Reflections on the Russian Soul: A Memoir

Dmitry S. Likhachev

Published by Central European University Press 2000

Reflections on the Russian Soul

A Memoir

Dmitry S. Likhachev
Translated by: Bernard Adams

https://doi.org/10.1515/9789633864920

Overview
Contents

About this book

This compelling and often traumatic book is the memoir of one of the most important figures in modern Russian history, Dmitry S. Likhachev, revered as ‘a guardian of national culture’. Reflections on the Russian Soul is an incredible account of an intellectual’s turbulent journey through twentieth century Russia. Likhachev re-counts the fortunes of people with whom he came into contact and reproduces the air of passed years in Russia.

Likhachev vividly portrays his childhood years in St. Petersburg and continues into his student life at Leningrad University that led to an agonizing period of imprisonment and near death. He describes how a harmless prank caught the attention of the Secret Police, resulting in his exile and confinement within the infamous prison island of Solovki. He describes his first-hand experience of brutality in prison during the early Stalin years and the incident that not only saved him but also haunted him for the rest of his life.

He reflects on the years after his release from prison and the events leading up to the Second World War. His powerful recollection of the blockade of Leningrad provides the reader with a horrific insight into the harsh effects of war, hunger and survival. Lichachev goes on to describe post-war Russia and how his own livelihood developed from literary editor to a return to Leningrad University as Professor of History. This compelling autobiography finishes with Likhachev’s poignant return to Solovki as a free man.

Author / Editor information

Likhachev Dmitry S. :

Dmitry S. Likhachev was one of Russia’s most famous literary historians and cultural commentators. In the late 1980’s Mikhail Gorbachev enlisted him as Chairman of the Soviet Cultural Fund. In 1998 he was the first person since 1917 to be presented with the order of St. Andrew. He was made corresponding member of the Austrian, American, British and Italian academies of arts and sciences.

Reviews

“Protector of Russia’s Heritage. Dmitri S. Likhachev, a Russian literary scholar revered as a guardian of national culture and a voice of reason and moral authority died today in hospital in St Petersburg…During the past decade of turbulent change in Russia, Mr Likhachev, a gentle elegant man who spoke with the measured eloquence of the pre-Bolshevik intelligentsia, was frequently sought out by politicians and commentators as a referee in the churning debate over history…"

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
The Last of the Russian Intelligentsia Miklós Kun Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Foreword to the Russian Edition Publicly Available Download PDF	xv
Foreword to the English Edition Publicly Available Download PDF	xvii
The House of Likhachev Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
The Children of M. -M. Likhachev Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	5
My Childhood Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	11
The Disappearance of Katerinushka Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	16
The Petersburg of my Childhood Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	18
Kuokkala Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	28
The Crimea Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	36
A Volga Cruise, 1914 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	38
The Philanthropic Society Grammar School Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	41
K. 1. May's Grammar School and Modern School Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	42
The Revolution-Outward Impressions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	44
Life in No.l State Printing-house Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	46
Taytsy, Olgino, Toksovo Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	47
The Lentovskaya School Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	49
Leonid Vladimirovich Georg Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	51
The University Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	56
The Red Terror Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	61
The Making of a Philosophy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	65
S. A. Alekseyev-Askoldov Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	71
Khelfernak Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	73
The Brotherhood of St Serafim of Sarov Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	74
The Cosmic Academy of Sciences Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	78
Arrest and Imprisonment Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	82
Kern Transfer Point and the Crossing to Solovki Island Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	87
The Camp Topography of Solovki Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	94
The Scenery of Solovki Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	99
Krimkab Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	103
The Diagonal of a Child's Blanket Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
The Visit by Maksim Gorki and the Mass Executions of 1929 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	110
The Solovki Museum Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	120
The Solovki Theatre Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	127
Solovki People Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	132
A Few Fragments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	176
Leaving Solovki Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	178
Zvanka and Tikhvin. Release Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	181
The Fate of My Friends after Solovki Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	187
The Repression of the '30s Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	193
The Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	197
Attempts at Writing Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	199
My Conviction Quashed Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	201
I Fail the Exams Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	205
I Leave the Academy of Sciences Press Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	207
Novgorod Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	210
The Blockade Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	216
Two Letters about the Blockade of Leningrad Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	262
Prorabotki Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	267
A Trip to Solovki in 1966 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	280
My last time on Solovki Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	284
NOTES Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	287
Pictures Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	297

Language: English
Publisher: Central European University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 344
Keywords: Cultural studies; Memoir; Russia; Secret service; Soviet Union; World War II

eBook

Published: January 6, 2000
ISBN: 9789633864920