Pushkin

[Evgeny Steiner]

Dear All,



I have a question about Pushkin and his possible sources. Some months ago I
asked one American professor about this matter, and she recommended to
inquire with three prominent Russian pushkinists. (All of them work in the
West, and none of them cared to reply. Nomina sunt odiosa.) I hope the
question might sparkle some interest here.



A few years ago I found that a certain Aleko lived in Kishinev in the
1820s. His surname was Grekulov, and he was included in the book of Gentry
families (Книга дворянских родов) of Bessarabia province under the year
1827. (As I learned from the local historians, it took about 5-6 years
between the application and registration - which makes his presence in town
exactly concurrent with Pushkin. And one more thing: Pushkin stayed in the
house that later (from the early 1840s) belonged to the Grekulov family.
The first registered owner of this family, "the widow Ekaterina Grekulova"
was a daughter-in-law of this Aleko; as a girl she met Pushkin many times
(her oral stories have been recorded). Close to that place (as you possibly
know, there is a museum now in that house) there was Grekulovsky Lane.



I thought: what if the young Pushkin met this Aleko, who was most probably
slightly senior, and had a romantic air about him - as a Greek and a fresh
exile from his motherland. (The fact that he was the first generation in
Russia is additionally proved by the absence of his patronymic in the
Gentry Book). So - maybe Pushkin's Aleko was somehow evoked by this Aleko
Grekulov? (I myself take this hypothesis cum grano salis - but why not?)



With thanks for all comments and information,



Evgeny


-- 
Evgeny Steiner
Professorial Research Associate
Japan Research Centre
SOAS, University of London
Russell Square
London WC1H 0XG
United Kingdom

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