Problems of genre and composition of A.F. Pisemsky's early works published in Moskvityanin

The article studies the genre system of the early prose by A.F. Pisemsky (1821-1881) which first appeared in theMoskvityanin ('A Moscovite') journal (1850-1852). Verification against the most recent genre definitions in combination with individual, poetic and comparative analysis of each work as well as the analysis of their journal version and the context allowed to single out three genres: a novel (The Simpleton, Marriage of Passion), a novella ("Mr Batmanov"), and a short story ("The Comic Actor", "Piterschik"). The main character of the first published novel The Simpleton (1850), Beshmetyev, an "unsociable person", is making a decision whether to stay at home or go back to study at the University in the beginning of the novel. The first part ends with the wedding of the Simpleton and Yulia who hates him. The second part depicts his punishment: having moved to the country with his wife after an incident of her infidelity, Beshmetyev drinks himself to death. In the introductory part Pisemsky's character is getting ready to make a choice which he actually makes on the threshold of the two parts. The second half of the novel depicts the outcome, unexpected by the character but psychologically consistent, of the choice made. The novelty of Pisemsky's novel lies in the fact that the source of the plot development is not the action but the inaction of the character. Since a shy character needs an intermediary to communicate with the world, a system of mediators appears in Pisemsky's novels. In a comic novel Marriage of Passion (1851) Pisemsky actualizes an alternative of the plot development, parodying his own poetics. A striking but impoverished officer attracts a young lady despite the objections of the family. Mediators also appear in the plot represented by the landlady of the main character. But their functions turn out to be fictitious: the energetic character resorts to their services not looking for confidants (as they assume) but striving to borrow money for the escapade under arrangement. In the novella, piquant episodes are described instead of a coherent narration; they show the adventures of a 'disappointed' Byronic character. The novella 'pointe' is related to the final scene of the ball when the lady contenders unite and expose the character, a striking county gentleman. The novella ends with an exposing exclamation of the narrator.

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