The Russian Messenger

1808

Sergey Glinka Editor

Published from Moscow, it was sponsored by the minister and Count Fyodor Rostopchin. It focused on classic military and patriotic works.

1841

Move to St. Petersburg with Nikolay Gretsch and Nikolai Polevoy

The second publishing period falls in the years from 1841 to 1844 and appeared in Saint Petersburg. On its creation, the publisher, editor, journalist and publicist Nikolay Gretsch and writer, playwright, journalist and historian Nikolai Polevoy were involved. Another employee was the historian Ivan Snegiryov.

1856

Return to Moscow ran by liberal writers and scholars Mikhail Katkov and Pyotr Kudryavtsev

The third form moved away from historical and military articles, transitioning to a literary journal which quickly became one of the most influential publications.

Notes of the Fatherland

1818

Founded by Belinsky & Herzen

Notes of the Fatherland (Otechestvennye Zapiski) founded in 1818 was a monthly publication from St. Petersburg – their readers were the intelligentsia, contributors included: Mikhail Bakunin, Timofey Granovsky, Nikolay Nekrasov, Ivan Turgenev, Vladimir Dahl, Vladimir Odoyevsky, Aleksey Pisemsky, Afanasy Fet

Sovremennik (The Contemporary)

1836

Founded by Alexander Pushkin

Published four times a year, it published works spanning a wide ideology. Pushkin died at the beginning of 1937 from injuries sustained from a dual vs. his wife’s lover, his friend Pyotr Pletnyov, took over publication in 1838.

1847

Nikolay Nekrasov and Ivan Panaev

The journal fell into decline until 1947 when it was taken over by Nikolay Nekrasov and Ivan Panaev. Alexander Nikitenko was the editor and the ideology was shaped by the critic Vissarion Belinsky. By 1848, circulation had grown to 3100 copies due to the popularity of democratic ideas published by the journal and grew more radical along with its audience.

1853

Cherneyshevsky takes over publication joined by Nikolai Dobrolyubov

As the publication becomes more radical and revolutionary, more conservative authors (Tolstoy, Turgenev and others) eventually leave the publication. Sovremennik's circulation reached 7,126 copies in 1861. The situation turns negative quickly with the death of Dobrolyubov, an 8 month publishing suspension, and the arrest of Cherneyshevsky.

1858

Sovremennik grows more radical, becomes the ideological center of revolutionary democracy.  Vladimir Alexandrovich Obruchev joins the staff (older brother of Maria Obruchova from The Zurich 7)

1863

Sovremennik numbers 3,4, and 5 contained Cherneyshevsky’s What is to be done?

Free Russian Press

1853

A publishing house founded by Alexander Herzen, in London, to be the uncensored voice of free Russia. 

The press was launched on the eve of the Crimean War, it included a call to the Russian nobility to awaken and liberate the Russian peasants and a proclamation promoting the idea that a democratic Poland could combine forces to help revolutionize Russia. "Send me whatever you will, and everything written in the spirit of freedom will be published, from the scientific articles or pieces on statistics and history, to novels, novellas or poems... If you haven't got anything of your own, sent hand-written copies of the banned poems by Pushkin, Ryleyev, Lermontov, Polezhayev or Pecherin... Since I am yet to maintain my links with Russia... I am going to publish my own manuscripts for a while,"

Polar Star (Polyarnaya Zvyezda)

1855-1862

A regular periodical founded by Herzen within the Free Russian Press

After the death of Nicholas I, Herzen thought a regular periodical would have more political impact than individual publications. In tribute to the Decemberists of 1825 he named the publication the Polar Star. Herzen stated, “The “Polar Star” disappeared behind the clouds of the reign of Nicholas. Nikolai has passed - "Polar Star" is again…. on the day of our Good Friday, on the day on which five gallows became five crucifixes for us,” referencing the 5 members of the Decemberist Revolt who where executed in 1825.

First Publication 1855

A. Herzen . Introduction.

  • A. Herzen. Letter to Emperor Alexander II

  • V. Engelson . What is a state?

  • Correspondence between N. Gogol and V. Belinsky

  • A. Herzen. Past and thoughts

  • A. Herzen. "Renaissance" Michelet

  • Letter from J. Michelet

  • A. Herzen. Novgorod and Vladimir

  • Anonymous letter and response from A. Herzen

  • A. Talandier . There is no socialism without a republic

  • A. Herzen. To our

  • Letters from D. Mazzini , V. Hugo and P. Proudhon

Second Publication 1856

  • A. Herzen. Obituary P. Chaadaev

  • A. Herzen. Forward! Forward!

  • Unpublished poems by A. Pushkin (“Liberty”, “To Siberia”, “Dagger”, “Message to Chaadaev”, “The Village”), K. Ryleev (“Citizen), M. Lermontov (“Death of a Poet)

  • Poems published anonymously by A. A. Grigoriev , E. P. Rostopchina , S. F. Durov , N. F. Pavlov , P. A. Vyazemsky (“Russian God’)

  • A. Herzen. Past and thoughts

  • N. Sazonov . Russia's place at the World Exhibition

  • Letters from an unknown author and S. D. Poltoratsky and answers from Herzen

  • N. Ogaryov . Russian questions

Third Polar Star Publication 1857

A. Herzen. From the publisher

  • N. Ogaryov. Analysis of the manifesto on August 26, 1856

  • Poems by N. Ogaryov

  • A. Herzen. Past and thoughts

  • N. Ogaryov. Letter from the province

  • A. Herzen. Notes of Princess Dashkova

  • I. D. Yakushkin and M. Muravyov-Apostol (?). Semenovskaya history (1820)

  • L. N. Tolstoy . Two songs of the Crimean soldiers

  • N. A. Melgunov . The rights of the Russian people

  • A. Herzen. Another variation on an old theme

  • A. Herzen. Death of Stanislav Worzel

  • N. Ogaryov. Russian questions, article two

Fourth Polar Star Publication 1858

A. Herzen. Liberation of the peasants

  • I. Aksakov . court scenes

  • Poems by N. Ogarev

  • A. Herzen. Past and thoughts

  • Unpublished poems by A. Pushkin

  • Poems by unknown writers

  • Unknown author. The murder of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich (Alexander Rumyantsev's letter to Dmitry Ivanovich Titov)

  • A. Herzen. Experience talking to young people

  • A. Herzen. From the publisher

Fifth Polar Star Publication 1859

  • M. Lunin , N. Muravyov Analysis of the report of the secret commission of inquiry in 1826

  • A. Herzen. Past and thoughts

  • M. Lunin. A look at a secret society in Russia

  • N. Ogaryov. In memory of the artist

  • A. Herzen. Talking to children

  • Poems by N. Ogaryov

Sixth Polar Star Publication March 1861 (after the January uprising)

  • N. Bestuzhev . Memories of K. Ryleev

  • N. Tsebrikov . Anna Fedorovna Ryleeva

  • Letters from K. Ryleev to A. Pushkin

  • M. Lunin's letters to his sister

  • N. Tsebrikov. Memories of the Kronverk Curtain

  • Unknown author. Details of the Execution of the Five Martyrs

  • Letters from A. Pushkin to Ryleev, Bestuzhev and others

  • Materials for the biography of A. Pushkin

  • Philosophical letter of P. Chaadaev

  • Materials for the history of Russian censorship under imp. Nicholas

  • Sermon of the Solovetsky Elder Nestor under Nicholas

  • V. Pecherin . Pot-pourri, or What you want, you ask

  • A. Odoevsky . Slavic virgins

  • Poems by various authors (G. Heine, Beranger (translated by V. Kurochkin ), etc.)

  • A. Herzen. Past and thoughts

  • Poems by N. Ogaryov

  • N. Ogaryov. Caucasian waters (excerpt from my confession).

Seventh Polar Star Publication - Two Issues

Issue one - September 1861

  • From the notes of I. D. Yakushkin

  • An excerpt from the opinion of the real state councilor Liprandi

  • To the previous article: notes, appendices, extracts

  • Stories about the times of Nicholas I:

  • W. Steingel . Kolesnikov and his comrades in Orenburg

  • P. Efremov . The Kritsky brothers and their comrades in Moscow

  • V. Raevsky . Brothers Rayevsky

  • A. Herzen. Past and thoughts

Issue two - March 1862. Last publication of the Polar Star from London

  • From the notes of Nikolai Bestuzhev

  • A. Herzen. Emperor Alexander I and V. N. Karazin

  • Applications from the notes of V. N. Karazin

  • More from the notes of N. A. Bestuzhev

  • M. A. Bestuzhev . From notes attributed to M. A. Bestuzhev

  • N. Grech . Excerpts from the notes of one non-Decembrist

  • A. Herzen. Past and thoughts

  • N. Ogaryov. Forgetfulness (poem)

Voices from Russia (Golosa iz Rossii)

1856

Ogaryov joined Herzen in London in and created a second periodical with broader ideological positions beyond the Polar Star.

More authors from Russia wanted their work published uncensored, but their views didn’t align with the Polar Star. This was an outlet for their work. (no references yet)

The Bell (Kolokol)

1857-1867

Founded by Herzen & Ogaryov in London

Originally started as surplus sheets to the third edition of the Polar Star, it was published once a month until interest increased and publication switched to weekly.

Liberation of the word from censorship!
The liberation of the peasants from the landowners!
Exemption of the taxable state from beatings!

1865

Moved to Geneva along with the rest of Herzen’s Free Russian Press

Its voice was at odds with Sovremennik about the aims of the Russian democracy, being more radical and pushing for revolution.

Vremya (Time)

1860-1863

Founded by Dostoevsky Brothers along with Nikolay Strakhov. Fyodor was prevented from being the editor because he was a convicted convict so his brother, Mikhail took on the responsibility.

Dostoevsky looked to create an independent publication, not subservient to any authority. His goal was to inspire the common people through the study of their lives and life principles and that the problems Russia faced was due to the apathetic nature of cosmopolitan Russia. The House of the Dead, from the first publication gained considerable popularity bringing success and popularity to the magazine, quickly reaching over 4000 subscribers. The publication was banned in May 1863 due to an article by Strakhov concerning the January Uprising and the continuing problems between traditionally Polish and Russian ideologies.

Epoch (A distinct period of time)

1864-1865

Replacement for Vremya without Nikolay Strakhov

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground took up the first four issues of the magazine. Mikhail died in 1864 placing Fyodor in the sole position of editor, the publication closed in February 1865 due to financial problems.