From Antiquity to Renaissance: Poetic Translation in Pages of “Russian Messenger”

This article explores the reception of poetry from antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance within the journal “Russian Messenger,” examining the editorial policies that shaped its content. The study is based on a complete set of issues from “Russian Messenger” published between 1856 and 1906. Analyzing poetic translations, adaptations, and interpretations provides insight into the ideological framework of one of the leading journals of the late 19th century. The relevance of this article is underscored by the recent surge in interest from both the humanities and the broader public towards “Russian Messenger” as a proponent of traditional views on governance, alongside the insufficient exploration of Russian poetic translation in the latter half of the 19th century. It has been established that the editorial focus on classical literature is reflected in the publication of both translations and works inspired by ancient texts, with a roughly equal volume of such materials appearing in the journal. The primary form of medieval poetry reception consists of adaptations, reinterpretations, and works based on medieval themes. Notably, there is a particular interest among the authors of “Russian Messenger” in the Spanish romancero, which can be interpreted as evidence of a phase of Romantic Hispanism within the Russian cultural tradition during the late 19th century. Key figures through whom the journal’s authors engage with foreign literature from the Middle Ages and Renaissance include Dante and Shakespeare.

poetic translation, Russian Messenger, editorial policy, classical motifs, Romantic Hispanism, Dante, Shakespeare