V.A. Zhukovskiys letters to A.M. Turgenev: the experience of preliminarydescription

The work over Complete collection of V.A.Zhukovskiys writings and letters: in 20 volumes which has been undertaken by the members of theDepartment of Russian and Foreign literature of Tomsk State University discovers new layers of lifeand creative writing of a greatest Russian poet. The representative of this process is Zhukovskiysepistolary documents which are in most parts unknown to a reader.This article presents the description and research experience of one of many a plot in his epistolaryheritage: the poets correspondence to А.М. Turgenev.Alexander Michailovich Turgenev (1772-1862), a participant of the Patriotic war of 1812 was oneof enlightened public figures of the first half of the XIXth century, initially in the military, later in thecivic field. His military career ended at the rank of the life-guard regiments captain and Senior Aidede-camp of the General Headquarters. After the battles near Dresden and Kulm he returned to Russiaand since 1814 was appointed a collegiate counsellor. He was a superintendent of Feodosiyan portcustoms, a regional director of Brest-Litivskaya customs, a chief of Astrakhan customs district, since1823 he was a Counsillor of State and civil governor of Tobolsk. Since 1828 г. he was appointed thegovernor of Kazan, but didnt get a chance to take office, as he soon was appointed the chief of theState Medical Department; in 1829 he was dismissed in the rank of an operant Counsillor of State -such are the stages in his civil career.He was bound with Zhukovskiy by a long-lasting friendship. Their correspondence of 1833-1851is an evidence of a profound spiritual liaison and continuing care, which was spread around the friendby Zhukovskiy. Turgenevs personal life was very dramatic. He married late, at 63, a woman namedPelageya (Paulina) Christophirovna Litke (1807-1836) who was 35 years younger than he. In a year,after giving birth to a child, his wife died, and the whole life of the widower was devoted to bringingup his daughter Olga. Zhukovskiy supported him financially at the days of the money tidal falls,was ready to be a guardian to his daughter not by title, but by action. On the eve of his own latemarriage Zhukovskiy made Turgenev his confidant, listening to his admonitions of a most intimatecharacter.In his turn Alexander Michailovich called Zhukovskiy a dear, sincere, true friend of mine, natalnot by blood but by spirit, my kind one, clear soul Andreevich. Turgenev accompanied the poet inMoscow in 1837, where Zhukovskiy was with the Heir: their common walks were later described inTurgenevs diary.Being a member of an ancient noble family, А.М. Turgenev was in Zhukovskiys eyes first of alla man of honour and personification of high morality, was valued as a public figure and a statesman. Inthe letter to Nickolas I about amnesty for Decembrists written in 1837 Zhukovskiy recommends hisfriend as a guarantor of civil liberties in Siberia. In this sense Zhukovskiys letters to A.M. Turgenevpresent a peculiar behavioural text, when the poets words are at the same time his deeds.By the present moment 42 Zhukovskiys letters to A.M. Turgenev have been published, as well as6 responding letters; their preliminary bibliographical description is presented in the article after abiographical information and the description of stages of communication of Zhukovskiy and Turgenev.

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