Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev (1818-1883)
Virgin Soil, construed as an attack on Russia. 1877
Autograph letter signed ('Iw. Turgènjew') to 'Herr Pollaczek', 16 rue de Mesmes, Bougival, 23 July 1877.

In French. Two pages, 213 x 136mm, on a bifolium. Provenance: formerly in the collection of Anton Dermot, Vienna – Stargardt, 1 April 2008, lot 320.

The 'particular, strange feeling' of seeing his last novel, Virgin Soil, construed as an attack on Russia. Turgenev had returned from Russia ten days previously, and has only now had time to respond to Pollaczek's letter, which enclosed a clipping from the Neue Freie Presse. 'The columnist is of course very well disposed towards me, but very harsh towards Russia; – and yet one has a particular, strange feeling in seeing that the blows which fall on the fatherland are drawn from one's own work. In spite of this, I am grateful to you for sending it: – one has to know these things'. Turgenev had evidently spent time with Pollaczek on his way to Russia, and he reports that he has recounted their journey to Pauline Viardot, who expresses gratitude for Pollaczek's willingness to support her son Paul's musical career.

Collected Letters (Moscow, 2014), vol.15, 4794. The editors identify the recipient as possibly Samuel Pollaczek (1835-1882): the original envelope (now lacking) gave an address at Weidlingen, near Vienna. The article in Neue Freie Presse, 7 July 1877, was a commentary on Turgenev's Nov' (Virgin Soil), and amongst other things stated that 'the writer revealed to us here the secret of Russia. Nihilism pushes tsarism ... to war'.

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