A Survey of Russian Literature, with Selections

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A Survey of Russian Literature, with?by Isabel Florence Hapgood

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Selections, by Isabel Florence Hapgood
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Title: A Survey of Russian Literature, with Selections
Author: Isabel Florence Hapgood

Release Date: April 3, 2007 [eBook #20980]
Language: English
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Transcriber's notes
1. The Russian names normally do not have any accents; in this book they appear to represent the emphasized syllable. The use of accents has been standardized, with exception of Alexander vs. Alexánder.
2. Corrected the division into stanzas for a poem "God" (O Thou eternal One! whose presence bright) on page 94. The translator used nine lines where ten lines were used in the original Russian poem.
3. Several misprints and punctuation errors corrected. A list of corrections can be found at the end of the text.
4. Footnotes moved to chapter-ends.

A SURVEY OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE, WITH SELECTIONS
by
ISABEL F. HAPGOOD
Author of "Russian Rambles," and "The Epic Songs of Russia"

[Illustration]
[Illustration: CHURCH OF THE CATACOMBS MONASTERY AT KIEV.]
[Illustration]

New York Chautauqua Springfield Chicago The Chautauqua Press MCMII Copyright, 1902, by The Chautauqua Press
The Lakeside Press, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A. R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company

CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE ANCIENT PERIOD, FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY IN 988 1
II. THE ANCIENT PERIOD, FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE TATáR DOMINION, 988-1224 39
III. SECOND PERIOD, FROM THE TATáR DOMINION TO THE TIME OF IVáN THE TERRIBLE, 1224-1330 47
IV. THIRD PERIOD, FROM THE TIME OF IVáN THE TERRIBLE, 1530, TO THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 50
V. FOURTH PERIOD, FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TO THE EPOCH OF REFORM UNDER PETER THE GREAT 61
VI. FIFTH PERIOD, THE REIGN OF PETER THE GREAT, 1689-1723 66
VII. SIXTH PERIOD, THE REIGN OF KATHERINE II. 1762-1796 80
VIII. SEVENTH PERIOD, FROM PúSHKIN TO THE WRITERS OF THE FORTIES 123
IX. SEVENTH PERIOD: GONTCHARóFF, GRIGORóVITCH, TURGéNEFF 161
X. SEVENTH PERIOD: OSTRóVSKY, A. K. TOLSTóY, POLóNSKY, NEKRáSOFF, SHEVTCHéNKO, AND OTHERS 181
XI. DOSTOéVSKY 212
XII. SEVENTH PERIOD: DANILéVSKY, SALTYKóFF, L. N. TOLSTóY, GóRKY, AND OTHERS 229

PREFACE.
In this volume I have given exclusively the views of Russian critics upon their literature, and hereby acknowledge my entire indebtedness to them.
The limits of the work, and the lack of general knowledge on the subject, rendered it impossible for me to attempt any comparisons with foreign literatures.
ISABEL F. HAPGOOD.
NEW YORK, June 6, 1902.

RUSSIAN LITERATURE
CHAPTER I
THE ANCIENT PERIOD, FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY IN 988.
Whether Russia had any literature, or even a distinctive alphabet, previous to the end of the tenth century, is not known.
In the year 988, Vladímir, Grand Prince of Kíeff, accepted Christianity for himself and his nation, from Byzantium, and baptized Russia wholesale. Hence his characteristic title in history, "Prince-Saint-equal-to-the-Apostles." His grandmother, Olga, had already been converted to the Greek Church late in life, and had established churches and priests in Kíeff, it is said. Prince Vladímir could have been baptized at home, but he preferred to make the Greek form of Christianity his state religion in a more decided manner; to adopt the gospel of peace to an accompaniment of martial deeds. Accordingly he compelled the Emperors of Byzantium, by force, to send the Patriarch of Constantinople to baptize him, and their sister to become his wife. He then ordered his subjects to present themselves forthwith for baptism. Finding that their idols did not punish Vladímir for destroying them, and that even great Perún the Thunderer did not resent being flung into the Dniépr, the people quietly and promptly obeyed. As their old religion had no temples for them to cling to, and nothing approaching a priestly class (except the volkhvye, or wizards) to encourage them in opposition, the nation became Christian in a day, to all appearances. We shall see, however, that in many cases, as in other lands converted from heathendom, the old gods were merely baptized with new names, in company with their worshipers.
Together with the religion which he imported from Byzantium, "Prince-Saint" Vladímir naturally imported, also, priests, architects, artists for the holy pictures (ikóni), as well as the traditional style of painting them, ecclesiastical vestments and vessels, and--most precious of all--the Slavonic translation of the holy Scriptures and of the Church Service books. These books, however, were not written in Greek, but in the tongue of a cognate Slavonic race, which