II. THE ANCIENT PERIOD, FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY
TO THE TATAR DOMINION, 988-1224 39

III. SECOND PERIOD, FROM THE TATAR DOMINION TO THE TIME OF IVAN
THE TERRIBLE, 1224-1330 47

IV. THIRD PERIOD, FROM THE TIME OF IVAN THE TERRIBLE, 1530, TO
THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 50

V. FOURTH PERIOD, FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
TO THE EPOCH OF REFORM UNDER PETER THE GREAT 61

VI. FIFTH PERIOD, THE REIGN OF PETER THE GREAT, 1689-1723 66

VII. SIXTH PERIOD, THE REIGN OF KATHERINE II. 1762-1796 80

VIII. SEVENTH PERIOD, FROM PUSHKIN TO THE WRITERS OF THE FORTIES 123

IX. SEVENTH PERIOD: GONTCHAROFF, GRIGOROVITCH, TURGENEFF 161

X. SEVENTH PERIOD: OSTROVSKY, A. K. TOLSTOY, POLONSKY,
NEKRASOFF, SHEVTCHENKO, AND OTHERS 181

XI. DOSTOEVSKY 212

XII. SEVENTH PERIOD: DANILEVSKY, SALTYKOFF, L. N. TOLSTOY,
GORKY, AND OTHERS 229

PREFACE.

In this volume I have given exclusively the views of Russian critics
upon their literature, and hereby acknowledge my entire indebtedness to
them.

The limits of the work, and the lack of general knowledge on the
subject, rendered it impossible for me to attempt any comparisons with
foreign literatures.

ISABEL F. HAPGOOD.

NEW YORK, June 6, 1902.

RUSSIAN LITERATURE

CHAPTER I

THE ANCIENT PERIOD, FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE INTRODUCTION OF
CHRISTIANITY IN 988.

Whether Russia had any literature, or even a distinctive alphabet,
previous to the end of the tenth century, is not known.

In the year 988, Vladimir, Grand Prince of Kieff, accepted
Christianity for himself and his nation, from Byzantium, and baptized
Russia wholesale. Hence his characteristic title in history,
"Prince-Saint-equal-to-the-Apostles." His grandmother, Olga, had already
been converted to the Greek Church late in life, and had established
churches and priests in Kieff, it is said. Prince Vladimir could have
been baptized at home, but he preferred to make the Greek form of
Christianity his state religion in a more decided manner; to adopt the
gospel of peace to an accompaniment of martial deeds. Ac