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Russia and Scottland: Russia’s debt to Sir Walter

Lt Cdr Dairmid Gunn OBE

Thursday 15th May 2014

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

  1. 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.

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