Pyotr Vasiliev as the first publisher of Ivan Turgenev and Alexander Herzen’s works
https://doi.org/10.26907/2782-4756-2026-84-2-139-144
Abstract
The article examines the professional activities of Pyotr Vasilyev, a prominent Kazan bibliographer, literary critic, and editor of the second half of the 19th century, the one who published little-known works by famous Russian writers. In particular, it focuses on the editions of Ivan Turgenev’s short story “Pegaz” (1873) and the excerpt “Village and Countryside” from Alexander Herzen’s essay “Baptized Property” (1875), which were published in Kazan. Vasilyev’s editorial work on these publications is contextualized within his broader contribution to transforming Kazan into a major center of literary life in Russia and to advancing the region’s book and periodical publishing. This includes his role in launching the journal “Kazanskoe Knizhnoe Delo” (“Kazan Book Business”) and in publishing “The Kazan Calendar”, which featured a strong literary section. The article also raises the issue of preserving the historical and cultural memory of Pyotr Vasilyev, systematizing and promoting his literary, critical, and publishing legacy.
About the Author
A. Bik-Bulatov
Казанский федеральный университет
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Bik-Bulatov Airat Shamilyevich, Doctor of Philology
18 Kremlyovskaya Str., Kazan, 420008
References
1. Bik-Bulatov, A. Sh. (2021). Kazanskii publikator N. A. Nekrasova Nikolai Firsovich Yushkov [Nikolai Firsovich Yushkov, the Kazan publisher of N. A. Nekrasov]. Nekrasov v XXI veke: materialy mezhdunarodnogo nauchnogo kongressa (Yaroslavl' – Karabikha, 1–2 iyulya 2021 goda). Pp. 13–18. Yaroslavl', OOO “Akademiya 76”. (In Russian)
2. Turgenev, I. S. (1874). Pehgaz [Pegaz]. 18 p. Kazan', P. P. Vasil'ev. (In Russian)
3. I. G. <Herzen A. I.> (1875). Selo i derevnya: idillicheskii otryvok [Village and Countryside: An Idyllic Excerpt]. (Izdanie dlya nemnogikh). 7 p. Kazan', tip. Unta. (In Russian)
4. N. Agafonov, N. Ya. (1906). Iz Kazanskoi istorii [From the History of Kazan]. 224 p. Kazan', lito-tipogr. I. N. Kharitonova. (In Russian)
5. Barenbaum, I. E., Mamontov, A. V. (1973). P. P. Vasil'ev – kazanskii bibliograf i knigoved [P. P. Vasiliev – Kazan Bibliographer and Bibliologist]. Sovetskaya bibliografiya. No. 1, pp. 53–63. (In Russian)
6. Bushkanets, E. G. (1988). Kazanskie literatorydemokraty 1870–1880-kh gg. i nasledie Nekrasova [Kazan Democratic Writers of the 1870s–1880s and Nekrasov’s Legacy]. Nekrasovskii sbornik. T. Kh. Pp. 85–93. Leningrad, Nauka (leningradskoe otd-e). Akademiya nauk SSSR. IRLI (Pushkinskii dom). (In Russian)
7. Ermolaeva, N. V. (1994). Truzhenik-bibliograf [A Hard-working Bibliographer]. Tatarstan. Kazan'. No. 1, 2, pp. 97–101. (In Russian)
8. Kazanskoe knizhnoe delo: materialy po mestnoi knizhno-literaturnoi deyatel'nosti, izd. P. P. Vasil'evym (1866) [Kazan Book Industry: Materials on Local Book and Literary Activity, Published by P. P. Vasiliev]. Vyp.1/ Kazan', 24 p. (In Russian)
9. Vasil'ev, P. P. (1881). Kalendar'-ukazatel' goroda Kazani na 1882 god [Kazan Calendar for 1882]. Sost. P. Vasil'ev. 144 p. Kazan', V. A. Nazar'ev. (In Russian)
10. -Vasil'ev P. P. (1864). O literaturnoi deyatel'nosti v Kazani [On Literary Activity in Kazan]. Knizhnoe delo. No. 9 ot 15.04, pp. 179. (In Russian)
11. Barsukov, N. P. (1898). Zhizn' i trudy M. P. Pogodina [Life and Works of M. P. Pogodin.]. Kn. 12. 542 p. St. Petersburg, Tipogr. M. M. Stasyulevicha. (In Russian)
12. Ob"yavlenie o postuplenii v prodazhu rasskaza I. S. Turgeneva “Pehgaz” (1873) [Announcement of the Sale of I. S. Turgenev’s story “Pegaz”]. KamskoVolzhskaya gazeta. No. 147, p. 649. 16 dekabrya. (In Russian)
13. Vasil'ev, P. P. (1873). Pis'mo v redaktsiyu “Kamsko-Volzhskoi gazety” po povodu vykhoda rasskaza “Pehgaz” [Letter to the Editor of the KamskoVolzhskaya Gazeta Regarding the Publication of the Story “Pegaz”]. Kamsko-Volzhskaya gazeta. No. 150, p. 663. 23 dekabrya. (In Russian)
14. Lapitskaya, T. A. (1982). Kommentarii: I. S. Turgenev. Pehgaz [Comments: I. S. Turgenev. Pegaz]. I. S. Turgenev. Polnoe sobranie sochinenii i pisem v tridtsati tomakh. T. 11, pp. 405–407. Moscow, Nauka. (In Russian)
15. B. P. (1874). “Pehgaz” g. Turgeneva / Bibliografiya [Turgenev’s “Pegaz”. Bibliography]. Kamsko-Volzhskaya gazeta. No. 1, pp. 2–3. (In Russian)
16. Vasil'ev, P. P. (1874). Neskol'ko slov retsenzentu B. P. i redaktoru “Kamsko-Volzhskoi gazety” [A Few Words to the Reviewer B. P. and the Editor of the Kamsko-Volzhskaya Gazeta]. Kazanskii birzhevoi listok. No. 5, p. 3. 17 yanvarya. (In Russian)
17. B. P. (1874). Layushchiisya Kifa Mokievich [Barking Kifa Mokievich]. Kamsko-Volzhskaya gazeta. No. 11, p. 43. 25 yanvarya. (In Russian)
18. Materialy dlya polnogo sobraniya sochinenii I.S. Turgeneva (1883) [Materials for the Complete Works of I. S. Turgenev]. Sost. Nikolai Agafonov. 31 p. Kazan', tip. Gub. pravl. (In Russian)
19. Shindina, A. B. Aleksandr Gertsen: “Ya sluzhil Rossii slovom i delom” [Alexander Herzen: “I Served Russia in Word and Deed”]. Vystavka v otdele redkikh knig. Blog bibliotekarei GUNB Krasnoyarskogo kraya. URL: https://kraevushka.livejournal.com/631738.html. (accessed: 09.03.2026). (In Russian)
20. Baron Bogushevskii (1881). <Bogushevskoi N. K.> Zametki o dvukh redkikh izdaniyakh [Notes on Two Rare Editions]. Rossiiskaya bibliografiya. Vestnik russkoi pechati. No. 88 (12) ot 1 (13) iyulya, pp. 265–266. (In Russian)
21. Vasil'ev, P. P. (1881). Bibliograficheskie zametki [Bibliographical Notes]. Rossiiskaya bibliografiya. Vestnik russkoi pechati. No. 92 (16) ot 1 (13) sentyabrya, pp. 345–346. (In Russian)
Review
For citations:
Bik-Bulatov A. Pyotr Vasiliev as the first publisher of Ivan Turgenev and Alexander Herzen’s works. Philology and Culture. 2026;(2):139-144. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26907/2782-4756-2026-84-2-139-144
Views:
35
JATS XML
Email this article 