Summary of the Talk:
Dairmid's
talk explored
Russia’s literary and cultural connections with Sir Walter Scott.
Key Themes & Discussion Points
1. The Evolution of the Russian Language & Literature
- 18th Century Russia: The aristocracy spoke French, which dominated literature, salons, and private conversations.
- Mikhail Lomonosov & Nikolai Karamzin: Developed Russian as a literary language by blending Church Slavonic with everyday Russian.
- Catherine the Great (1762-1796): Promoted Russian in education and law, though French remained dominant.
- Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815): Shifted perceptions—French was associated with the enemy, and Russian gained national prestige.
- Pushkin’s Contribution: Revolutionized Russian literature by refining and expanding the language, much like Scott did for English and Scots.
2. Sir Walter Scott’s Influence on Russian Writers
- Early Translations:
- Scott’s novels were first read in
French translations before Russian versions appeared in the
late 1820s.
- The Scottish dialect in Scott’s novels was often lost, leading Russian readers to believe Scottish peasants were highly refined.
- Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837):
- Read Scott’s novels in French and
admired his historical novel style.
- The Captain’s Daughter (1836), a novel about the
Pugachev Rebellion (1773-75), was
inspired by Scott’s historical method.
- Used Scott’s device of placing
fictional characters in historical events.
- The
heroine Masha mirrors
Jeanie Deans from
The Heart of Midlothian.
- Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841):
- Fascinated by Scotland due to his Scottish ancestry (Learmonth).
- Admired
Old Mortality, mentioning it in A Hero of Our Time.
- Found Scott’s novels "dry" but loved
The Lady of the Lake and
Ossian.
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881):
- Read Scott extensively, though his own work was darker and more psychological.
- Poor Folk was influenced by Scott’s
St. Ronan’s Well & The Monastery.
- Recommended Scott for fostering
imagination and moral depth.
- Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910):
- War and Peace (1869) follows Scott’s
historical novel model.
- Tolstoy’s blend of
fictional and historical characters echoes Waverley.
- Found Scott’s common folk more authentic than his own.
3. The Popularity of Scott in 19th Century Russia
- Women loved Scott’s heroines, who were seen as strong and intelligent.
- Fashion trends: Parisian and Russian ladies
wore tartan and "Scottish" outfits inspired by Scott.
- Russian nobility admired Scott:
- Princess Galatzina hosted a
Scott-themed evening in Paris where Russian women wore tartan.
- Tsar
Nicholas I recommended writing
"à la Scott" to Pushkin.
4. Scott’s Legacy in Russia
Soviet Period (1928-1991):
- Despite Western censorship, Scott’s works were
widely published.
- 1960s "Mini Thaw": 20 volumes of Scott’s works were printed.
- Waverley became
one of the most-sold books in Russia.
Modern Russia:
- Scott remains
recommended reading in schools.
- Professor Dolinin describes Scott as
essential for children’s moral and historical education.
- However,
modern readers struggle with long novels due to digital distractions.
Interesting Points & Takeaways
- Pushkin’s Famous Book Request: While in exile, he asked for:
- Scott’s novels
- Fouché’s Memoirs
- Pickles
- Limburg cheese
- Schiller’s works
- A corkscrew!
- A mix of
literary and practical survival tools!
2. Scott’s Unexpected Influence on Fashion:
- Russian women wore
"Rebecca caps" (from
Ivanhoe).
- Quentin Durward coats became a trend.
- Court balls featured
Scott-inspired tableaux vivants.
3. Lermontov’s Scottish Connection:
- Descended from
the Learmonths, who claimed lineage from
Thomas the Rhymer.
4. Dostoyevsky’s Opinion on Scott:
- "Develops imagination and moral depth."
- Recommended Scott as
a counterbalance to existential despair.
5. Fast Reader’s Hilarious Summary of War and Peace:
- After reading it in
10 minutes, he said:
- "I think it was about Russia." 🤦♂️
Final Thoughts
- Scott’s impact on Russian literature is profound, shaping
Pushkin, Lermontov, Dostoyevsky, and Tolstoy.
- His historical novel model
inspired Russia’s greatest authors.
- His
romanticized Scottish identity became popular in Russia, influencing
fashion, literature, and even royal recommendations.
- While
his works remain valued, modern Russian readers—like in the West—increasingly favor shorter, faster-paced stories.