Pushkin- Karamzin - the Decembrists - History

[David Powelstock]

It was actually, "Istoriia naroda prenadlezhit poetu." From a letter to
Gnedich, translator of Homer, Feb. 23, 1825.  Here's some context:

     "Брат говорил мне о скором совершении
Вашего Гомера. Это будет первый
классический, европейский подвиг в нашем
отечестве (черт возьми это отечество). Но,
отдохнув после "Илиады", что предпримете
Вы в полном цвете гения, возмужав во
храме Гомеровом, как Ахилл в вертепе
Кентавра? Я жду от Вас эпической поэмы.
Тень Святослава скитается не воспетая,
писали Вы мне когда-то. А Владимир? а
Мстислав? а Донской? а Ермак? а Пожарский?
История народа принадлежит поэту".

Sorry if my Cyrillic doesn't come through, but I haven't the time just now
to transliterate.

Cheers,
David

David Powelstock
Asst. Prof. of Russian, East European and Comparative Literature
Undergraduate Advising Head, Russian Language and Literature
Chair, Program in Russian and East European Studies
GRALL, MS 024
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA 02454-9110

-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list
[mailto:SEELANGS at BAMA.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Robert Chandler
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 9:14 AM
To: SEELANGS at BAMA.UA.EDU
Subject: [SEELANGS] Pushkin- Karamzin - the Decembrists - History

Dear all,

The Decembrists were critical of Karamzin¹s HISTORY OF THE RUSSIAN STATE.
One of their criticisms was that K. put to much emphasis on the role of
Tsars, not enough on the role of the narod.

I have been told by a Russian friend that they said that History belongs to
the people, not to Tsars, and that Pushkin responded with something like
ŒIstoriya prinadlezhit POETU¹!

Can anyone confirm this and tell me where it is from?

Many thanks,

Robert

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