Abstract: In the article, the topic “Ivan Goncharov and Russia” is first developed in terms of the historiosophical ideas of the novelist, as well as within the framework of Sergey Uvarov’s formula: “Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality”. Both approaches are correlated with Ivan Goncharov’s ideas about strong Russia. The writer began to think about civilisationally and culturally developed Russia back in the 1830s–1840s, when he began serving in the Department of Foreign Trade, where statistics convinced him of Russia’s economic lag behind European countries. The trip on board of the frigate “Pallada” significantly broadened Ivan Goncharov’s horizons and brought specificity to his reflections on this problem. Critically regarding serfdom, Ivan Goncharov considered free creative labour to be the basis of the state’s strength, which he interpreted not only as an economic but also as a religious category, since he viewed the history of civilisation primarily as a collaboration with the Creator. Like a private person, a nation, in Ivan Goncharov’s view, just as well has its own mission, the fulfillment of which is possible when all its forces flourish, with free labour and solidarity around the national idea. Ivan Goncharov saw an example of friendly work of all classes in Siberia, showed it in the Siberian chapters of “Frigate “Pallada””. The writer’s reliance on the formula of Count Sergey Uvarov finds expression in “An Uncommon History”, in the essay “A Literary Evening” and is realised in the symbolism of the image of “Grandmother Russia” in the novel “The Precipice”.
References
Belyaeva I. A. Syuzhet spaseniya v russkom klassicheskom romane [The story of salvation in the Russian classic novel]. Filologicheskie nauki. Nauchnye doklady vysshej shkoly [Philological Sciences. Scientific reports of the higher school]. Moscow, 2016, № 6, pp. 44–52. (In Russ.)
Bodrova A., Guskov S. Literatura na sluzhbe imperii, imperiya na sluzhbe literatury: k interpretacii finala romana I. A. Goncharova “Obryv” [Literature in the service of the Empire, Empire in the service of literature: to the interpretation of the finale of I. A. Goncharov's novel “the Cliff”]. Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie [New literary review]. Moscow, 2020, № 4 (164), pp. 177–194. (In Russ.)
Volkova E. I. Syuzhet o spasenii v russkoj, anglijskoj i amerikanskoj literature [The story of salvation in Russian, English and American literature]. Moscow, NOPAYAZ Publ., 2001, 284 p. (In Russ.)
A. Goncharov v neizdannyh pis'mah k grafu P. A. Valuevu. 1877–1882 [I. A. Goncharov in unpublished letters to count P. A. Valuev. 1877–1882]. Petersburg, Voeykov printing house Publ., 1906, pp. 51–52. (In Russ.)
A. Goncharov. Materialy i issledovaniia. Literaturnoe nasledstvo. Vol. 102. [Materials and research. Literary heritage, Vol. 102]. Moscow, IMLI RAN, Nasledie Publ., 2000, 736 p. (In Russ.)
Goncharov I. A. Poln. sobr. soch.: v 20 t. [Complete Works in 20 vols]. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 1997–2017. (In Russ.)
Goncharov I. A. Sobranie sochinenii: v 8 t. [Collected works in 8 vols.]. Moscow, Khud. lit. Publ., 1978–1980. (In Russ.)
Dostoevskii F. M. Poln. sobr. soch. i pisem: v 30 t. [Complete works in 30 vols.]. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1972–1990. (In Russ.)
Ermolenko G. N. Rossiya i Evropa v romane I. A. Goncharova “Oblomov” [Russia and Europe in I. A. Goncharov's novel “Oblomov”]. Kul'tura i pis'mennost' slavyanskogo mira: Sb. materialov mezhdunar. nauch. konf. 24 maya 2006 g. [Culture and writing of the Slavic world: Collection of materials of the international journal. scientific Conf. May 24, 2006]. Smolensk: Smolensk state University Publ., 2007, pp. 103–111. (In Russ.)
Krasnoshchekova E. A. Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov. Mir tvorchestva [Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov. The world of creativity]. Saint Petersburg: Pushkin Foundation Publ., 1997, pp. 202–219. (In Russ.)
Melnik V. I. Duhovnyj put' I. A. Goncharova. Po stranicam zhizni avtora “Oblomova” [Spiritual path of I. A. Goncharov. On the pages of the life of the author of “Oblomov”]. Moscow: Veche Publ., 2019. 448 p. (In Russ.)
Melnik V. I. “Russkie nemcy” v zhizni i tvorchestve I. A. Goncharova [“Russian Germans” in the life and work of I. A. Goncharov] I. A. Goncharov: (Materialy mezhdunar. konf., posvyashch. 180-letiyu so dnya rozhdeniya I. A. Goncharova). [I. A. Goncharov: (Materials of the international Conf., dedicated to 180th anniversary of the birth of I. A. Goncharov)]. Ulyanovsk, 1994, pp. 102–112. (In Russ.)
Mikhelson V. A. Rossiya kak tema “Fregata «Pallada»”: (“Obratnyj put' cherez Sibir'”) [Russia as the theme of the “Pallada Frigate”: (“the Return journey through Siberia”)]. Stat'i o literature [Articles about literature]. Krasnodar, 1966, pp. 67–88. (In Russ.)
Mikhelson V. A. Rossiya v “Fregate «Pallada»”: (“Do Irkutska”) [Russia in frigate “Pallada”: (“To Irkutsk”)]. Romantiki i realisty: (St. o rus. i zarubezh. lit. XIX–XX vv.) [Romantics and realists: (articles about Russian and foreign literature XIX–XX centuries). Scientific works of the Krasnodar pedagogical Institute; Issue 121]. Krasnodar, 1970, pp. 108–119. (In Russ.)
Muratov A. B. I. A. Goncharov v ministerstve finansov [I. A. Goncharov in the Ministry of Finance]. I. A. Goncharov. Novye materialy [I. A. Goncharov. New material]. Ulyanovsk: Privolzhsky book publishing house Publ., 1976, pp. 37–57.
Retsov V. V. Tema Rossii v kontekste sistemy zhenskih obrazov v romane I. A. Goncharova “Obryv” [The theme of Russia in the context of the system of female images in the novel “the Cliff” by I. A. Goncharov]. Slavyanskaya kul'tura: istochniki, tradicii, vzaimodejstvie [Slavic culture: sources, traditions, interaction]. Moscow: ИКАР Publ., 2008, pp. 294–300. (In Russ.)
Russkij Arhiv [Russian Archive].1899, № 1, pp. 198–199. (In Russ.)
Savkina I. “Drugaya velikaya babushka – Rossiya” [“Another great grandmother-Russia”]. Konstrukty nacional'noj identichnosti v russkoj kul'ture XVIII–XIX vekov [Constructs of national identity in Russian culture of the XVIII–XIX centuries]. Moscow: RSUH Publ., 2010, pp. 88–99. (In Russ.)
Skatov N. N. Obraz Rossii u russkih pisatelej za rubezhom [The Image of Russia among Russian writers abroad]. Obraz Rossii: Rossiya i russkie v vospriyatii Zapada [The Image of Russia: Russia and the Russians in the perception of the West]. Saint Petersburg: IRLI Publ., 1998, pp. 285–304. (In Russ.)
Solovyov V. Russkaya ideya [The Russian idea]. Russkaya ideya [The Russian idea]. Moscow: Respublika Publ., 1992, pp. 186–204. (In Russ.)
Starygina N. N. Rossiya kak prostranstvo v romane I. A. Goncharova “Obyknovennaya istoriya” [Russia as a space in I. A. Goncharov's novel “Ordinary history”] Zhizn' provincii kak fenomen duhovnosti.Life of the province as a phenomenon of spirituality. [Provincial life as a phenomenon of spirituality]. Nizhnij Novgorod, 2009, pp. 55–68. (In Russ.)
M. Stasyulevich i ego sovremenniki v ih perepiske. V 5 t. T. 4 [M. M. Stasyulevich and his contemporaries in their correspondence. In 5 vols. Vol. 4]. Saint Petersburg: Stasyulevich printing house Publ., 1912, 518 p. (In Russ.)
[Stasyulevich M. M.] Opyt istoricheskogo obzora glavnyh sistem filosofii istorii [Experience of historical review of the main systems of philosophy of history. Stasyulevich's essay]. Saint Petersburg: Printing house of F. S. Sushchinskii Publ., 1866. 506 p. (In Russ.)
Chubarova V. N. Rossiya i Zapad v filosofskoj problematike romana I. A. Goncharova “Oblomov” [Russia and the West in the philosophical problematics of I. A. Goncharov's novel “Oblomov”]. [Literature in the dialogue of cultures]. Rostov-on-don, Rostov. state. university Publ., 2003, pp. 51–59. (In Russ.)
