“A direct distortion of the quoted writer’s words.”: about two feuilletons of S. Smirnova

The dispute between “Novoye vremya” and “Rech” in November 1909 is examined using the publications of D. Merezhkovsky, V. Rozanov, S. Smirnova and K. Aggeev. The article determines the reasons for Smirnova’s entry into the debate between Merezhkovsky and Rozanov. It further analyzes the “signals” in her feuilletons, typical of “Novoye vremya”, that enabled unsophisticated readers to experience a sense of belonging. The newspaper exchange between Merezhkovsky and Rozanov is treated as an episode of their years-long dialog. Their discussion of culture, religion, gender, the Old Testament, sacred flesh, Eastern mystical teachings was non-trivial and dependent on either’s own development, albeit often complicated by personal conflicts. In spite of his disagreement with Merezhkovsky, Rozanov conducted the debate with respect, bringing up convincing points and expressing them in a figurative, complex and ironic manner. Yet when Smirnova joined their discussion, full of mutual references and meanings only understood by them, she was forced to reduce and simplify them for the readers of “Novoye vremya”. Smirnova was well aware of her recipient’s thinking and explained the musings of the educated class to him in simple and accessible terms. Avoiding substantive dispute, Smirnova resorted to personal attacks, utilizing cliches that enabled her to maintain an image of an enemy, which was characterized by scholarship, sympathy to the West, disdain for the Orthodox Church, criticism of the government, as well as a particular nationality. Smirnova encouraged backward instincts, incited hatred towards infidels and the intelligentsia and contributed to the radicalization of the readers’ opinions.