The Library Received Pushkin’s Boldino Manuscripts as a Donation

24.03.2014

Russian Academy of Sciences has donated Pushkin’s Boldino manuscripts to the University of Turku. Only 500 copies of the three-volume edition of the manuscripts have been printed and other copies have been donated to universities in Russia and Belarus as well as to research institutes and museums.

Library Director Ulla Nygrén and Consul General Alexander B. Svertshkov are leafing through the rare Boldino manuscripts. Only 500 copies of three-volume facsimile have been printed. Interpreter Margarita Kokeeva in the background.

The three-volume facsimile that was published last year contains all the manuscripts that Alexander Pushkin wrote while staying on his family estate in the autumn of 1830. It took 30 years to collect and work on the materials for the facsimile.

– Collecting the manuscripts was a very extensive project and it has a great significance for the research of Pushkin’s work, says Consul General Alexander B. Svertshkov, who handed the books to the university.

Vice Rector Riitta Pyykkö, who accepted the donation, described Pushkin’s three-month Boldino period as a particularly fruitful time, even in the scope of the whole world.

– The Boldino autumn is a concept in world literature. He wrote prose, poems, plays and manuscripts, says Pyykkö.

Svertshkov sees many reasons behind this fruitful period.

– Autumn was Pushkin’s favourite time of the year and that year a great event was at hand: his wedding. I believe this filled the poet’s soul with extraordinary feeling. In addition, he had to be isolated from other people because of a long and delayed cholera quarantine, which created ideal circumstances for Pushkin to immerse himself in his creative work, says Svertshkov.

One of the works Pushkin created during the Boldino period was the novel in verse Eugene Onegin, which is considered as his masterpiece.

For the Use of Students and Researchers

So far, the Boldino manuscripts had only been donated to Russian and Belorussian institutions, but the University of Turku received its own copy because of the request of the standing committee of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

– The University of Turku is one of the leading universities in Finland. By donating this valuable piece, we wanted to emphasise the good and profound cultural relationship between our countries, says Svertshkov.

Library Director Ulla Nygrén revealed that the books will find their eventual place in the library next year. The facsimile can be used by both the students and researchers.

– In January, when the Main Library is reopened after the renovation, the books will be placed at the heart of the new library, says Nygrén.

Text: Erja hyytiänen
Translation: Mari Ratia

Created 24.03.2014 | Updated 24.03.2014