Nikolay Chernyshevsky attached great importance to his work on Nikolay Dobrolyubov’s biography. He was the only one who could recount the life and literary work of that art critic, poet, and political writer. At Dobrolyubov’s funeral Chernyshevsky recited excerpts from Dobrolyubov’s diary and two of his poems. The obituary was published in Sovremennik magazine followed by Materials for Dobrolyubov’s Biography drafted by N.G. Chernyshevsky.
Chernyshevsky turned to the subject of Dobrolyubov’s biography in his Astrakhan period, and later while living in Saratov. Chernyshevsky’s cousin Alexander Pypin promised to arrange for its publication in Moscow and Chernyshevsky found the promise convincing. He decided to start with the publication of the Materials for Dobrolyubov’s Biography first published in Sovremennik. The Materials appeared in the January and February issues of the 1889 Russkaya Mysl publication.
In March 1889, in his letter to a book publisher Kozma Soldatyonkov, Chernyshevsky gave a tentative name to his future book: Materials for a Biography of N.A. Dobrolyubov Gathered and Systemized by the Behest of his Siblings. The plan was to publish the work in two volumes: one volume of correspondence and the other one with an overview of manuscripts and memoirs. ‘The cover won’t have my name on it, neither will my name appear in the book narrative’, Chernyshevsky wrote.
In April 1889, Nikolay Gavrilovich promised the publisher to have the handwritten manuscript of the first volume ready in May; the rest, by the early June. “The Russian public will highly appreciate your publication”, he wrote to Soldatyonkov in a letter. However, the stated deadline was moved to a later date and the second volume has never been sent to print. As for the first volume, it was published as late as 1890 after Chernyshevsky’s death. Alexander Pypin published the book under a changed name: the reference to Dobrolyubov’s relatives was dropped.
Working on the book Nikolay Chernyshevsky had potential censorship restrictions in mind and used the Aesopian language. Nonetheless, the Moscow Censorship Committee arrested the whole print-run. The circulation was permitted only after the name of the author was removed together with his introduction.
Chernyshevsky turned to the subject of Dobrolyubov’s biography in his Astrakhan period, and later while living in Saratov. Chernyshevsky’s cousin Alexander Pypin promised to arrange for its publication in Moscow and Chernyshevsky found the promise convincing. He decided to start with the publication of the Materials for Dobrolyubov’s Biography first published in Sovremennik. The Materials appeared in the January and February issues of the 1889 Russkaya Mysl publication.
In March 1889, in his letter to a book publisher Kozma Soldatyonkov, Chernyshevsky gave a tentative name to his future book: Materials for a Biography of N.A. Dobrolyubov Gathered and Systemized by the Behest of his Siblings. The plan was to publish the work in two volumes: one volume of correspondence and the other one with an overview of manuscripts and memoirs. ‘The cover won’t have my name on it, neither will my name appear in the book narrative’, Chernyshevsky wrote.
In April 1889, Nikolay Gavrilovich promised the publisher to have the handwritten manuscript of the first volume ready in May; the rest, by the early June. “The Russian public will highly appreciate your publication”, he wrote to Soldatyonkov in a letter. However, the stated deadline was moved to a later date and the second volume has never been sent to print. As for the first volume, it was published as late as 1890 after Chernyshevsky’s death. Alexander Pypin published the book under a changed name: the reference to Dobrolyubov’s relatives was dropped.
Working on the book Nikolay Chernyshevsky had potential censorship restrictions in mind and used the Aesopian language. Nonetheless, the Moscow Censorship Committee arrested the whole print-run. The circulation was permitted only after the name of the author was removed together with his introduction.
