The Emergence of a Hero: A Tale of Romantic Love in Russia around 1800

The Emergence of a Hero explores the Russian emotional culture of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, focusing on the life and death of Andrei Turgenev. It reconstructs his convoluted and enigmatic case based on archival research and innovative analysis of individual emotional experience.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Emergence of a Hero delves into the rich tapestry of Russian emotional culture during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, a time when court Masonic lodges and literature vied for dominance in shaping the symbolic images of feeling that an educated and Europeanized Russian was expected to internalize and reproduce. At the heart of this captivating study lies the captivating story of Andrei Turgenev (1781-1803), a multifaceted individual who embodied the essence of a confessional diary, a gifted poet, and an early Russian Romantic. Tragically, Turgenev's life ended before he could fully embody the principles and models he held dear. Raised on the patterns of emotions found in the works of Rousseau, Sterne, and the authors of Sturm and Drang, Turgenev quickly realized that these were too constricting for his unique individuality. Consequently, he embarked on a journey toward a more mature form of Romanticism, a quest that ultimately proved elusive. While Turgenev's literary endeavors may not have been the primary focus of his experimentation, his life itself became a testament to the complexities and contradictions of emotional experience. To unravel the intricate threads of this convoluted and enigmatic case, the author has relied on extensive archival research and a groundbreaking analysis of individual emotional journeys. Through this meticulous approach, the reader is granted a profound understanding of Turgenev's life and the forces that shaped his artistic and personal aspirations. The Emergence of a Hero serves as a testament to the enduring power of emotions and the complexities of human nature, offering a captivating glimpse into the rich tapestry of Russian cultural history.

Weight: 674g
Dimension: 240 x 165 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198852162