Free Society for the Lovers of Literature, Sciences and Arts, Literary and Social Organization

Categories / Literature. Book Publishing/Salons, Circles, Creative Associations and Unions
FREE SOCIETY FOR LOVERS OF LITERATURE, SCIENCES AND ARTS (VOLSNK), was a literary and public organization, 1801-25 (with break from 1812-16). It was founded by I. M. Born and I. P. Pnin (he was in charge of it up to 1807). At different times V. V. Popugaev, sons of A. N. Radishchev - N. and V. Radishchev, A. H. Vostokov, S. S. Bobrov, A. A. Bestuzhev, W. K. Kuchelbecker, K. F. Ryleev, N. I. Grech, K. N. Batyushkov, F. N. Glinka, A. A. Delwig, V. A. Zhukovsky were members of the society . The influence of ideas from the French Enlightenment prevailed in the society in 1801-07. The society published the anthology Svitok Muz (Scroll of Muses) (1802-03), one issue of the journal Periodicheskoe Izdanie VOLSNK (Periodical VOLSNK) was published in 1804. D. I. Yazykov was a president of the society from 1807, in 1811-12 D. V. Dashkov was a president, and they established the principle of political and literary "loyalty". In 1816, the society resumed its activity (it was headed by A. E. Izmaylov); the journal Blagonamerenny (Loyal) was published (1818-26). VOLSNK became as famous among literary men as the Izmailovskoe or Mikhailovskoe Society (named after the place of its sittings in Mikhailovsky Castle); in the 1820s, meetings were held in the house of the Engineers' Department on Liteiny Avenue (today the section of house 31).

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

I. E. Vasilyeva. Batyushkov Konstantin Nikolaevich
Bestuzhev Alexander Alexandrovich
Bobrov Semen Sergeevich
Born Ivan Martynovich
Dashkov Dmitry Vasilievich
Delwig Anton Antonovich
Glinka Fedor Nikolaevich
Grech Nikolay Ivanovich
Izmaylov Alexander Efimovich
Kuchelbecker Wilhelm Karlovich
Pnin Ivan Petrovich
Popugaev Vasily Vasilievich
Radishchev Nikolay Alexandrovich
Radishchev Vasily Alexandrovich
Ryleev Kondraty Fedorovich
Vostokov Alexander Hristoforovich
Yazykov Dmitry Ivanovich
Yazykov Nikolay Mikhailovich
Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich
Liteiny Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 31
Базанов В. Г. Ученая республика. М.; Л., 1964
История русской литературы: В 4 т. Л., 1981 1801