Nicholas Karamzin and Russian Society in the 19th Century: A Study in Russian Political and Historical Thought

281 Pages·1976·13.895 MB·English

by  J.L. Black

J.L. BLACK is a member of the Department of History at Laurentian University,
Sudbury, and the editor of Essays on Karamzin: Russian Man of Letters, Political
Commentator, Historian (1766-1826).
Nicholas Karamzin (1766-1826) was a remarkably active thinker and writer dur-
ing a time that was trying to all Europeans. A first-hand witness to the French
Revolution, Napoleonic suzerainty over Europe, the burning of Moscow, and the
Decembrist revolt in St Petersburg, he presented in his voluminous correspond-
ence and published writings a world view that recognized the weaknesses of the
Russian Empire and at the same time foresaw the dangers of both radical change
and rigid autocracy. Russian conservatism owes much to this man, even though
he would have agreed with very few of those who came after him and were called
conservative: he supported autocracy, but was committed to enlightenment; he
supported serfdom, but hated despotism; he placed faith in rule of law, but ab-
horred constitutions. The fact that his writing had lasting significance has rarely
been challenged, but the social and political nature of that contribution has
never before been demonstrated. Previous studies of Karamzin have dealt with
his literary career. This monograph focuses on the final third of his life, on his
career at court (1816-26) and on the cultural heritage he left to the Russian Em-
pire. As the historian of Russia most widely read by his and later generations, his
historical interpretations mirrored and helped shape the image Russians had of
themselves. Professor Black's study of Karamzin is crucial to any examination
of Russia's enlightenment, conservatism, historical writing, and national self-
consciousness.
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J.L. BLACK
Nicholas Karamzin and
Russian Society in the
Nineteenth Century:
A Study in Russian Political
and Historical Thought
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS
TORONTO AND BUFFALO
© University of Toronto Press 1975
Toronto and Buffalo
Printed in Canada
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Black, Joseph Laurence, 1937-
Nicholas Karamzin and Russian society in the nine-
teenth century.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Karamzin, Nikolai Mikhailovich, 1766-1826.
2. Russia - Historiography. 3. Political science -
History - Russia. 4. Russia - History - 19th century.
I. Title.
DK38.7.K35B57 947'.07'0924 [B] 75-20146
ISBN 0-8020-5335-1
Contents
Acknowledgements xi
Transliteration and System of Citing Dates xii
Introduction xiii
KARAMZIN'S LIFE AND IDEAS
1 Creative Writer to Historian 1766-1800 3
2 The Sage and Political Pundit 1800-3 34
3 Historian and Man at Court:
Karamzin and Russian Society 1803-26 62
KARAMZIN'S POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE
4 The History: Textbook for Emperors and Citizens 99
5 The History and Russian Society in the Nineteenth Century 129
6 Karamzin and 'Statist' Thought
in Nineteenth-Century Russian Historical Writing 156
Conclusion 187
Notes 191
Glossary of Russian Terms 239
Select Bibliography 241
Karamzin's Works: English Translations 248
Appendix: Letters of Karamzin to Alexander i,
I.I. Dmitriev, Prince P.A. Viazemsky 251
Arzamas Diploma (1816) 255
Index 257
To Milos Mladenovic
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Acknowledgements
A number of people and institutions have contributed in various ways
to the completion of this book, but among the individuals to whom
I am most indebted, Professor Milos Mladenovic of McGill University
stands out as critic and guide. For that reason, this book is dedicated
to him with my sincere appreciation. I am also grateful to the staffs
at McGill University Library, the Lenin Library in Moscow, Helsinki
University Library, Yale University Library, and the Russian and East
European Research Centre at the University of Illinois, Champaigne-
Urbana. I would also like to express appreciation to the trustees of
the Senator McConnell awards, McGill University, to the Canada
Council for three grants, and to Laurentian University, for financial
assistance which made this effort possible.
Last, but certainly not least, to my wife, Janice, and to my three
children, thanks for their patience during the many hours which I
spent closeted with this manuscript.
This book has been published with the assistance of a grant from
the Humanities Research Council of Canada, using funds provided
by the Canada Council, and with the assistance of the Publications
Fund of the University of Toronto Press, using a grant from the
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.