SEELANGS: Gogol as Realist

[Matthew Walker]

It's not unusual for the time. Trotsky is in a lot of ways only 
repeating the conventional wisdom of the period, although the 
questioning of Gogol's realism had already begun in earnest with Rozanov 
in the early 1890s. Trotsky's take on the matter probably owes as much 
to Chernyshevsky as it does to Belinsky (there's a difference). The 
latter's understanding of Gogol's "realism" as it develops over the 
course of his career as a critic is actually a bit more complicated than 
the "father of the natural school" line would seem to suggest, and very 
mixed up with Hegel in interesting ways.

Best,
Matt Walker

Kirsty McCluskey wrote:
> Hello all
>
> I am currently polishing up a commented translation of a very early article
> by Trotsky, published in 1902 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Gogol's
> death.  Throughout the piece, Trotsky consistently refers to Gogol as a
> Realist; indeed, as the Father of the Realist School.  As one who knows
> Trotsky somewhat better than I know Gogol studies (although I know Gogol's
> output well), this strikes me as an odd descriptor.
>
> I wonder, can anyone tell me whether this is consistent with contemporary
> views on Gogol?  Did the great minds of 1902 indeed see Gogol not only as a
> Realist, but as *the* Realist?
>
> Best wishes
> Kirsty McCluskey
>
>   

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------