Free Society of Lovers of Russian Literature, Literary and Social Organization

Categories / Literature. Book Publishing/Salons, Circles, Creative Associations and Unions
FREE SOCIETY OF LOVERS OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE (VOLRS; Society of the Competitive, from 1819, it was also known as the Professional Republic), literary and social organization in 1816-25. From the moment of its foundation it was concerned about civil and social problems both in public life and in the sphere of history and literature. Decembrists occupied the leading positions in the society from 1819-20. F. N. Glinka (full member from 1816, the head from 1819), A. A. Bestuzhev (from 1820), N. A. Bestuzhev (from 1821), W. K. Kuchelbecker (from 1819), A. O. Kornilovich (from 1822), K. F. Ryleev (from 1819), N. I. Gnedich (full member from 1821, Vice President from 1821), E. A. Baratynsky (from 1820), N. I. Grech (from 1818), F. V. Bulgarin (from 1820), A. A. Delwig (from 1820) were active members of the society. N. I. Turgenev, M. A. Korf, O. M. Somov, A. S. Griboedov et al. were also members of the society. A.S.Pushkin was closely connected with the society though he was not a member. Compositions by members were read, questions of history, philosophy, contemporary Russian and Western-European literature were discussed at sittings held on Ekateringofsky Avenue (today 91 Rimskogo-Korsakova Avenue) and on Voznesensky Avenue (a section of house 41). The society was divided into the right, "loyal" wing and the left, Decembrists' wing which supported young writers ( Kuchelbecker, Pushkin, Delwig et al.). Desperate inner polemics mostly connected with the problem of nationality in literature was a distinctive feature of VOLRS. The journal Sorevnovatel prosveshcheniya i blagotvoreniya (the Competitive from amongst the enlightment and the charitable) (from 1818, with breaks) was the printing organ. The activity of the society stopped after the failure of the Decembrist Uprising in 1825.

References: Базанов В. Г. Ученая республика. М.; Л., 1964. С. 41-56.

I. E. Vasilyeva. Baratynsky Evgeny Abramovich
Bestuzhev Alexander Alexandrovich
Bestuzhev Nikolay Alexandrovich
Bulgarin Faddei Venediktovich
Delwig Anton Antonovich
Glinka Fedor Nikolaevich
Gnedich Nikolay Ivanovich
Grech Nikolay Ivanovich
Griboedov Alexander Sergeevich
Korf Modest Andreevich, Count
Kornilovich Alexander Osipovich
Kuchelbecker Wilhelm Karlovich
Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich
Ryleev Kondraty Fedorovich
Somov Orest Mikhailovich
Turgenev Nikolay Ivanovich
Rimsky-Korsakov Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 91
Базанов В. Г. Ученая республика. М.; Л., 1964 1816