TOMSK, Jul 8 – RIA Tomsk. Philologists of TSU released the 15th volume of complete works of the Russian classic Vasily Zhukovsky; part of the letters – from 1795 to 1817, when he only made his debut in literature and discussed topics of concern to his family, including his tragic love, – published for the first time, the press service of the university said on Monday.
According to the press service, scientists of the TSU Faculty of Philology are engaged in publishing the complete works of Zhukovsky. As a result, they plan to release 20 volumes, including approximately 3000 letters to be published. Prior to this work science knew about 1000 letters of the Russian classic. The most recent the15th volume includes letters from an early period – from 1795 to 1817, 80 of which are published for the first time.
"These letters are mainly connected with his literary debut and with his closely related, friendly circle. A particularly impressive cycle - letters from 1814-1817, telling about his tragic love for Masha Protasova, is just a heartbreaking reading. In these letters, the story of Zhukovsky as of the poet and as a highly moral person is very obvious", – the professor Olga Lebedeva is quoted in the message.
It is noted that in 2019 Tomsk philologists also intend to publish the 16th volume, which will include more than 150 previously unknown letters from Zhukovsky. Scientists are engaged in the search for manuscripts, studying in detail the circle of his communication and the geography of travel. Previously unknown letters can be found in the archives of Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as in Italy, Germany and France, where the addressees lived.
In particular, the press service reports, Zhukovsky’s letters to his mother, half-sisters, nieces, literary friends Batyushkov, Vyazemsky, Voyekov, Gnedich, Derzhavin, Dmitriyev and Karamzin, as well as to members of the imperial family - to Alexander I, Empress Maria Fedorovna and Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich have already been published.
It is added that Tomsk philologists are recognized as the main researchers in the world of Zhukovsky's creativity. Work with the legacy of the poet began in 1974 with the study of his personal library, transferred to Tomsk University in 1880 by the patron Serebryakov and including more than four thousand volumes. In 1991, the group of authors involved in this work was awarded the State Prize of Russia.