A Survey of Russian Literature, with Selections

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

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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 volkhvýe, 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,