that enterprise. He was too young - just thirteen in 1812
Pushkin holds a special place in that enterprise. He was too young - just thirteen in 1812
lycee
You’ll recollect: the wars soon swept us by, We bade farewell to all our elder brothers, And
You’ll recollect: the wars soon swept us by, We bade farewell to all our elder brothers, And
You’ll recollect: the wars soon swept us by, We bade farewell to all our elder brothers, And
34
Though Pushkin, unlike them, had never been to Europe, he breathed the European air. As a
Though Pushkin, unlike them, had never been to Europe, he breathed the European air. As a
Though Pushkin, unlike them, had never been to Europe, he breathed the European air. As a
lycee
lycees
lycee.
My friends, our union is wondrous! Like a soul, it will last for eternity -Undivided, spon
My friends, our union is wondrous! Like a soul, it will last for eternity -Undivided, spon
My friends, our union is wondrous! Like a soul, it will last for eternity -Undivided, spon
We are still the same: the world to us an alien thing, And Tsarskoe Selo our Fatherland.35
We are still the same: the world to us an alien thing, And Tsarskoe Selo our Fatherland.35
We are still the same: the world to us an alien thing, And Tsarskoe Selo our Fatherland.35
35
Yet, for all his Western inclinations, Pushkin was a poet with a Russian voice. Neglecte
Yet, for all his Western inclinations, Pushkin was a poet with a Russian voice. Neglecte
Yet, for all his Western inclinations, Pushkin was a poet with a Russian voice. Neglecte
36
He felt this obligation as a writer, too, and looked to shape a written language that cou
He felt this obligation as a writer, too, and looked to shape a written language that cou
He felt this obligation as a writer, too, and looked to shape a written language that cou
37
38
39
Volkonsky returned to Russia in 1815 and took up the command of the Azov regiment in the Ukr
Volkonsky returned to Russia in 1815 and took up the command of the Azov regiment in the Ukr
Volkonsky returned to Russia in 1815 and took up the command of the Azov regiment in the Ukr
Alexander, on whom he had pinned his liberal hopes. In the first years of his reign (1801-12)
Alexander, on whom he had pinned his liberal hopes. In the first years of his reign (1801-12)
Alexander, on whom he had pinned his liberal hopes. In the first years of his reign (1801-12)
The Emperor appointed his adviser Mikhail Speransky to draw up plans for a constitutio
The Emperor appointed his adviser Mikhail Speransky to draw up plans for a constitutio
The Emperor appointed his adviser Mikhail Speransky to draw up plans for a constitutio
40
Volkonsky wrote, to return to Russia after Paris and London ‘felt like going back to a preh
Volkonsky wrote, to return to Russia after Paris and London ‘felt like going back to a preh
Volkonsky wrote, to return to Russia after Paris and London ‘felt like going back to a preh
41
The prince fell into the circle of Mikhail Orlov, an old school friend and fellow officer
The prince fell into the circle of Mikhail Orlov, an old school friend and fellow officer
The prince fell into the circle of Mikhail Orlov, an old school friend and fellow officer
Eugene Onegin,
’Twas all mere idle chatter
’Twas all mere idle chatter
’Twas all mere idle chatter
’Twixt Chateau-Lafite and Veuve Cliquot.
’Twixt Chateau-Lafite and Veuve Cliquot.
’Twixt Chateau-Lafite and Veuve Cliquot.
Friendly disputes, epigrams
Friendly disputes, epigrams
Friendly disputes, epigrams
Penetrating none too deep.
Penetrating none too deep.
Penetrating none too deep.
This science of sedition
This science of sedition
This science of sedition
Was just the fruit of boredom, of idleness,
Was just the fruit of boredom, of idleness,
Was just the fruit of boredom, of idleness,
The pranks of grown-up naughty boys.42
The pranks of grown-up naughty boys.42
The pranks of grown-up naughty boys.42
42
Without a plan for insurrection, the Union concentrated on developing its loose network
Without a plan for insurrection, the Union concentrated on developing its loose network
Without a plan for insurrection, the Union concentrated on developing its loose network
had entered Orlov’s conspiracy through the Masonic Lodge in Kiev -a common means of entr
had entered Orlov’s conspiracy through the Masonic Lodge in Kiev -a common means of entr
had entered Orlov’s conspiracy through the Masonic Lodge in Kiev -a common means of entr
Like Volkonsky, Pestel was the son of a provincial governor in western Siberia (their fat
Like Volkonsky, Pestel was the son of a provincial governor in western Siberia (their fat
Like Volkonsky, Pestel was the son of a provincial governor in western Siberia (their fat
43
44
Russian Truth
45
By 1825 Pestel had emerged as the chief organizer of an insurrection against the Tsar. He
By 1825 Pestel had emerged as the chief organizer of an insurrection against the Tsar. He
By 1825 Pestel had emerged as the chief organizer of an insurrection against the Tsar. He
sung. The Northern Society’s political demands were more moderate than those of Pestel
sung. The Northern Society’s political demands were more moderate than those of Pestel
sung. The Northern Society’s political demands were more moderate than those of Pestel
46
Maria was the daughter of General Raevsky, a famous hero of 1812 who had even been praised
Maria was the daughter of General Raevsky, a famous hero of 1812 who had even been praised
Maria was the daughter of General Raevsky, a famous hero of 1812 who had even been praised
The Fountain of Bakhchisarai
The Prisoner of the Caucasus
Eugene Onegin:
How I envied the waves -
How I envied the waves -
How I envied the waves -
Those rushing tides in tumult tumbling
Those rushing tides in tumult tumbling
Those rushing tides in tumult tumbling
To fall about her feet like slaves!
To fall about her feet like slaves!
To fall about her feet like slaves!
I longed to join the waves in pressing
I longed to join the waves in pressing
I longed to join the waves in pressing
Upon those feet these lips… caressing.47
Upon those feet these lips… caressing.47
Upon those feet these lips… caressing.47
47
Volkonsky was given the task of recruiting Pushkin to the conspiracy. Pushkin belonged to t
Volkonsky was given the task of recruiting Pushkin to the conspiracy. Pushkin belonged to t
Volkonsky was given the task of recruiting Pushkin to the conspiracy. Pushkin belonged to t
There will rise, believe me, comrade A star of captivating bliss, when Russia wakes up fro
There will rise, believe me, comrade A star of captivating bliss, when Russia wakes up fro
There will rise, believe me, comrade A star of captivating bliss, when Russia wakes up fro
48
It seems, however, that Volkonsky was afraid of exposing the great poet to the risks invo
It seems, however, that Volkonsky was afraid of exposing the great poet to the risks invo
It seems, however, that Volkonsky was afraid of exposing the great poet to the risks invo
49
50
The insurrection had been scheduled for the late summer of 1826. But these plans were has
The insurrection had been scheduled for the late summer of 1826. But these plans were has
The insurrection had been scheduled for the late summer of 1826. But these plans were has
51
wrote to a friend on the eve of the revolt, ‘for the simple reason that I have my soldiers’ t
wrote to a friend on the eve of the revolt, ‘for the simple reason that I have my soldiers’ t
wrote to a friend on the eve of the revolt, ‘for the simple reason that I have my soldiers’ t
52
In the end, the Decembrist leaders carried with them only some 3,000 troops in Petersburg -
In the end, the Decembrist leaders carried with them only some 3,000 troops in Petersburg -
In the end, the Decembrist leaders carried with them only some 3,000 troops in Petersburg -
Bronze Horseman
Within hours the ringleaders of the insurrection had all been arrested and imprisoned i
Within hours the ringleaders of the insurrection had all been arrested and imprisoned i
Within hours the ringleaders of the insurrection had all been arrested and imprisoned i
53
on his way to Petersburg to see Maria one last time. The police had an arrest warrant signe
on his way to Petersburg to see Maria one last time. The police had an arrest warrant signe
on his way to Petersburg to see Maria one last time. The police had an arrest warrant signe
Five hundred Decembrists were arrested and interrogated, but most of them were released
Five hundred Decembrists were arrested and interrogated, but most of them were released