Sir Walter Scott's Impressions of Russia
Thursday 16th May 2019
Summary of the Talk:
Dairmid Gunn, a former naval attaché and fluent Russian speaker, explored Sir Walter Scott’s perceptions of Russia and Russians, as opposed to Scott’s well-documented influence on Russian literature. Gunn traced Scott’s exposure to Russian culture mainly through personal encounters during his European travels and notable interactions with Russian officers, aristocrats, and artists.
Scott’s impressions began during a post-Waterloo visit to Paris, where he met Tsar Alexander I and various Russian dignitaries. Although Scott was interested in military matters and admired Russian troops, his knowledge of Russian literature was limited, as key figures like Pushkin had not yet emerged fully into literary prominence during Scott’s lifetime.
The talk also examined the influence of Russian individuals who visited Scott in Scotland, notably Count Vladimir Davydov, a relative of the Decembrist Denis Davydov. This contact offered Scott a glimpse into the tensions within Russian society. Although sympathetic in private, Scott remained cautious in his journal entries, avoiding deep political commentary.
Scott maintained friendships with Russian figures and exchanged gifts, letters, and cultural reflections, yet remained at a distance from the political intricacies of Russian reformist movements. His attempt to understand Russia came more from human encounters and military admiration than from literary or political analysis.
Notable Insights and Points of Interest
- Scott met Tsar Alexander I at a dinner in Paris after Waterloo. Alexander mistook Scott’s limp as a war wound and asked about his military service. Scott humbly explained it was from childhood polio, but joked about being involved in “night actions” like Crosscauseway skirmishes.
- Count Platov, head of the Don Cossacks, warmly invited Scott to observe a Russian military review, which Scott regretfully declined due to other commitments. He was genuinely impressed by the Russian cavalry.
- Scott’s first significant Russian visitor was Count Vladimir Davydov, a relative of the famed Decembrist Denis Davydov. This young nobleman made a strong impression on Scott and visited Abbotsford. Scott later wrote of Davydov’s intelligence and sincerity.
- Denis Davydov, although more famous as a swashbuckling cavalry officer, was also a poet admired by Scott. However, they never met. Tolstoy based the War and Peace character Denisov on him.
- Princess Galitzine, a Russian noblewoman, pursued Scott with intense admiration during his time in Paris and arranged a lavish costume ball in his honour, showing Scott’s international fame extended into elite Russian circles.
- Gunn observed that Scott’s admiration for Russian military discipline and grandeur didn’t translate into political understanding. He was largely unaware (or silent) about the oppressive aspects of Russian autocracy.
- Scott tried to engage Russian general Yermolov on military history (especially Napoleon’s Russian campaign), but found his answers unhelpful—perhaps due to proximity to the events and reluctance to critique military decisions.
- The Decembrist revolt of 1825, a failed aristocratic uprising aiming for reform in Russia, had personal resonance for Scott through his connection with Vladimir Davydov. Still, Scott’s journal reflects a conservative and cautious reaction to revolutionary ideals.
- Despite his limited grasp of the Russian language or literature, Scott’s personal relationships left him with enduring impressions of Russia—as a land of martial honour, aristocratic polish, and deep cultural complexity.
Interesting Quote from Scott’s Journal
- Reflecting on Vladimir Davydov’s likely return to Russia and acceptance of its autocracy, Scott wrote: "Why should not a Russian resume his despotic ideas when restored to his country?”
This reveals Scott’s own cautious attitude towards revolutionary change and his belief in cultural relativism.
Introduction by Prof. Peter Garside:
I’m especially delighted to welcome today’s speaker, Lt. Cdr Diarmid Gunn OBE.
In 1949 Dairmid Gunn entered the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, as an executive officer cadet and on graduating spent over 20 years in the fleet. He saw active service in Korea and the Mediterranean (Port Said and Cyprus) and studied Russian for two years at London University and in Paris. In the 1960s he served as a naval attaché in the British embassies in Moscow and Helsinki.
After leaving the Navy in 1973 Dairmid became the director of an organisation which endeavoured to improve the commercial lot of Scottish farmers in the UK and the European Union. In 1988 he acted as the coordinator in Scotland for a UK campaign for the promotion of British food and farming. For this, in 1989 he was awarded the OBE.
In 1980 he became chairman of the Scottish branch of the GB-USSR Association, a non-political body with the aim of improving relations between the Soviet Union and the UK. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991 he became chairman of the Scotland Russia Forum, a charitable organisation, the aim of which was to improve understanding between Russia and Scotland by cultural means. He is currently a vice president of the Forum. In 2017 he co-authored a book on the Russian convoys and in 2018 was awarded the Pushkin medal by the Russian government for his work over many years in improving understanding between Russia and the UK.
Dairmid is the literary executor of the estate of the late Neil M. Gunn and has written many articles and booklets on the life and work of the author. He is the author’s nephew.
In 1988 Dairmid joined our Club and was its chairman from 2000 to 2004. He has given many papers on Scott usually, but not exclusively, on the author’s connections with Russia. His present paper is on the subject of Sir Walter Scott: Impressions of Russia, and rather than concerning Scott’s influence on Russian literature will focus this time on the influence which Russia had on Scott’s own work.
