Sergei Alexandrovich Sobolevsky
Sobolevsky Sergei Alexandrovich (1803-1870), close friend of Pushkin, famous bibliophile and bibliographer. Pushkin met him in 1818, when Sobolevsky studied with the poet’s brother Lev at the St. Petersburg Noble boarding school, but they became friends in Moscow after Pushkin returned from exile. Pushkin completely trusted him as a friend. N.M. Yazykov called Sobolevsky “a friend, admirer, biryuch [that is, herald, messenger] and hospitable host of Pushkin.” Coming to Moscow, Pushkin stayed, if not with Nashchokin or in a hotel, then with Sobolevsky, and once lived with him for five whole months (from December 19, 1826 to May 19, 1827). In gratitude for his friendship and hospitality, the poet presented Sobolevsky with his portrait, ordered from the artist V. A. Tropinin, and a unique copy of the poem “Gypsies,” printed especially for him on parchment. Sobolevsky, like P. A. Pletnev in St. Petersburg, was an invaluable assistant to Pushkin in publishing matters. He, as a man of a practical mindset, took part in organizing the poet’s financial affairs, and after his death, in saving his widow and children from poverty.
Book materials used: Pushkin A.S. Works in 5 volumes. M., Synergy Publishing House, 1999.
Sobolevsky Sergei Alexandrovich (09/10/1803-10/6/1870), bibliographer and poet. Illegitimate son of landowner A. N. Soimonov. He received his education at the Noble boarding school at the Pedagogical Institute in St. Petersburg. He served in the Moscow archive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he became close friends with D.V. Venevitinov, brothers I.V. and P.V. Kireevsky and other “wise men.” In 1826-27 he participated in the organization of the Moskovsky Vestnik magazine. The beginning of his friendship with A.S. Pushkin, whom he met back in 1818 through the poet’s brother, dates back to the same time. Sobolevsky was the publisher of "The Robber Brothers", the 2nd chapter of "Eugene Onegin", "Gypsies". Living for a long time in France and having extensive literary connections, Sobolevsky did a lot to popularize Pushkin’s work. Sobolevsky gained great fame as a wit, the author of numerous epigrams, acrostics, puns, and parodies.
Used materials from the site Great Encyclopedia of the Russian People - http://www.rusinst.ru
S. A. Sobolevsky Artist K. P. Bryullov. 1832
Sobolevsky Sergei Alexandrovich (1803-1870).
Unknown writer
All known epigrams,
Lies and fanciful persecutor,
The enemy of all fools, all fools...
This is what the poetess E.P. Rostopchina, who knew him well, called Sobolevsky. The targets of his epigrams and impromptu were prominent figures of Nicholas Russia, writers and journalists, and even friends. Educated, original and witty, he had, according to a contemporary, “many wonderful qualities, and he had a sensitive heart.” A passionate bibliophile, he collected a unique library of many thousands of volumes. Sobolevsky met Pushkin after the poet left the Lyceum through L. S. Pushkin, his classmate at the Noble boarding school at St. Petersburg University.
During the years of the poet’s exile, Sobolevsky and L. S. Pushkin prepared the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila” for publication and carried out some of Pushkin’s instructions. At Sobolevsky’s apartment, Pushkin read “Boris Godunov” to his friends in the fall of 1826. Sobolevsky introduces the poet to A. Mitskevich, the Polev brothers and writers - employees of the Moskovsky Vestnik. The poet entrusts him with the publication of the second chapter of Eugene Onegin, The Robber Brothers, as well as financial settlements with publishers. On the initiative of Sobolevsky, the artist V. A. Tropinin created one of the best portraits of Pushkin. From the end of 1828 to 1833, Sobolevsky lived abroad and in letters to friends he was interested in Pushkin and his literary pursuits. In the next two years they meet often in St. Petersburg. Pushkin’s sister O. S. Pavlishcheva wrote at this time that “Alexander cannot live” without Sobolevsky. The poet appreciated his friend’s literary taste, exceptional wit and cheerful disposition and, according to the historian, publisher and bibliographer P. I. Bartenev, “he trusted him with his works before they were published, accepted his advice, valued his comments.” Pushkin's death found Sobolevsky in Paris. According to the writer V.A. Sollogub, Sobolevsky alone could have kept him from the fatal duel with Dantes.
L.A. Chereisky. Contemporaries of Pushkin. Documentary essays. M., 1999, p. 192-193.
Essays:
Epigrams and impromptu. M., 1912;
Journals and Chamber-Fourier journals 1695-1774. M., 1867.
Literature:
Berezin-Shiryaev Ya. S. A. Sobolevsky. St. Petersburg, 1892;
Extracts from letters from I. S. Maltsov to S. A. Sobolevsky / Preface. N. I. Barsukova. St. Petersburg, 1904.
Bibliographer, bibliophile and famous epigrammatist in his time, b. September 10, 1803, was the illegitimate son of A. N. Soimonov.
Sobolevsky's mother, Anna Ivanovna Lobkova, née Ignatieva, was the granddaughter of Lieutenant General Stepan Lukich Ignatiev (d. 1747), St. Petersburg commandant during the times of Empresses Anna and Elizabeth.
The situation of Sobolevsky, deprived of a family since childhood, and the living conditions that surrounded him in his early years, did not remain without influence on his mental makeup. S. was born in Riga, but since childhood his permanent residence has been Moscow.
Here, thanks to his mother, who never spared money for him, he received a very serious initial upbringing and education.
While studying languages, he, by the way, already in his early years, mastered the Latin language so much that he even translated passages from the History of the Russian State.
S. received further education at the then newly founded Noble boarding school at the Main Pedagogical Institute in St. Petersburg.
Education here was weak and did not have a strong moral influence on young people.
Education progressed unevenly; However, among the teachers, especially in the senior classes, Kunitsyn, Arsenyev, Galich, Raupakh, young Pletnev, as well as Kuchelbecker, who had just graduated from the lyceum, stood out.
The latter acquired a special favor among the pupils.
Ardently devoted to literary interests, he managed, through his teaching of the Russian language and literature, to develop in many students an interest and inclination for literary pursuits; such are S. D. Poltoratsky, N. A. Melgunov, N. A. Markkevich and others. S. already wrote his epigrams here.
Sobolevsky's interest in literature developed very widely.
Even after completing the course at the boarding school, he studied the literature of Slavic dialects, French, Portuguese, English, and German.
At the same time, he was interested in mathematics, technology, mechanics, and architecture.
His versatility, as well as his restless character, prompted him to quickly become friends with a wide variety of people.
Of his comrades, S. was close to M.I. Glinka (who mentioned him more than once in his notes) and especially to L.S. Pushkin.
He maintained friendly relations with them forever.
Subsequently, he was the guardian of the children of L. S. Pushkin.
The latter introduced him to his brother's young circle. Acquaintance with A.S. Pushkin soon turned into a close relationship.
Having excellently completed the course at the Noble boarding school, S. entered the service of the Moscow Main Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the command of A. Ya. Bulgakov and A. F. Malinovsky.
The first of them left disapproving reviews of Sobolevsky.
Indeed, in Moscow S. led an extremely distracted social life, interspersed with revelry, which was facilitated by the large funds provided to him by his mother; but alongside this, he constantly made and maintained literary connections. The lack of proper upbringing and a firm position in the social circle into which he was supposed to join introduced into Sobolevsky’s character, on the one hand, a trait of some licentiousness, and on the other, extremely sensitive pride.
He turned many against himself with his satirical antics and self-confident manner of address (he was given the nickname: “Mylord qu” “importe”). But people close to him were condescending towards his shortcomings, appreciating in him, along with his inexhaustible wit that spared no one, his education and developed literary taste, his penchant for literature and a serious understanding of its interests.
Although Sobolevsky’s service in the Archives soon ceased (in 1828), he managed to become close to the circle of so-called “archive youths,” who at that time comprised the “bloom” of intelligent youth.
Here, by the way, were I.V. Kireevsky and the brothers D.V. and A.V. Venevitinov.
The new circle attracted the sympathy of many and grew thanks to the young forces joining it from the outside. So, M. A. Maksimovich and M. P. Pogodin, who completed the course at Moscow University, joined here, with whom S. soon became friends. At the same time, Sobolevsky’s rapprochement began with Mitskevich, who served in the office of Prince. D.V. Golitsyn, and close relations are established with Pushkin and his circle.
The poet, returned from exile in the fall of 1826, read “Boris Godunov” with him and soon after settled with him. Even during the first time of Pushkin’s exile to the south, S., on his instructions, published, together with his brother, “Ruslan and Lyudmila”; he also published “The Robber Brothers”; then he printed the 2nd chapter of Onegin. Now, due to his closeness to Pushkin and the Venevitinovs, S. took a direct part in their literary plans and, consequently, in the founding of the Moscow Bulletin, which began publishing in 1827 under the editorship of Pogodin.
S. was among the main employees of the magazine and participated in the development of the initial agreement between them. At this time, the inclinations of a bibliographer and a bibliophile were already determined in him.
In 1828, S. buried his mother and after that went abroad for a long time.
Traveling around Europe, he visited Italy, France, Spain, and England.
Devoting part of his time to entertainment, S., however, on this very first trip he began to collect his wonderful library, studied book depositories and the museum, and made numerous acquaintances.
More than once and then making long trips abroad, S. became close to many interesting and outstanding people of his time.
In Madrid he was familiar with gr. Montijo and her daughter - the future Empress Eugenie; their relationship was maintained subsequently, as well as their acquaintance with Louis Napoleon.
Literary connections made in Paris include a rapprochement with Merimee and others. In Portugal, Sobolevsky’s friend was Visconde de Santarem. S. was especially interested in Portuguese literature.
But besides these connections and literary interests, trips to Europe were caused by Sobolevsky’s material circumstances and commercial purposes: after the death of his mother, her large estates passed to the legal heirs (Davydov and Apraksin), but he was left only with the money set aside for his share at his birth ; and therefore, in order to improve his affairs, S., who was a friend and colleague in the Archive of S.I. Maltsev, took part in the establishment of the Samsonievskaya (Maltsevskaya) paper spinning factory in St. trips.
Forced to be separated from his friends and acquaintances very often, S., however, managed to maintain close relationships with them to the end.
While in Russia, he lived either in Moscow or in St. Petersburg.
When, at the end of the 40s, the factory of Maltsev and Sobolevsky burned down, the latter spent several years abroad, and then lived for some time in St. Petersburg.
S. spent the last period of his life (from 1852) in Moscow, working mainly with bibliography and the library.
In society, many members of the new generation of writers greeted him rather dryly, not approving of his “dictatorial techniques.” But he kept in touch with his old literary friends, of whom his “oldest and best friend,” Prince, lived in Moscow. Vl. F. Odoevsky. - S. died in Moscow on October 6, 1870 and was buried in the Donskoy Monastery.
Shortly before Sobolevsky's death, his affairs were greatly shaken; he kept his money in shares of French railways, and these roads ceased to generate income during the Franco-Prussian War. However, already before, wanting to improve his funds, he negotiated the sale of his library; but the sale did not take place.
The books that formed the basis of Sobolevsky's library were left to him by his father. The library, huge (25,000 volumes) and carefully collected, was highly remarkable both for its completeness and for the rarity of many of the publications.
The departments of geography and travel (between them - a collection of travels around Russia in foreign languages) and bibliography, as well as Russian history and archeology, were especially outstanding for their completeness.
Sobolevsky's heiress, S.N. Lvova, sold this wonderful library for 25,000 thalers to Liszt, a Leipzig bookseller, while Sobolevsky himself was offered 50 thousand by specialists who deliberately came from abroad. Liszt sold it at auction.
Two catalogs of this library were published: a catalog of foreign books - in French: "Catalogue de la collection precieuse de livres anciens et modernes formant la bibliotheque de feu M. Serge Sobolewski (de Moscou) ... Leipzig 1873" - 4448 book titles, with notes on their dignity and rarity and with an article by Albert Cohn on Sobolevsky; catalog of Russian books - in Russian and French: "Sobolevsky's Russian Library. Catalog de livres russes de la bibliotheque de M. Serge S. (de Moscou) ... Leipzig 1874" - 800 titles.
These catalogs did not include many books from the Sobolevsky library, previously acquired by the British Museum.
In addition, Sobolevsky’s correspondence with various individuals amounted to 28 large volumes. Most of the Russian books from Sobolevsky’s library were bought, according to M. N. Longinov, gr. Apraksin.
All of Sobolevsky's correspondence was acquired by gr. Sheremetev.
Sobolevsky's archive was taken to the property belonging to gr. S. D. Sheremetev p. Mikhailovskoye (Moscow province). Collecting a library and doing bibliography, S. acted to a large extent as an educated amateur. But, however, he was not an amateur: while doing his favorite thing not exclusively, he did it seriously, and therefore his activities left behind some trace, in addition to the library, S. contributed to the development of bibliography and librarianship; being in contact with specialists, studying museums and libraries - public and private, in Russia and abroad - he sometimes extracted and reported new materials; he preserved several manuscripts; finally, he left a number of works of a bibliographic nature.
Interested in the development of his business and following it, S. was in personal relations with Russian bibliographers (for example, with Poltoratsky, Gennadi, Bartenev, Berezin-Shiryaev); All his life he maintained an extensive correspondence with bibliographers in Western Europe.
In practice, he applied his knowledge of the matter to the organization and organization of private libraries, namely Chertkov and Prince. S. M. Golitsyn, as well as the English Club. S. contributed to the enrichment of both Chertkovskaya and Imp. Public Library and Rumyantsev Museum. The idea of a public library in Moscow, which received particular development by the beginning of the 60s, met with active sympathy in Sobolevsky; he was among the people (Lobkov, Betsky, etc.) who decided to donate their libraries to this cause.
S. made some contributions to literature in the form of unknown documents and materials.
Noteworthy are S.'s messages related to Catherine II, published in Russian. Archives of 1863: “The moral ideals of Catherine V.”; "Two notes from her"; "Philological studies of Catherine II", "Letters of Catherine II to A.V. Olsufiev." It should be noted that Sobolevsky received the handwritten manuscripts of Imp. Catherine with the papers of her Secretary of State P. A. Soimonov.
After Sobolevsky’s death, the “Handwritten Note of Catherine II” that he kept was printed (Russian Arch. 1877). From the materials reported by Sobolevsky relating to other eras, we will name: “The Journey to the Holy Land of St. Lukyanov at the beginning of the 18th century.” (Russian Arch. 1863) and “Note on the liberation of peasants in Russia from serfdom, compiled in 1818 by order of Alexander Pavlovich” (Russian Arch. 1865). He also gave Bartenev 34 letters from A.S. Pushkin to his brother and reported several of his unpublished poems. The most important bibliographic work is the multi-volume edition compiled by Sobolevsky: “Journals and Chamber-Fourier Journals 1695-1747,” M. 1867. As a bibliographer, S. was an employee of Manuel de Brunet. In addition, he published a number of mainly bibliographic articles, small notes and messages, which were replenished even after his death, chap. arr. - in the "Russian Archive", as well as in other publications.
An interesting letter to P. A. Mukhanov (1866): “The most ancient map of Russia” (“Chronicle of Archaeographical Occupations.”
Commission." 1865-1866. Issue 4. St. Petersburg. 1868); "On the Psalter of 1457" ("Bibliography.
Zap." 1858, vol. V, No. 4, art. 123-127). The article "On the influence of Smolensky Boulevard (in Moscow) on the Portuguese parliament (in Lisbon)" (Russian Arch. 1868) is characteristic of some traits of Sobolevsky's personal character , No. 2). - In “Russian Antiquity” there is a biographical note - “Stories about I. A. Krylov”, reported by Kenevich and Sobolevsky.
Of the literary articles, the one published in the Russian Archive is much more important: “Mysterious Signs in the Life of Pushkin” (1870, No. 7). Most of Sobolevsky's articles are signed with the sign: X. To what has been said, we need to add a few words about Sobolevsky's publishing works.
In addition to the hassle of publishing Pushkin’s poems, S. took upon himself the publication of Maksimovich’s Little Russian Songs (1827). Then he collected materials (extracts of everything that appeared in magazines) for two failed publications: the Song Book and the Works of the Prince. Vyazemsky. - The “literary name” acquired by Sobolevsky is also indicated by the fact that, while living in Moscow, he was a full member, treasurer and at one time secretary of the “Society of Lovers of Russian Literature” when it resumed under the chairmanship of Khomyakov.
Here S. was elected to the commission for the publication of songs collected by P. V. Kireevsky.
He was also an honorary member of the Imperial Public Library and the Moscow Public and Rumyantsev Museums.
But S.’s wide popularity in society (especially in Moscow) almost mainly owed to his epigrams, impromptu, poetic jokes and witticisms, which were picked up on the fly, passed on from mouth to mouth and one way or another enjoyed success, especially in literary circles.
For many years he was a “sworn singer” of the events of Moscow life. Often his epigrams were attributed to Pushkin, and sometimes vice versa.
S.'s poems in Russian, French and German, like his witticisms, are of a twofold nature: some of them are a playful play on words, cheerful and harmless chatter; others, on the contrary, are evil mockery and satire, sometimes quite subtle, and sometimes harsh and bilious, full of irritation.
The first are limited almost exclusively to the area of friendly relations: for example, a whole series of humorous plays related to the book. Odoevsky.
The circle of the latter is more diverse.
The epigrams on F. F. Wigel are especially sharp.
S. subsequently seriously and openly repented of some of his satirical works; such are the poems about Vigel and “Kankriniad” (See “Russian Arch.” 1874, No. 8; especially 1897, III, No. 10, pp. 297-298; 1898, No. 12; 1899, I). Sobolevsky's satire, although poisonous and often evil, is mostly shallow; sometimes it takes on a lighter shade.
In the foreground in his humorous works there is glibness of verse and originality of rhyme, free play on words, and ease.
This could enhance the impression of poisonousness and accuracy.
Sometimes he gave them the form of acrostics, parodies, etc. Undoubtedly, much in S.’s relations with his contemporaries depended on his language, which he loved to give free rein to. From modern reviews it is clear that, while being “pleasant entertainment” for some, Sobolevsky’s wit, which manifested itself unexpectedly and accurately, had a completely different effect on others. An irritated Wigel expresses himself about Sobolevsky “cette obscenite de la tete aux pieds.” C. is one of the people known for his closeness with a number of prominent contemporaries.
Therefore, the few materials that have reached us, which speak mainly about Sobolevsky’s “literary” connections, are of great importance.
They add several features to the characteristics and biography of not only Sobolevsky, but also major personalities who were in close relationships with him.
It should be noted, in addition to Pushkin, the names of Zhukovsky, bar. Delviga, gr. V. Sologub, Kireevskikh, book. Vyazemsky, Baratynsky, book. Odoevsky.
Sobolevsky's relations with modern writers were quite varied.
Some of them left their reviews about it.
Vyazemsky’s review (regarding the false rumor about Sobolevsky’s death in 1830, in Paris, during the July Revolution, from a wound allegedly received) is rather cold.
Baratynsky, on the contrary, mentions him very friendly.
S. was one of his first acquaintances in Moscow and subsequently was close to him, but, due to his mentality, S. in some respects valued his other brother, Lev Abramovich, more. - Sobolevsky’s connection with the prince was much closer. V.F. Odoevsky, especially in recent years. The diversity of interests of both and the acquaintance made in early youth can only to some extent explain the closeness of the relationship between these two people, so different from each other in mentality and character.
The most interesting question is about the relationship between S. and Pushkin.
It is known that they were in frequent and friendly relations with each other.
They were considered very close friends: gr. Sologub even expressed the conviction that S. alone, due to his influence on Pushkin, could have kept him from the fatal duel if he had been in St. Petersburg at that time.
Back in 1826, Sobolevsky eliminated Pushkin’s duel with gr. F.I. Tolstoy (“American”). Their friendship is also indicated by the fact that Sobolevsky commissioned a famous portrait of Pushkin from Tropinin.
Pushkin printed a copy of "Gypsy" on parchment for Sobolevsky.
But what kind of relationship they had, in terms of internal content, depth and cordiality, is difficult to judge.
The data relating to this issue is very conflicting.
Many facts, and above all - the publication of Pushkin's works, entrusted by the latter to Sobolevsky, Sobolevsky's concerns and efforts in favor of Pushkin - indicate their closeness.
Pushkin’s printed letters to Sobolevsky, although they speak of a short relationship, are all of an external, almost exclusively business nature; they bear very little resemblance to Pushkin’s letters to friends, at least to correspondence with P.V. Nashchokin, also filled with negotiations about business and money.
And many other European writers.
Origin and upbringing
Archive young man. Image in the eyes of contemporaries
From 1822 he served in Moscow, in the archives of the College of Foreign Affairs. The service there was almost purely formal (having received a lot of money from wealthy parents, Sobolevsky did not need to earn money for a long time); at that time, it was held by “archival youths” (this term that went down in history belongs to Sobolevsky) - the wise men Dmitry Venevitinov, Pyotr Kireevsky and Stepan Shevyrev. Having become acquainted with literary Moscow (having become especially close to V.F. Odoevsky, with whom he even co-authored), Sobolevsky quickly gained fame as the author of caustic epigrams, a lover of ridicule of people from outside the circle and various kinds of shocking cynical antics (receives the nickname Mylord qu'importe - My Lord “so what”) and at the same time a man of impeccable literary taste and erudition, a reliable comrade and an interesting conversationalist. Among his good acquaintances in subsequent years were such writers of younger generations as N.V. Gogol, M.Yu. Lermontov, I.S. Turgenev and L.N. Tolstoy. In the early 1840s, he briefly communicated with members of Belinsky's circle.
Sobolevsky and Pushkin
Sobolevsky's acquaintance with Pushkin played a very important role in the poet's biography. Having met Pushkin at the age of 15, Sobolevsky distributed subscription tickets for an unpublished collection of Pushkin's poems; in preparing for publication “Ruslan and Lyudmila” (the author was expelled from St. Petersburg); in 1825-1826 he was an intermediary between Pushkin and the Moscow Telegraph, and after Pushkin’s release from exile (1826), he introduced him to the Moscow literary public, according to an agent report from the III department, “he took him to taverns, watered and fed him at his own expense.” In September 1826, Sobolevsky became “Pushkin’s guide to Moscow.” The friends met in the house of Vasily Lvovich Pushkin on Staraya Basmannaya, 36. Sobolevsky found Pushkin at dinner. The poet instructed a friend to present a challenge to a duel to Count Tolstoy, the “American”.
The schoolchildren gathered, and soon
Mikhailo Dmitriev copied the review,
In which he clearly proved
That “Woe from Wit” is not Mishenka’s grief. 
Based on the publication of Pushkin, edited by G. N. Gennadi
O poor victim of two hellish fiends:
Dantes killed you and Gennadi is publishing!
Collector and bibliographer
In the second half of his life, Sobolevsky gained European fame as a bibliophile and bibliographer. In the 1840-1860s he made several large trips abroad in order to replenish the library and establish scientific contacts. He collected “books about books” (on the history of printing, bibliography, etc.), as well as descriptions of travel. He actively contributed to public libraries in Russia and abroad, donating rare books from his collection to them. Librarian and treasurer of the Society of Lovers of Russian Literature, compiled catalogs of several public and private libraries in Moscow. He published a number of articles on ancient books and manuscripts, including commentaries on the papers of Catherine II.
This library was sold by the heirs (shortly before the death of Sobolevsky, who kept his savings in French securities, the Franco-Prussian War ruined it) to a Leipzig bookselling company, then part of it went to the University of Leipzig and the British Museum. His valuable archive was purchased at auction by S. D. Sheremetev and is currently kept in Russian state collections.
Recent years
In 1838, Sobolevsky, together with a fellow employee in the archive, I. S. Maltsov, opened a paper spinning factory in St. Petersburg, known as Sampsonievskaya Manufactory, which strengthened his well-being. At the end of the 1840s it burned down. From that time on, Sobolevsky lived abroad, then in St. Petersburg, then in Moscow. In 1852 he finally settled in “white stone” and died there in 1870 from a stroke.
Bibliography
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Notes
Literature
- Bartenev P. I.
- Verkhovsky Yu. N.// Russian biographical dictionary: in 25 volumes. - St. Petersburg. -M., 1896-1918.
- Kunin V.V.“The unknown writer of well-known epigrams” // Bibliophiles of Pushkin’s era / V. V. Kunin / Artist E. L. Erman.. - M.: Book, 1979. - P. 15 - 204. - 352 p. - 50,000 copies.(in translation)
- Larionova E. O.. Sergei Aleksandrovich Sobolevsky // Russian writers 1800-1917, vol. 5, M.: BRE, 2007. - Page. 700-703.
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An excerpt characterizing Sobolevsky, Sergei Alexandrovich
The Countess began to calm Natasha down. Natasha, who had been listening at first to her mother’s words, suddenly interrupted her:- Stop it, mom, I don’t think, and I don’t want to think! So, I traveled and stopped, and stopped...
Her voice trembled, she almost cried, but she recovered and calmly continued: “And I don’t want to get married at all.” And I'm afraid of him; I have now completely, completely calmed down...
The next day after this conversation, Natasha put on that old dress, which she was especially famous for the cheerfulness it brought in the morning, and in the morning she began her old way of life, from which she had fallen behind after the ball. After drinking tea, she went to the hall, which she especially loved for its strong resonance, and began to sing her solfeges (singing exercises). Having finished the first lesson, she stopped in the middle of the hall and repeated one musical phrase that she especially liked. She listened joyfully to the (as if unexpected for her) charm with which these shimmering sounds filled the entire emptiness of the hall and slowly froze, and she suddenly felt cheerful. “It’s good to think about it so much,” she said to herself and began to walk back and forth around the hall, not walking with simple steps on the ringing parquet floor, but at every step shifting from heel (she was wearing her new, favorite shoes) to toe, and just as joyfully as you listen to the sounds of your voice, listening to this measured clatter of a heel and the creaking of a sock. Passing by the mirror, she looked into it. - “Here I am!” as if the expression on her face when she saw herself spoke. - “Well, that’s good. And I don’t need anyone.”
The footman wanted to enter to clean something in the hall, but she did not let him in, again closing the door behind him, and continued her walk. This morning she returned again to her favorite state of self-love and admiration for herself. - “What a charm this Natasha is!” she said again to herself in the words of some third, collective, male person. “She’s good, she has a voice, she’s young, and she doesn’t bother anyone, just leave her alone.” But no matter how much they left her alone, she could no longer be calm and she immediately felt it.
The entrance door opened in the hallway, and someone asked: “Are you at home?” and someone's steps were heard. Natasha looked in the mirror, but she did not see herself. She listened to sounds in the hall. When she saw herself, her face was pale. It was him. She knew this for sure, although she barely heard the sound of his voice from the closed doors.
Natasha, pale and frightened, ran into the living room.
- Mom, Bolkonsky has arrived! - she said. - Mom, this is terrible, this is unbearable! – I don’t want... to suffer! What should I do?...
Before the countess even had time to answer her, Prince Andrei entered the living room with an anxious and serious face. As soon as he saw Natasha, his face lit up. He kissed the hand of the countess and Natasha and sat down near the sofa.
“We haven’t had the pleasure for a long time...” the countess began, but Prince Andrei interrupted her, answering her question and obviously in a hurry to say what he needed.
“I wasn’t with you all this time because I was with my father: I needed to talk to him about a very important matter.” “I just returned last night,” he said, looking at Natasha. “I need to talk to you, Countess,” he added after a moment of silence.
The Countess, sighing heavily, lowered her eyes.
“I am at your service,” she said.
Natasha knew that she had to leave, but she could not do it: something was squeezing her throat, and she looked discourteously, directly, with open eyes at Prince Andrei.
"Now? This minute!... No, this can’t be!” she thought.
He looked at her again, and this look convinced her that she was not mistaken. “Yes, now, this very minute, her fate was being decided.”
“Come, Natasha, I’ll call you,” the countess said in a whisper.
Natasha looked at Prince Andrei and her mother with frightened, pleading eyes, and left.
“I came, Countess, to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage,” said Prince Andrei. The countess's face flushed, but she said nothing.
“Your proposal...” the countess began sedately. “He was silent, looking into her eyes. – Your offer... (she was embarrassed) we are pleased, and... I accept your offer, I’m glad. And my husband... I hope... but it will depend on her...
“I’ll tell her when I have your consent... do you give it to me?” - said Prince Andrei.
“Yes,” said the countess and extended her hand to him and, with a mixed feeling of aloofness and tenderness, pressed her lips to his forehead as he leaned over her hand. She wanted to love him like a son; but she felt that he was a stranger and a terrible person for her. “I’m sure my husband will agree,” said the countess, “but your father...
“My father, to whom I told my plans, made it an indispensable condition of consent that the wedding should take place no earlier than a year. And this is what I wanted to tell you,” said Prince Andrei.
– It’s true that Natasha is still young, but for so long.
“It couldn’t be otherwise,” Prince Andrei said with a sigh.
“I will send it to you,” said the countess and left the room.
“Lord, have mercy on us,” she repeated, looking for her daughter. Sonya said that Natasha is in the bedroom. Natasha sat on her bed, pale, with dry eyes, looking at the images and, quickly crossing herself, whispering something. Seeing her mother, she jumped up and rushed to her.
- What? Mom?... What?
- Go, go to him. “He asks for your hand,” the countess said coldly, as it seemed to Natasha... “Come... come,” the mother said with sadness and reproach after her fleeing daughter, and sighed heavily.
Natasha did not remember how she entered the living room. Entering the door and seeing him, she stopped. “Has this stranger really become everything to me now?” she asked herself and instantly answered: “Yes, that’s it: he alone is now dearer to me than everything in the world.” Prince Andrei approached her, lowering his eyes.
“I loved you from the moment I saw you.” Can I hope?
He looked at her, and the serious passion in her expression struck him. Her face said: “Why ask? Why doubt something you can't help but know? Why talk when you can’t express in words what you feel.”
She approached him and stopped. He took her hand and kissed it.
- Do you love me?
“Yes, yes,” Natasha said as if with annoyance, sighed loudly, and another time, more and more often, and began to sob.
- About what? What's wrong with you?
“Oh, I’m so happy,” she answered, smiled through her tears, leaned closer to him, thought for a second, as if asking herself if this was possible, and kissed him.
Prince Andrei held her hands, looked into her eyes, and did not find in his soul the same love for her. Something suddenly turned in his soul: there was no former poetic and mysterious charm of desire, but there was pity for her feminine and childish weakness, there was fear of her devotion and gullibility, a heavy and at the same time joyful consciousness of the duty that forever connected him with her. The real feeling, although it was not as light and poetic as the previous one, was more serious and stronger.
– Did maman tell you that this cannot be earlier than a year? - said Prince Andrei, continuing to look into her eyes. “Is it really me, that girl child (everyone said that about me) Natasha thought, is it really from this moment that I am the wife, equal to this stranger, sweet, intelligent man, respected even by my father. Is this really true? Is it really true that now it’s no longer possible to joke with life, now I’m big, now I’m responsible for my every deed and word? Yes, what did he ask me?
“No,” she answered, but she did not understand what he was asking.
“Forgive me,” said Prince Andrei, “but you are so young, and I have already experienced so much of life.” I'm scared for you. You don't know yourself.
Natasha listened with concentrated attention, trying to understand the meaning of his words and did not understand.
“No matter how difficult this year will be for me, delaying my happiness,” continued Prince Andrei, “in this period you will believe in yourself.” I ask you to make my happiness in a year; but you are free: our engagement will remain a secret, and if you were convinced that you do not love me, or would love me ... - said Prince Andrei with an unnatural smile.
- Why are you saying this? – Natasha interrupted him. “You know that from the very day you first arrived in Otradnoye, I fell in love with you,” she said, firmly convinced that she was telling the truth.
– In a year you will recognize yourself...
- The whole year! – Natasha suddenly said, now only realizing that the wedding had been postponed for a year. - Why a year? Why a year?...” Prince Andrei began to explain to her the reasons for this delay. Natasha didn't listen to him.
- And it’s impossible otherwise? – she asked. Prince Andrei did not answer, but his face expressed the impossibility of changing this decision.
- It's horrible! No, this is terrible, terrible! – Natasha suddenly spoke and began to sob again. - I will die waiting a year: this is impossible, this is terrible. “She looked into the face of her fiancé and saw on him an expression of compassion and bewilderment.
“No, no, I’ll do everything,” she said, suddenly stopping her tears, “I’m so happy!” – Father and mother entered the room and blessed the bride and groom.
From that day on, Prince Andrei began to go to the Rostovs as a groom.
There was no engagement and Bolkonsky’s engagement to Natasha was not announced to anyone; Prince Andrei insisted on this. He said that since he was the cause of the delay, he must bear the entire burden of it. He said that he was forever bound by his word, but that he did not want to bind Natasha and gave her complete freedom. If after six months she feels that she does not love him, she will be within her right if she refuses him. It goes without saying that neither the parents nor Natasha wanted to hear about it; but Prince Andrei insisted on his own. Prince Andrei visited the Rostovs every day, but did not treat Natasha like a groom: he told her you and kissed only her hand. After the day of the proposal, a completely different, close, simple relationship was established between Prince Andrei and Natasha. It was as if they didn't know each other until now. Both he and she loved to remember how they looked at each other when they were still nothing; now both of them felt like completely different creatures: then feigned, now simple and sincere. At first, the family felt awkward in dealing with Prince Andrei; he seemed like a man from an alien world, and Natasha spent a long time accustoming her family to Prince Andrei and proudly assured everyone that he only seemed so special, and that he was the same as everyone else, and that she was not afraid of him and that no one should be afraid his. After several days, the family got used to him and without hesitation led with him the same way of life in which he took part. He knew how to talk about the household with the Count, and about outfits with the Countess and Natasha, and about albums and canvas with Sonya. Sometimes the Rostov family, among themselves and under Prince Andrei, were surprised at how all this happened and how obvious the omens of this were: the arrival of Prince Andrei in Otradnoye, and their arrival in St. Petersburg, and the similarity between Natasha and Prince Andrei, which the nanny noticed on their first visit Prince Andrei, and the clash in 1805 between Andrei and Nikolai, and many other omens of what happened were noticed by those at home.
The house was filled with that poetic boredom and silence that always accompanies the presence of the bride and groom. Often sitting together, everyone was silent. Sometimes they got up and left, and the bride and groom, remaining alone, were still silent. Rarely did they talk about their future lives. Prince Andrei was scared and ashamed to talk about it. Natasha shared this feeling, like all his feelings, which she constantly guessed. One time Natasha started asking about his son. Prince Andrei blushed, which often happened to him now and which Natasha especially loved, and said that his son would not live with them.
Origin and upbringing
Archive young man. Image in the eyes of contemporaries
S. A. Sobolevsky, returning from a trip abroad in 1833, grew a beard despite a general ban and was forced to hide from Nicholas I in a gateway
From 1822 he served in Moscow, in the archives of the College of Foreign Affairs. The service there was almost purely formal (having received a lot of money from wealthy parents, Sobolevsky did not need to earn money for a long time); at that time, it was held by “archival youths” (this term that went down in history belongs to Sobolevsky) - the wise men Dmitry Venevitinov, Pyotr Kireevsky and Stepan Shevyrev. Having become acquainted with literary Moscow (having become especially close to V.F. Odoevsky, with whom he even co-authored), Sobolevsky quickly gained fame as the author of caustic epigrams, a lover of ridicule of people from outside the circle and various kinds of shocking cynical antics (receives the nickname Mylord qu'importe - My Lord “so what”) and at the same time a man of impeccable literary taste and erudition, a reliable comrade and an interesting conversationalist. Among his good acquaintances in subsequent years were such writers of younger generations as N.V. Gogol, M.Yu. Lermontov, I.S. Turgenev and L.N. Tolstoy. In the early 1840s, he briefly communicated with members of Belinsky's circle.
Sobolevsky and Pushkin
Pushkin ordered this textbook portrait (1827) to V. A. Tropinin for Sobolevsky
Sobolevsky's acquaintance with Pushkin played a very important role in the poet's biography. Having met Pushkin at the age of 15, Sobolevsky distributed subscription tickets for an unpublished collection of Pushkin's poems; in preparing for publication “Ruslan and Lyudmila” (the author was expelled from St. Petersburg); in 1825-1826 he was an intermediary between Pushkin and the Moscow Telegraph, and after Pushkin’s release from exile (1826), he introduced him to the Moscow literary public, according to an agent report from the III department, “he took him to taverns, watered and fed him at his own expense.” In September 1826, Sobolevsky became “Pushkin’s guide to Moscow.” The friends met in the house of Vasily Lvovich Pushkin on Staraya Basmannaya, 36. Sobolevsky found Pushkin at dinner. The poet instructed a friend to present a challenge to a duel to Count Tolstoy, the “American”.
The schoolchildren gathered, and soon
Mikhailo Dmitriev copied the review,
In which he clearly proved
That “Woe from Wit” is not Mishenka’s grief.
Based on the publication of Pushkin, edited by G. N. Gennadi
O poor victim of two hellish fiends:
Dantes killed you and Gennadi is publishing!
Origin and upbringing
The illegitimate son of the landowner Alexander Nikolaevich Soimonov and the foreman widow Lobkova, assigned to the extinct Polish family of Sobolevsky. He grew up in his mother's house in Moscow. Sobolevsky's comrades at the Noble boarding school in St. Petersburg were Lev Pushkin and P.V. Nashchokin, and V.K. Kuchelbecker taught literature. Through Lev Pushkin and Kuchelbecker, Sobolevsky met A. S. Pushkin and other lyceum students of the first graduating class, as well as E. A. Baratynsky.
Archive young man. Image in the eyes of contemporaries
From 1822 he served in Moscow, in the archives of the College of Foreign Affairs. The service there was almost purely formal (having received a lot of money from wealthy parents, Sobolevsky did not need to earn money for a long time); at that time, it was attended by “archival youths” (this term that went down in history belongs to Sobolevsky) - the wise men Dmitry Venevitinov, Pavel Kireevsky and Stepan Shevyrev. Having become acquainted with literary Moscow (having become especially close to V.F. Odoevsky, with whom he even co-authored), Sobolevsky quickly gained fame as the author of caustic epigrams, a lover of ridicule of people from outside his circle and various kinds of shocking, cynical antics (he received the nickname Mylord qu'importe - My Lord “so what”) and at the same time a man of impeccable literary taste and erudition, a reliable comrade and an interesting conversationalist. Among his good friends in subsequent years were such writers of younger generations as N.V. Gogol, M.Yu. Lermontov, I.S. Turgenev and L.N. Tolstoy.
Sobolevsky and Pushkin
Sobolevsky's acquaintance with Pushkin played a very important role in the poet's biography. Having met Pushkin at the age of 15, Sobolevsky distributed subscription tickets for an unpublished collection of Pushkin's poems; in 1820 he prepared “Ruslan and Lyudmila” for publication (the author was expelled from St. Petersburg); in 1825-1826 he was an intermediary between Pushkin and the Moscow Telegraph, and after Pushkin’s release from exile (1826), he introduced him to the Moscow literary public, according to an agent report from the III department, “he took him to taverns, watered and fed him at his own expense.” Pushkin lived in Sobolevsky’s house on Sobachaya Square (now, like the square itself, destroyed) for six months in 1826-1827, and for the first time publicly read “Boris Godunov” there. Subsequently, Sobolevsky led the publication of the second chapter of Eugene Onegin, The Robber Brothers and Gypsies. Leaving Moscow for St. Petersburg, Pushkin ordered his famous portrait for his friend V. A. Tropinin.
Their communication continued in St. Petersburg, where Sobolevsky brought Pushkin from France the works of Adam Mickiewicz, banned in Russia (and under the impression of which Pushkin wrote “The Bronze Horseman”), and was an intermediary in Pushkin’s contacts with Merimee. Repeatedly prevented Pushkin's duels. In particular, Sobolevsky managed to convince him to make peace with F.I. Tolstoy (American), who killed several people in duels, and the poet had been preparing for a duel with whom for six years; Subsequently, Tolstoy was Pushkin's matchmaker. During the last clash with Dantes, Sobolevsky was in Paris, and many contemporaries (in particular, V.A. Sollogub) believed that only his influence on the poet could keep him from taking the fatal step.
After Pushkin’s death, Sobolevsky sought financial assistance for his family and independently investigated the question of the authorship of the libel that caused the duel. For a long time he refused to write memoirs about Pushkin, limiting himself to the publication of unpublished letters and materials for Pushkin’s biography, as well as oral consultations with the first Pushkin scholars - P. V. Annenkov, P. I. Bartenev, M. N. Longinov. Only in the last year of his life did Sobolevsky publish a memoir article, “Mysterious Signs in the Life of Pushkin,” raising a very interesting topic.
The poet is not for large format printing
Sobolevsky’s first publication was an acrostic poem on the phrase “Shalikov is stupid as a log.” He also wrote couplets about the Sontsov family, “Once upon a time there was an Indian rooster,” published under the pseudonym Stalinsky (for a long time incorrectly attributed to Baratynsky or Pushkin). Numerous epigrams (“The unknown writer of well-known epigrams” - certification by E. P. Rostopchina, to whom Sobolevsky dedicated the semi-mocking madrigal “Oh, why are you not a bulldog, only of the gentle sex...”) were not intended for publication, but in large part they were collected and published posthumously. He also wrote a number of small poems of an obscene nature, many of which, for obvious reasons, have not yet been published.
To M. A. Dmitriev’s review of “Woe from Wit”
The schoolchildren gathered, and soon
Mikhailo Dmitriev copied the review,
In which he clearly proved
That “Woe from Wit” is not Mishenka’s grief.
Based on the publication of Pushkin, edited by G. N. Gennadi
O poor victim of two hellish fiends:
Dantes killed you and Gennady publishes it!
Collector and bibliographer
In the second half of his life, Sobolevsky gained European fame as a bibliophile and bibliographer. In the 1840-1860s he made several large trips abroad in order to replenish the library and establish scientific contacts. He collected “books about books” (on the history of printing, bibliography, etc.), as well as descriptions of travel. He actively contributed to public libraries in Russia and abroad, donating rare books from his collection to them. Librarian and treasurer of the Society of Lovers of Russian Literature, compiled catalogs of several public and private libraries in Moscow. Published a number of articles on ancient books and manuscripts, including commentaries on the papers of Catherine II.
This library was sold by the heirs (shortly before the death of Sobolevsky, who kept his savings in French securities, ruined by the Franco-Prussian War) to a Leipzig bookselling company, then part of it went to the University of Leipzig and the British Museum. His valuable archive was purchased at auction by S. D. Sheremetev and is currently kept in Russian state collections.
