The Polish Theme in the Journalism by Nikolai Leskov

Abstract

Nikolai Semenovich Leskov (1831–1895) is one of the best-known Russian writers of the nineteenth century and a recognized classic of Russian literature. However, Leskov’s journalism proper, which comprises a significant amount in his ouvre in the 1860s, has been under-researched primarily in relation to this period, and for a long time has remained outside the scope of scholarly interest, and when it has been studied, it has been used as material for the interpretation of his artistic heritage. This article examines the “Polish theme” in Leskov’s journalism of the 1860s, first of all through the series of articles “From a Road Diary” (published in the newspaper “Northern Bee” (“Severnaya pchela”) in 1862) and a series of essays “Russian Society in Paris” (1863, “Library for reading” (“Biblioteka dlia Chtenia”), considerably revised
version — 1867). The article does not aim at exhaustive consideration of these texts, but outlines the main aspects and problematic points as a prolegomena for the study which is to be undertaken. It is also noteworthy that in 1862–1864 Leskov, together with a significant part of the Russian educated society, underwent a rapid and significant evolution in the following half-century of the Russian Empire — taking national frame of thought as his ownt and gaining (reflectively) an affective connection to the national community. This reaffirms the thesis of the fundamental significance of the year 1863 for the Russian history — all the multi-layered consequences of which, including different aspects within the framework of intellectual history of different duration, are in many ways only a prospect for further research.

Keywords:

Herzen, imperial politics, Lithuania, nationalism, nation-building, nihilism, Poles in Russian Empire, Slavic question, Kingdom of Poland