Siberian belles-lettres of the 1880s–1890s: regionalist and folkloric influences on the development of Siberian literature

Insufficient research attention has been paid to belles-lettres as a “mass” literature in the Siberian literature of the late 19th century. This study investigates the influence of belles-lettres on the evolution of Siberian literature, considering regional literary demands that fostered bias and the emulation of prominent Russian literary works. Analysis of scholarly articles written by N. M. Yadrintsev reveals a demonstrable lack of objectivity in his assessment of Siberian fiction, as well as the inconsistency of his criticism and the fictionalization of genres in his works. This inconsistency can be explained by the complex genesis of Siberian regionalism. Attention is drawn to the personal nature of the regionalists' claims in fiction, emphasizing the dominance of “vital material.” The portrayal of the Siberian writer is modified within this framework, with examples provided illustrating the conflation of the writer's personal attributes and their creative work. The research investigates the significance of the Siberian library readership patterns in illustrating the primacy of fiction within the Russian literary canon. The inclusion of late 19th century belles-lettres within the broader study of Siberian literature is substantiated by the historically significant role of “mass” literature in transforming the genre and thematic landscape, reader expectations, and the local publishing industry. This context proved highly conducive to the development and proliferation of Siberian literature at the outset of the 20th century.

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