Ogarev in Exile 1856-1877: an Investigation of the Life and Work in London and Geneva of Nikolai Platonovich Ogarev (1813-1877) Russian Poet and Revolutionary Publicist

Abstract

Soon after his arrival in London in March 1856, Nikolai Platonovich Ogarev began work at the Free Russian Press, and together with Herzen produced the first uncensored Russian newspaper made available in Russia, in which they closely monitored the progress of reform in that country. As well as publicist work, Ogarev also explored other ways of bringing about reform in Russia, reflected in a number of conspiratorial writings, and at the same time he continued his work as a poet and pursued other interests. In this thesis, with particular emphasis on England, the details of Ogarev's life in exile have been researched with the aim of discussing the people, places and activities he experienced, how his life diverged from that of his colleague Herzen, and the context of his works. These details have also been placed in the wider setting of contemporary events in England, Russia and elsewhere. The themes of Ogarev's publicist works are examined generally, but particular attention is drawn to his comments on England, to see what lessons from that country he felt could be applied to Russia. In his other writings too, including poetry, references to England are noted, giving an insight to the influence of his place of exile on his work. The biographical details of Ogarev's time in England show that he had a wide experience of life there. With Herzen, he lived a relatively comfortable life, and through him, he encountered a wide range of people-fellow émigrés, visitors from Russia and English sympathisers. Besides this, Ogarev experienced English life at closer hand in lodgings on his own. However, it was his relationship with Mary Sutherland that consistently took him away from the émigré environment and provided him with the greatest insight to English life, particularly for those living in poverty. In Ogarev's publicist writings, his attitude towards England was ambivalent. He noted favourable aspects of life there and found more to commend in England than in the United States, France or other European countries. The way reform had taken place there gradually, rather than by way of revolution, may have influenced his preference for 'reorganisation' rather than 'revolution' in Russia. However, he saw how England's much vaunted freedoms were frequently beyond the reach of the majority. While he saw hope in the development of the co-operative movement there, his conviction in the benefits of the communal system of land-ownership in Russia, providing at least basic subsistence and mutual protection, was firmly reinforced. In his poetry, London provided Ogarev with forceful imagery for works with a political message, while natural scenes also provided inspiration. It was mainly in his final years that aspects of his own everyday life in England became the subject of his poetry. Even then, however, the fate of Russia and its people remained, as always, his main concern.