Abstract: The article is devoted to the study of the geopolitical problems of the artistic works of Konstantin Leontiev, created during the years of consular service in the Greek and Bulgarian provinces of the Turkish Empire, as well as shortly after his retirement. Reviewing Konstantin Leontiev’s “oriental stories”, devoted mainly to the life of the Greeks, the author reveals the peculiarities of the poetics of the works of the cycle. The article proves that “oriental stories” go far beyond “ethnographism” or “ethnopsychologism”, giving the artist the opportunity to distinguish what is related to others, as well as to see Russia and Russians from the outside, to show its perception by the Greeks and the South Slavs. The “element of geopolitical analytics” is investigated as necessary in the artistic problems of the stories. Particular attention is paid to the consideration of the features of the perception of Russia by the older and younger generations of Greeks noted by Konstantin Leontiev. The author of the article states that the older generation unconditionally believed in Russia, considered the Russians to be the true heirs of Byzantium; while the young europeanised Greeks, for the most part, no longer looked at Russia or saw it as a hostile origin. This conflict of moods is viewed in the work as a kind of reflection of the spiritual processes taking place in the real, not idealised, Russian world. The author of the article states Leontiev’s hope for the high mission of the Russian Orthodox state, which reconciles various religious principles in itself and around itself.
References
V. Rozanov i K. N. Leont'ev: Materialy neizdannoi knigi “Literaturnye izgnanniki”, sost. E. V. Ivanovoi [Materials of the unpublished book “Literary Exiles”, comp. by E. V. Ivanova. St. Petersburg, Rostok Publ., 2014, 1180 p. (In Russ.)
Ganina N. A. “Iz zhizni khristian v Turtsii”: “vostochnye povesti” K. N. Leont'eva [“From the life of Christians in Turkey”: “Eastern stories” by K. N. Leontyev]. URL: http://pravaya.ru/idea/20/357 (access date: 20.09.2020). (In Russ.)
Griftsov B. A. Sud'ba K. N. Leont'eva [The fate of K. N. Leontiev]. K. N. Leont'ev: pro et contra: Antologiia: v 2 kn [K. N. Leontiev: pro et contra: Anthology: in 2 books]. St. Petersburg, Izd-vo Rus. Khristianskogo gumanitarnogo in-ta Publ., 1995, Book 1, pp. 294–358. (In Russ.)
Durylin S. N. V svoem uglu, sost. i primech V. N. Toropovoi [In his corner, comp. and note by V. N. Toropovа]. Moscow, Molodaia gvardiia Publ., 2006, 878 p. (In Russ.)
Leont'ev K. N. Poln. sobr. soch. i pisem: v 12 t. / podgot. teksta i komment. V. A. Kotel'nikova i O. L. Fetisenko [Complete collection of works and letters in 12 vols.]. St. Petersburg, Vladimir Dal' Publ., 2000–2020. (In Russ.)
