History and culture: Mikhailovsky Pushkin readings in the Pskov region

From August 20-24, 2014 in the State Museum-Reserve of A. S. Pushkin “Mikhailovskoe” (the Pskov region) are held scientific readings traditionally dedicated to the poet’s arrival in northern exile.

The stated theme of the conference is associated with several significant dates marked in the Pskov region and across the country. First of all, it's the 190 anniversary of Pushkin’s arrival in Mikhailovskoe exile, which played a decisive role in his creative development. It was Mikhailovskoe, by poet’s own admission "that piece of land", where his spiritual forces "reached full development".

The next topic is also close the life and work of the poet and is associated with the 200th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris, triumphantly ended the participation of Russia in the Napoleonic wars. Napoleonic theme forms a historical cycle of the poet. Not accidentally, in Mikhailovskoe the poet again addresses this topic in his poetic work "To the Sea".

This year marks the 160th anniversary of the heroic defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. Crimea is closely connected with the name of Pushkin, and the name of another prominent Pskov resident – M. I. Kutuzov, the family estate and the family vault of who are in the village Tereben, neat to Mikhailovskoe.

A military theme, as well as the participation in the military history of Russia of the descendants of A. S. Pushkin is close to the next theme - the First World War Centenary, which is reflected in the works of poets and writers of the Silver Age.

The local history topic of readings, which is one of their specialties, is represented by several anniversaries associated with the life of Pushkin Reserve and the Pskov region. These are time-coincided events: the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi occupiers of the Pushkin Preserve, The Pushkin district and whole Pskov region, as well as self-education of the Pskov region in the existing borders. The theme of the border, which worried imagination of Pushkin, is still relevant today.

Thus, the theme of the readings is very extensive as in chronological order, and content that enables scientists, writers, museum workers, workers of culture and art, local historians feel the chroniclers of the history of their Fatherland.