Pushkin

[Inessa Medzhibovskaya]

Dear Evgeny,

Nomina sunt obscura. Aleco (Alecu) and Grecu (Grecul) and derviatives are
from among those quite widespread in Moldova, Bessarabia and Romania. Given
how tiny Kishinev (Chisinau) was at the time, how relatively small its
overall population, how exposed its noble circles to socializing but also
considering the flux of refugee and immigrant arrivals all is possible
(whether yes or no).

It may be worth noting that Pushkin's first name may also count as
 "Alecu/Aleco" according to the regional nicknaming custom.

Best,

Inessa
On Friday, September 21, 2012, Evgeny Steiner <es9 at soas.ac.uk> wrote:
> Dear All,
>
>
>
> I have a question about Pushkin and his possible sources. Some months
aygo 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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-- 
Inessa Medzhibovskaya
Associate Professor and Chair of Literature,
Co-Chair of Literary Studies at Eugene Lang College
Faculty in the Liberal Arts,
The New School for Social Research
65 West 11th Street, Office 452
New York, NY   10011
212-229-5100 x 2255
medzhibi at newschool.edu

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