First film adaptations of Mikhail Lermontov’s works and other noteworthy materials – in the collection of the Presidential Library

Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov’s unpublished poems,  drafts of his famous literary works, a variety of drawings, feature films, video lectures and other materials, which cast light on the life and career of one of the greatest Russian poets, are presented in the electronic thematic collection of the Presidential Library.

In commemoration of the upcoming 204th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Lermontov, which is to be celebrated on October 15, 2018, the library is offering access to a wide range of research works, dedicated to the writer, which in particular read that his family had Scottish roots. V. P. Avenarius, the author of the book “M. Yu. Lermontov: Biographical Sketch Featuring 12 Portraits and Drawings” (1914) cites the 16th-century Scottish historian Boethius: "Malcolm, crowned as king on April 25, 1061, generously granted lands to the noblemen, whose bravery contributed to his victory over Macbeth. Among the recipients was a Scotsman Lermont, who gave this name to one of the estates he acquired”. " Yury Andreevich Lermont, one of the descendants of this aristocratic family, moved to Lithuania in early 17th century, and then entered the service of the young Moscow Tsar, Mikhail Fyodorovich”, Avenarius narrates. - By the Tsar’s letter of March 9, 1621, officer Yury Lermont was granted eight villages and eight wastelands in Kostroma governorate. Our Russian poet is a direct descendant of Yuri Lermont”.

The electronic collection of the Presidential Library features the album “M. Yu. Lermontov”, whose goal was, according to the authors, "to portray the life and career of the great Russian poet by means of artistic, visual and documentary materials”. The album presents portraits of Lermontov’s acquaintances, images of places associated with his name, first-printed publications of famous works, and illustrations to name just a few. This album gives us a chance to discover Mikhail Lermontov’s early poetical gift: "Grandmother used to watch her young grandson playing. She was surprised at his early love for the consonance of speech. The babbling child enjoyed rhyming words, he loved it, and with a smile he came to his grandma to share his joy with her. "

It is worth noting that the poetic gift of the future Russian classical writer was not recognized by the public at once. Thus, I. L. Andronikov's “The Life of Lermontov” (1939) reads: The poetess Rostopchina recalled that the poor child had made a strange impression on her. She thought that Lermontov’s poems were bad, and considered him insincere.

The genius of Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov was versatile:  as a child he spoke in fluent French and German, he was good at higher mathematics and analytic geometry. The electronic collection of the Presidential Library features a wide variety of works of Lermontov-artist, the earliest dated 1825 – when Mikhail was just 11. “View of Pyatigorsk”, “Dancing Georgian women”, “Tiflis. Metekhi Castle”, “Two Hillmen by the River”- the poet dedicated these drawings to the place so dear to him from his childhood. It was there that Lermontov was killed in a duel.

Relations between the poet and his future opponent, Nikolay Martynov, were tense, I. I. Kostenetsky, who was acquainted with both officers, recalled.  He noted that every time Lermontov encountered Martynov, the latter was stung by the mockery. “Martynov was said to ask him stop mocking him in public and warned about unpleasant consequences of such arguments”.  The history of the relations between Lermontov and Martynov, as well as the accounts of contemporaries, are available in “Russkaya starina” magazine,  September issue, 1875.

However during the duel investigation Nikolay Martynov claimed that the murder was not planned in advance: "This duel was completely accidental. <...> I have never had any ill feelings towards him, therefore, I had no intention of having an argument with him”, the article "The Trial of Lermontov’s Murderers (The Case of the Separate Caucasian Corps Staff and N. S. Martynov’s Testimony)", “M. Yu. Lermontov: Articles and Materials” (1939) reads.

Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov had a short life, but he left behind a great literary heritage, which is in the spotlight of a variety of works, available in the collection of the Presidential Library. His works were among the first to be screened in the Russian Empire. “Boyar Orsha” was shot in 1909 at the film studio of A. A. Khanzhonkov, the pioneer of filmmaking. “Vadim” was made a year later and “Bela” - the first part of the novel “The Hero of Our Time” – was produced in 1913. These pictures, in particular, present the development of Russian cinematography. What is more, unlike earlier films, which were shot only inside pavilions, “Bela” was made outdoors in the Caucasus.

The collection of the Presidential Library also provides access to other interesting materials associated with the name of Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov: the reports of the poet during his service in the Caucasus, manuscripts of his poems and the history of their creation, poetical works featuring illustrations of I. K. Aivazovsky and V. M. Vasnetsov, etc.