Russian Novelists (1887)/4

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III. The Evolution of Realism in Russia.—Gogol

The Russian Novelists (1887)
by Eugène-Melchior de Vogüé, translated by Jane Loring Edmands

IV. Turgenef

V. The Religion of Endurance.—Dostoyevski

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Eugène-Melchior de Vogüé1974168The Russian Novelists — IV. Turgenef1887Jane Loring Edmands

CHAPTER IV. TURGENEF. I. While the name of Gogol was temporarily lost in oblivion during the years preceding the Crimean war, his spirit was shedding its ripening influences upon the thinking minds of his country. I know of no parallel example in the history of literature, of an impulse so spontaneous and vigorous as this. Every author of note since 1840 has be- longed to the so-called u school of nature." The poets of 1820 had drawn their inspiration from their own personality. The novel-writers of 1840 found theirs in the spirit of humanity, which might be called social sympathy.

Before studying the great writers of this epoch, we must take note of the elements which pro- duced them, and glance for a moment at the curious movement which ripened them.

Russia could not escape the general fermen- tation of 1848 ; although this immense country seemed to be mute, like its frozen rivers, an in- tense life was seething underneath. The rivers are seemingly motionless for six months of the year; but under the solid ice is running water, and the phenomena of ever-increasing life. So it was with the nation. On the surface it seemed silent and inert under the iron rule of Nicholas. But European ideas, creeping in, found their way under the great walls, and books passed from hand to hand, into schools, literary circles, and even into the army.

The Russian Universities were then very insufficient. Their best scholars quitted them unsatisfied, and sought more substantial nourishment in Germany. Besides, it being the fashion to do so, there was also a firm conviction that this was really necessary. The young men returned from Berlin or Göttingen crammed with humanitarian philosophy and liberal notions; armed with ideas which found no response in their own country, full, as it was, of malcontents and fault-finders. These suspicious missionaries from western Europe were handed over to the police, while others continued to study in the self-same school. These young fellows, returning from Germany with grapes from the promised land, too green as yet for their countrymen, formed a favorite type with authors. Pushkin made use of it, and Turgenef afterwards gave us some sketches from nature made during his stay in Berlin. On their return, these students formed clubs, in which they discussed the foreign theories in low and impassioned voices, and initiated their companions who had remained at home. These young thinkers embraced a tranPage:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/94 Page:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/95 Page:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/96 Page:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/97 Page:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/98 Page:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/99 Page:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/100 Page:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/101 Page:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/102 Page:Russian Novelists (1887).djvu/103 trary, what I saw around me was revolting — in fact, disgusting — to me. I could not hesitate long. I must either make up my mind to submit, and walk on quietly in the beaten track ; or tear my- self away, root and branch, even at the risk of losing many things dear to my heart. "This I decided to do. I became a cosmopolitan, which I have always remained. I could not live face to face with what I abhorred ; perhaps I had not suf- cient self-control or force of character for that. At any rate, it seemed as if I must, at all hazards, withdraw from my enemy, in order to be able to deal him surer blows from a distance. This mor- tal enemy was, in my eyes, the institution of serf- dom, which I had resolved to combat to the last extremity, and with which I had sworn never to make peace. It was in order to fulfil this vow that I left my country. . .