Georgy Chulkov
Encyclopedia
Georgy Ivanovich Chulkov (Russian
: Гео́ргий Ива́нович Чулко́в) ( - January 1, 1939) was a Russian Symbolist
poet, editor, writer and critic. In 1906 he created and popularized the theory of Mystical Anarchism
.
nobleman. He studied medicine at Moscow University in 1898-1901. After joining a revolutionary student organization, he was arrested in December 1901 and exiled to Amga in the Yakutsk
region of Siberia
. He was amnestied in 1903 and was allowed to settle in Nizhny Novgorod
, where he lived for a year. In 1904 Chulkov moved to St. Petersburg and became the de facto editor of Novy Put' (New Path), a literary magazine
published by Dmitry Merezhkovsky
and Zinaida Gippius
. When the publication of Novy Put' was suspended in January 1905 during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution of 1905
, Chulkov moved to Voprosy Zhizni (Problems of Life), its replacement, where he worked with its editors Nikolai Berdyaev
, Sergei Bulgakov
and Nikolai Lossky
until it folded in December 1905.
In 1906, Chulkov edited Fakely (Torches), an anthology of Symbolist writing, which called on Russian writers to:
Later in the year Chulkov followed up with a "Mystical Anarchism" manifesto. Russian poets Alexander Blok
and especially Vyacheslav Ivanov
were supportive of the new movement while Valery Bryusov
, the editor of the leading Symbolist magazine Vesy
(The Balance), and Andrei Bely
were opposed to it.
Chulkov published a number of novels, poems and short story collections between 1906 and the outbreak of World War I
in 1914, when he joined the Russian army. After the war and the Russian Civil War
that followed, Chulkov returned to writing, but found it difficult to publish poetry and fiction under the new Soviet regime: for example, his unpublished poems made fun of Marxism
. After 1922 he concentrated on literary criticism and Russian history. Between 1925 and 1939 he published books about the Decembrist revolt
, Fyodor Tyutchev
, Alexander Pushkin, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Don Quixote and the Romanov dynasty in the nineteenth century.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Гео́ргий Ива́нович Чулко́в) ( - January 1, 1939) was a Russian Symbolist
Russian Symbolism
Russian symbolism was an intellectual and artistic movement predominant at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. It represented the Russian branch of the symbolist movement in European art, and was mostly known for its contributions to Russian poetry.-Russian symbolism in...
poet, editor, writer and critic. In 1906 he created and popularized the theory of Mystical Anarchism
Mystical Anarchism
Mystical Anarchism was a tendency within the Russian Symbolist movement after 1906, especially between 1906 and late 1908. It was created and popularized by Georgy Chulkov....
.
Biography
Chulkov was born in Moscow in the family of an impoverished TambovTambov
Tambov is a city and the administrative center of Tambov Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Tsna and Studenets Rivers southeast of Moscow...
nobleman. He studied medicine at Moscow University in 1898-1901. After joining a revolutionary student organization, he was arrested in December 1901 and exiled to Amga in the Yakutsk
Yakutsk
With a subarctic climate , Yakutsk is the coldest city, though not the coldest inhabited place, on Earth. Average monthly temperatures range from in July to in January. The coldest temperatures ever recorded on the planet outside Antarctica occurred in the basin of the Yana River to the northeast...
region of Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. He was amnestied in 1903 and was allowed to settle in Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
, where he lived for a year. In 1904 Chulkov moved to St. Petersburg and became the de facto editor of Novy Put
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
published by Dmitry Merezhkovsky
Dmitry Merezhkovsky
Dmitry Sergeyevich Merezhkovsky, , 1865, St Petersburg – December 9, 1941, Paris) was a Russian novelist, poet, religious thinker, and literary critic. A seminal figure of the Silver Age of Russian Poetry, regarded as a co-founder of the Symbolist movement, Merezhkovsky – with his poet wife Zinaida...
and Zinaida Gippius
Zinaida Gippius
Zinaida Nikolaevna Gippius, was a Russian poet, playwright, editor, short story writer and religious thinker, regarded as a co-founder of Russian symbolism and seen as "one of the most enigmatic and intelligent women of her time in Russia"....
. When the publication of Novy Put
Russian Revolution of 1905
The 1905 Russian Revolution was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas of the Russian Empire. Some of it was directed against the government, while some was undirected. It included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies...
, Chulkov moved to Voprosy Zhizni (Problems of Life), its replacement, where he worked with its editors Nikolai Berdyaev
Nikolai Berdyaev
Nikolai Alexandrovich Berdyaev was a Russian religious and political philosopher.-Early life and education:Berdyaev was born in Kiev into an aristocratic military family. He spent a solitary childhood at home, where his father's library allowed him to read widely...
, Sergei Bulgakov
Sergei Bulgakov
Fr. Sergei Nikolaevich Bulgakov was a Russian Orthodox Christian theologian, philosopher and economist. Until 1922 he worked in Russia; afterwards in Paris.-Early life:...
and Nikolai Lossky
Nikolai Lossky
Nikolay Onufriyevich Lossky was a Russian philosopher, representative of Russian idealism, intuitionism, personalism, libertarianism, ethics, Axiology , and his philosophy he called intuitive-personalism. Born in Latvia, he spent his working life in St. Petersburg, New York and Paris...
until it folded in December 1905.
In 1906, Chulkov edited Fakely (Torches), an anthology of Symbolist writing, which called on Russian writers to:
- abandon Symbolism and DecadenceDecadenceDecadence can refer to a personal trait, or to the state of a society . Used to describe a person's lifestyle. Concise Oxford Dictionary: "a luxurious self-indulgence"...
and move forward to "new mystical experience".
Later in the year Chulkov followed up with a "Mystical Anarchism" manifesto. Russian poets Alexander Blok
Alexander Blok
Alexander Alexandrovich Blok was a Russian lyrical poet.-Life and career:Blok was born in Saint Petersburg, into a sophisticated and intellectual family. Some of his relatives were literary men, his father being a law professor in Warsaw, and his maternal grandfather the rector of Saint Petersburg...
and especially Vyacheslav Ivanov
Vyacheslav Ivanovich Ivanov
Vyacheslav Ivanovich Ivanov was a Russian poet and playwright associated with the Russian Symbolist movement. He was also a philosopher, translator, and literary critic.-Early life:...
were supportive of the new movement while Valery Bryusov
Valery Bryusov
Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov was a Russian poet, prose writer, dramatist, translator, critic and historian. He was one of the principal members of the Russian Symbolist movement.-Biography:...
, the editor of the leading Symbolist magazine Vesy
Vesy
Vesy , was a Russian symbolist magazine published in Moscow from 1904 to 1909, with the financial backing of philanthropist S. A. Polyakov. It was edited by the major symbolist writer Valery Bryusov.-History:...
(The Balance), and Andrei Bely
Andrei Bely
Andrei Bely was the pseudonym of Boris Nikolaevich Bugaev , a Russian novelist, poet, theorist, and literary critic. His novel Petersburg was regarded by Vladimir Nabokov as one of the four greatest novels of the 20th century.-Biography:...
were opposed to it.
Chulkov published a number of novels, poems and short story collections between 1906 and the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1914, when he joined the Russian army. After the war and the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
that followed, Chulkov returned to writing, but found it difficult to publish poetry and fiction under the new Soviet regime: for example, his unpublished poems made fun of Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
. After 1922 he concentrated on literary criticism and Russian history. Between 1925 and 1939 he published books about the Decembrist revolt
Decembrist revolt
The Decembrist revolt or the Decembrist uprising took place in Imperial Russia on 14 December , 1825. Russian army officers led about 3,000 soldiers in a protest against Nicholas I's assumption of the throne after his elder brother Constantine removed himself from the line of succession...
, Fyodor Tyutchev
Fyodor Tyutchev
Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev is generally considered the last of three great Romantic poets of Russia, following Alexander Pushkin and Mikhail Lermontov.- Life :...
, Alexander Pushkin, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Don Quixote and the Romanov dynasty in the nineteenth century.
Novels
- Satana (Satan), 1914, 185p.
- Serezha Nestroev, 1916, 182p.
- Metel
' , 1917, 190p.
Collections
- Kremnistyj put
' , 1904, 141p. - Vesnoyu na sewer, 1908, 86p.
- Lyudi v tumane, 1916, 177p.
- Vchera i segodnya, 1916, 166p.
- Posramlenye besy, 1921, 127p.
- Nashi sputniki, 1922, 199p.
- Stihotvoreniya (Poems), Moscow, Zadruga, 1922, 112p.
- Vechernie zori: rasskazy, Moscow, Zemlya i fabrika, 1924, 91p.
- Valtasarovo tsarstvo (Balthazar's kingdom, reprint collection), Moscow, Respublika, 1998, ISBN 5-250-02491-2, 607p.
Non-fiction
- O misticheskom anarkhizme, 1906, 57p.
- English translation: On Mystical Anarchism in Russian Titles for the Specialist no. 16, Letchworth, Prideaux P., 1971.
- English translation: On Mystical Anarchism in A Revolution of the Spirit: Crisis of value in Russia, 1890-1924, ed. Bernice Glatzer Rosenthal. Fordham, 1990, pp. 175–186.
- Demons and Modern Life in Apollon, nos. 1-2, St. Petersburg, 1914.
- English translation in: A Picasso Anthology: Documents, Criticism, Reminiscences, ed. Marilyn McCully, Princeton, 1982, p. 104-106.
- Nashi sputniki: Literaturnye ocherki, Moscow, 1922.
- Myatezhniki 1825 goda, Moscow, 1925.
- Imperatory, 1928, 366p.
- Reprint edition: Imperatory Rossii: psikhologicheskie portrety, Moscow, Slovo, ISBN 5-85050-657-8, 377p.
- French translation: Les derniers tsarTsarTsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
s autocrates: Paul IPaul I of RussiaPaul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
er, Alexandre IAlexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
er, Nicolas INicholas I of RussiaNicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
er, Alexandre IIAlexander II of RussiaAlexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
, Alexandre IIIAlexander III of RussiaAlexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
, Paris, Payot, 1928, 376p.
- Posledniya lyubov
' Tyutcheva (E.A. Denis'eva) (Tyutchev's Last Love (E.A. Denis'eva)), 1928, 133p. - Letopis' zhizni i tvorchestwa F.I. Tyutcheva, Moscow, 1933.
- Don Kihot (Don Quixote), 1935, 109p.
- Zhizn
' Pushkina (Life of Pushkin), Moscow, Khudozhestvennaya literatura, 1938.- Reprint edition: Zhizn
' Pushkina, Moscow, Nash dom—L’Age d’Homme, 1999, ISBN 5-89136-021-7, 364p.
- Reprint edition: Zhizn
- Kak rabotal Dostoevsky (How Dostoyevsky Worked), Moscow, Sovetsky pisatel', 1939, 335p.
- Tiutcheviana : epigrammy, aforizmy i ostroty F.I. Tiutcheva, Oxford, Willem A. Meeuws, 1976, ISBN 0-902672-21-5
Autobiography
- Gody stranstvij (Годы странствий, Years of Wanderings), 1930, 397p.
- Reprint edition, Chulkov's stories added: Moscow, Ellis Lak, 1999, ISBN 5-88889-035-9, 861p.