Y. F. Samarin and L. N. Tolstoy in the literary-aesthetic context of the epoch

The article deals with the literary-aesthetic disputes of the 1840s -1850s and Y. F. Samarin’s and L. N. Tolstoy’s attitudes to them. The research is based on Samarin’s articles and Tolstoy’s diary and letters. Assessment given by Tolstoy to Slavophiles and Westernizers’ dispute of Peter I reforms is quite consonant with Samarin’s conclusions in this respect: the reforms as such were not a crime but brought inevitable evil to Russian life, which is separation of educated estates from common people. Attitude to Peter’s reorganizations formed aesthetic views of the representatives of various literary trends. Having stated rejection of the accusatory literature, Tolstoy adopted Samarin’s position who was a consistent opponent of “Natural School”. Tolstoy’s reflections on the modern literary process were closely connected at that time with a vital question whether to dedicate all of himself to literature or not. His doubts and disputes resulted in Tolstoy’s leaving “Sovremennik” in 1858 and his attempt to set up his own literary journal. Samarin’s acquaintanceship with Tolstoy took place in May, 1856 and went well into 1860-s and 1870-s. While working at the novels “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina” Tolstoy used to have long conversations with Samarin where they discussed philosophical, historical and literary matters. In his letter of 1867 Tolstoy confessed that Samarin was his closest person in “ethical and intellectual world”. The author makes a conclusion that Samarin’s literary-aesthetic and historical views were of great significance for Tolstoy.