Arzamas, Literary Circle

Categories / Literature. Book Publishing/Salons, Circles, Creative Associations and Unions
ARZAMAS, literary circle from 1815 to1818. It was founded by V. A. Zhukovsky (who became the secretary and invented witty "minutes" of the meetings), D. V. Dashkov, D. N. Bludov, A. I. Turgenev, S. S. Uvarov, later K. N. Batyushkov, P. A. Vyazemsky, V. L. Pushkin, A. S. Pushkin, A. F. Voeykov, D. P. Severin, F. F. Wiegel, D. V. Davydov et al. joined the circle; N. M. Karamzin, I. I. Dmitriev et al. were among the honorary members. Meetings were held with periodically, often on Thursdays, they were usually housed by Uvarov (21 Malaya Morskaya Street) and Bludov (80 Nevsky Prospect), A. I. Turgenev (20 Fontanka River Embankment), A. A. Pleshcheev (12 Galernaya Street). The Literary and linquistic position of Discussions for Lovers of the Russian Word and of the Russian Academy most brightly represented in the works by A. S. Shishkov was the background for the activity and an object for satire by Arzamas. The aspiration for protecting the Karamzin's trend in literature was realized in Arzamas by the creation of the humourous universe with comic rituals and travesty-mock literary production. Attempts to change the character of the activity of Arzamas, to start publishing their own journal was undertaken in 1817 (also by the new members of the circle, future Decembrists N. M. Muravyev, M. F. Orlov, N. I. Turgenev) was unsuccessful. By the end of 1817, many members of Arzamas left St. Petersburg for personal and official reasons. In 1818 Arzamas broke up little by little.

References: "Арзамас": Сб.: В 2 кн. М., 1994; Проскурин О. А. Новый Арзамас - Новый Иерусалим: Лит. игра в культурно-ист. контексте // НЛО. 1996. №19. С. 73-128.

D. N. Cherdakov. Batyushkov Konstantin Nikolaevich
Bludov Dmitry Nikolaevich
Dashkov Dmitry Vasilievich
Davydov Denis Vasilievich
Dmitriev Ivan Ivanovich
Karamzin Nikolay Mikhailovich
Muravyev Nikita Mikhailovich
Orlov Mikhail Fedorovich
Pleshcheev Alexander Alexeevich
Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich
Pushkin Vasily Lvovich
Severin Dmitry Petrovich
Shishkov V.M.
Turgenev Alexander Ivanovich
Turgenev Nikolay Ivanovich
Uvarov Sergey Semenovich
Voeykov Alexander Fedorovich
Vyazemsky Peter Andreevich, Duke
Wiegel Filipp Filippovich
Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich
Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 20
Galernaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 12
Malaya Morskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 21
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 80
"Арзамас": Сб.: В 2 кн. М., 1994
Проскурин О. А. Новый Арзамас - Новый Иерусалим: Лит. игра в культур.-ист. контексте // Новое лит. обозрение, 1996 1815