Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev (1818-1883)
A censored translation of Dym. 1867
Autograph letter signed ('I. Turgeneff') to Richard Pohl, n.p. [Baden-Baden], 'Sonntag', n.d. [c. early September 1867].

In German. One page, 217 x 131mm, on lined paper. Envelope.

A censored German translation of his novel Dym. 'The translation which you gave me – is the same that appeared in the Didaskalia: everything actually of interest has, as far as I can tell, been removed. – I permit myself to send you the translation that the Riga newspaper gave: it is at least complete. – It is actually presumptuous of me – to invite you to undertake a second reading of my piece: but one has more time in winter, and you are very kind'.

Turgenev's satirical novel Dym (Smoke), set in Baden, had been published earlier that year, provoking a negative reaction both from conservatives and progressives. The letter can be dated, and the reference to Dym pinned down, by comparison with a letter to Moritz Hartmann of 1 September 1867, which mentions 'my last novel (which par parenthèse is terribly mutilated in Didaskalia)' (published in the Letters, vol VI, 299-300). Didaskalia was a supplement of the daily Frankfurter Journal from 1823 to 1903. The population of Riga – at that time part of the Russian empire – was more than 40% Baltic German at this date, and German was indeed its official administrative language until 1891. Richard Pohl (1826-1896) was a music critic and writer, and a resident of Baden, where Turgenev had settled with the Viardots in 1863.

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