Memories of Belinsky

This work is especially significant as it offers an intimate portrait of one of the most influential figures in Russian literary history. Vissarion Belinsky was a fervent advocate of realism and a vocal critic of the Romantic ideals that had previously dominated Russian literature. Turgenev, who held Belinsky in great esteem, provides a vivid depiction of the critic’s intellectual rigor and his impassioned belief that literature could serve as a force for social change. Turgenev’s reflections on Belinsky reveal much about the intellectual climate of mid-19th-century Russia, a period in which writers and critics alike were grappling with the pressing social issues of the time, including serfdom, autocracy, and national identity.

In addition to being a homage to Belinsky, this collection of memories sheds light on Turgenev’s own literary evolution and philosophical beliefs. Belinsky’s influence on Turgenev was profound, particularly in shaping his early career as a writer of social realism. Through his remembrances of Belinsky, Turgenev also offers a glimpse into the larger debates and tensions within the Russian intelligentsia, where questions of literary aesthetics often intersected with broader political and moral concerns. This work is not only a testament to Belinsky’s legacy but also an important historical document that illuminates the intellectual foundations of Russian literature during one of its most formative periods.

This critical reader's edition presents a modern translation of the original manuscript, crafted to help the reader engage directly with Turgenev's works through clean, contemporary language and simplified sentence structures that clarify his complex ideas. Supplementary material enriches the text with autobiographical, historical, and linguistic context, including an afterword on Turgenev’s history, impact, and intellectual legacy highlighting the personal relationships that shaped his philosophy (focusing on Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Gogol), an index of the philosophical concepts he employs (emphasizing Realism and Nihilism) a comprehensive chronological list of his published writings, a brief biography, and a detailed timeline of his life.