Selected Prose Of N M Karamzin (Series: Publications Of Eighteenth-Century Russian Literature)

Evanston Il: Northwestern University Press, 1969. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Fine. Xv, 214 Pp. Green Cloth Spine Lettered In Gilt, Gray Boards. First Printing. Fine. No Marks. Per Wikipedia, Nikolay Mikhailovich Karamzin (Russian: ??????? ?????????? ????????; 1766 - 1826) Was A Russian Imperial Historian, Romantic Writer, Poet And Critic. He Is Best Remembered For His Fundamental History Of The Russian State, A 12-Volume National History.In 1802 And 1803, Karamzin Edited The Journal The Envoy Of Europe (Vestnik Evropy). It Was Not Until After The Publication Of This Work That He Realized Where His Strength Lay, And Commenced His 12 Volume History Of The Russian State. In Order To Accomplish The Task, He Secluded Himself For Two Years At Simbirsk. When Emperor Alexander Learned The Cause Of His Retirement, Karamzin Was Invited To Tver, Where He Read To The Emperor The First Eight Volumes Of His History. He Was A Strong Supporter Of The Anti-Polish Policies Of The Russian Empire, And Expressed Hope That "There Would Be No Poland Under Any Shape Or Name".] In 1816, He Removed To St Petersburg, Where He Spent The Happiest Days Of His Life, Enjoying The Favor Of Alexander I And Submitting To Him The Sheets Of His Great Work, Which The Emperor Read Over With Him In The Gardens Of The Palace Of Tsarskoye Selo. He Did Not, However, Live To Carry His Work Further Than The Eleventh Volume, Terminating It At The Accession Of Michael Romanov In 1613. He Died On 22 May (Old Style) 1826, In The Tauride Palace. Karamzin Is Well-Regarded As A Historian.[Citation Needed] Until The Appearance Of His Work, Little Had Been Done In This Direction In Russia. The Preceding Attempt Of Vasily Tatishchev Was Merely A Rough Sketch, Inelegant In Style, And Without The True Spirit Of Criticism. Karamzin Was Most Industrious In Accumulating Materials, And The Notes To His Volumes Are Mines Of Interesting Information. Perhaps Karamzin May Justly Be Criticized For The False Gloss And Romantic Air Thrown Over The Early Russian Annals; In This Respect His Work Is Reminiscent Of That Of Sir Walter Scott, Whose Writings Were At That Time Creating A Great Sensation Throughout Europe And Probably Influenced Karamzin. Karamzin Wrote Openly As The Panegyrist Of The Autocracy; Indeed, His Work Has Been Styled The Epic Of Despotism And Considered Ivan Iii As The Architect Of Russian Greatness, A Glory That He Had Earlier (Perhaps While More Under The Influence Of Western Ideas) Assigned To Peter The Great. (The Deeds Of Ivan The Terrible Are Described With Disgust, Though.) In The Battle Pieces, He Demonstrates Considerable Powers Of Description, And The Characters Of Many Of The Chief Personages In The Russian Annals Are Drawn In Firm And Bold Lines. As A Critic Karamzin Was Of Great Service To His Country; In Fact He May Be Regarded As The Founder Of The Review And Essay (In The Western Style) Among The Russians. Also, Karamzin Is Sometimes Considered A Founding Father Of Russian Conservatism. Upon Appointing Him A State Historian, Alexander I Greatly Valued Karamzin's Advice On Political Matters. His Conservative Views Were Clearly Expounded In The Memoir On Old And New Russia, Written For Alexander I In 1812. This Scathing Attack On Reforms Proposed By Mikhail Speransky Was To Become A Cornerstone Of Official Ideology Of Imperial Russia For Years To Come.