Nikitin O.V.

“Life and poetry are one thing.” Reflections on a unique book about Pushkin (review of G. M. Sedova’s book, He had a lot to die for at the Black River. 2nd edition, enlarged. St. Petersburg, Rostok Publ., 2020. 704 p.). Pp.213-225.

UDC 821.161.1(048)

DOI 10.37724/RSU.2025.87.2.019

 

Abstract. The review-critical article analyzes the problematics of the monograph by G. M. Sedova “He had something to die for at the Black River” (St. Petersburg, 2020) in the context of A. S. Pushkin’s spiritual quest, literary tradition and public relations of the first half of the 19th century. The author provides valuable documentary evidence of the poet’s acquaintances about his life and work, talks about the contradictory attitude of contemporaries to Alexander Pushkin, shows the moral image of the Russian genius in the circle of artistic battles of that era and life collisions. Special attention is paid to the study of the last stage of the poet’s biography and the circumstances that led to his death. New historical materials are introduced and examined, and rare sources of the XIX–XX centuries are reinterpreted. The review is accompanied by the author’s reflections on the current state of Pushkin studies and the place of the poet in the historical context of our time.

 

Keywords: Pushkin, poetics, philological tradition, confessionalism, spiritual culture, history of literature, artistic creation.

 

Bibliography

 

  1. Akhmatova A. A. A word about Pushkin. Akhmatova A. A. O Pushkine: st. i zametki. [Akhmatova A. A. About Pushkin: articles and notes]. Moscow, Kniga, 1989a, pp. 7–10. (In Russian).
  2. Akhmatova A. A. Pushkin in 1828. Akhmatova A. A. O Pushkine: st. i zametki. [Akhmatova A. A. About Pushkin: articles and notes]. Moscow, Kniga, 1989b, pp. 218–233. (In Russian).
  3. Vinogradov V. V. “Zhdu peremen v svoyey sudbe”: Pisma k zhene iz vyatskoy ssylki (1934–1936). Sost., podgot. teksta A. B. Guskovoy; nauch. red. N. Ya. Kozel; soprovodit. materialy A. B. Guskovoy, V. N. Vinogradovoy; A. B. Guskovoy, N. Ya. Kozel. [“I am expecting changes in my fate”: Letters to wife from Vyatka exile (1934–1936). Compiled, prep. of text by A. B. Guskova; scientific ed. N. Ya. Kozel]. St. Petersburg, Rostok, 2024, 400 p. (In Russian).
  4. From Prince P. A. Vyazemsky’s letters to A. Ya. Bulgakov. Russkiy arkhiv. [Russian Archive]. 1879, bk. 2, iss. 6, pp. 237–257. Available at: https://runivers.ru/upload/iblock/d33/039%20tom_Russkiy%20arhiv_1879_vip%205-8.pdf (accessed: 29.05.2025). (In Russian).
  5. Mir Pushkina. T. 5: Poslednyaya duel: dnevniki, perepiska, vospominaniya. Sost. G. M. Sedova; obshch. red., podgot. teksta i primech. M. A. Aleksandrova. [The World of Pushkin. Vol. 5: The Last Duel: diaries, correspondence, memoirs. Compiled by G. M. Sedova; edited, text preparation and notes by M. A. Alexandrova]. St. Petersburg, Pushkin Fund, 2007, 303 p. (In Russian).
  6. Mokienko V. M., Sidorenko K. P. “Moy dyadya samykh chestnykh pravil”: Krylatyye slova, tsitaty, obrazy iz romana v stikhakh A. S. Pushkina “Yevgeniy Onegin”: Opyt slovarya. [“My uncle was of most honest rules”: Popular phrases, quotes, and images from A. S. Pushkin’s novel in verse “Eugene Onegin”: Attempt at dictionary]. St. Petersburg, Lema, 2022, 536 p. (In Russian).
  7. Nabokov V. V. Stikhotvoreniya i poemy. [Poems]. Moscow, Sovremennik, 1991, 574 p. (In Russian).
  8. Printseva G. At the Black River. Nezavisimaya Gazeta Ex libris: Internet versiya. [Independent newspaper Ex libris: Internet version]. 18.10.2012. Available at: https://www.ng.ru/ng_exlibris/2012-10-18/7_blackriver.html (accessed: 27.05.2025). (In Russian).
  9. Sedova G. M. “Ya zhit khochu…”: A. S. Pushkin: posledniye mesyatsy zhizni. [“I want to live…”: A. S. Pushkin: his last months]. St. Petersburg, 2007, 203 p. (In Russian).
  10. Sedova G. M. Stikhotvoreniye A. S. Pushkina “Ya pamyatnik sebe vozdvig nerukotvornyy…” (1836). [The poem by A. S. Pushkin “I have erected a monument to myself not made by hands…” (1836)]. St. Petersburg, Faculty of Philology and Arts, St. Petersburg State University, 2009a, 31 p. (In Russian).
  11. Sedova G. M. “Pobeditelyu-ucheniku ot pobezhdennogo-uchitelya…”: o nadpisi V. A. Zhukovskogo na portrete, podarennom im A. S. Pushkinu. [“To the victorious student from the defeated teacher…”: about V. A. Zhukovsky’s inscription by on the portrait he presented to A. S. Pushkin]. St. Petersburg, Faculty of Philology and Arts, St. Petersburg State University, 2009b. 36 p. (In Russian).
  12. Sedova G. M. Biografiya i tvorchestvo A. S. Pushkina: posledniy god: avtoref. dis. … d-ra filol. nauk. [Life and work of A. S. Pushkin: his last year: abstract of diss. … of Doctor of philology]. St. Petersburg, SPbGU Publ., 2010, 44 p. (In Russian).
  13. Sedova G. M. Yemu bylo za chto umirat u Chernoy rechki. [He had a lot to die for at the Black River]. St. Petersburg, Rostok, 2012, 735 p. (In Russian).
  14. Sedova G. M. On the memorial sofa in A. S. Pushkin’s study. Pushkinskiy Muzeum. Almanakh. [Pushkin Museum. Almanac]. St. Petersburg, All-Russian Museum of A. S. Pushkin, 2015, iss. 7, pp. 23–34. (In Russian).
  15. Sedova G. M. Yemu bylo za chto umirat u Chernoy rechki. [“He had a lot to die for at the Black River”]. 2nd ed., emlarged. St. Petersburg, Rostok, 2020. 704 p. (In Russian).
  16. Sedova G. M., Soldatova L. M. Osobnyak na Moyke, 12. [Moyka, Mansion 12]. St. Petersburg, Beloye i Chernoye, 1999, 126 p. (In Russian).
  17. Turchanenko V. V., Tsyganov D. M. “Pushkin nash, sovetskiy!”: Ocherki po istorii filologicheskoy nauki v stalinskuyu epokhu (Idei. Proyekty. Persony). [“He is ours, Pushkin is Soviet!”: Essays on the history of philological science in the Stalin era (Ideas. Projects. Persons)]. Moscow: Novoye literaturnoye obozreniye, 2025, 792 p. (In Russian).
Uncategorized