Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev (1818-1883)
An unwelcome Russian guest. 1866
Autograph letter signed ('I. Turgéneff') to an unidentified friend ('Lieber Freund'), Schillerstrasse 277, Baden-Baden, 15 August 1866.

In German. Two pages, 206 x 131mm, on a bifolium with embossed initials 'JT'.

An unwelcome Russian guest. Turgenev is looking forward to a visit from his friend, but has not invited him earlier as 'a Russian has settled at my house (I was only passively involved) – and he is not leaving before the end of the week'; he therefore invites the recipient to come on the Tuesday, 'and then you must of course stay for as long as it pleases you'. He reports that Pauline Viardot and her family are well, but the weather is dreadful and the hunting disappointing.

Turgenev was at this period working on his novel Dym (Smoke), which is principally set amongst the Russian community in Baden-Baden.

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