The Memoirs of Princess Dashkova

by Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova, Kiril Fitzlyon (Translator)

Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova (1743–1810), Russian princess, playwright, author, President of the Academy of Sciences, and founder and Director of the Russian Academy, was one of the first women in Europe to hold public office. Her memoir, among the earliest examples of autobiography in Russia, is part of what has become a long and powerful tradition of autobiographical writing by Russian women. It offers a rare glimpse into the life of a strong and outspoken public figure who was well recognized in much of her own time for her potent intellect but who died in isolation and has largely been forgotten today.
Originally written in French, first published in English, and long out of print, Dashkova’s Memoirs tell the story of a woman who at age eighteen played an important role in the coup that brought Catherine the Great to the throne. The relationship between these two women, often tense, is a central theme throughout this story. Dashkova, occupying the highly unusual position of both stateswoman and mother, also reveals her own path between the demands and limitations of the "private" and "public" spheres of her society. She provides a view of the expectations of Russian aristocratic women, the possibilities available to them, and the ways in which gender roles were conceived in the eighteenth century.
With a new introduction by Jehanne M Gheith, The Memoirs of Princess Dashkova will renew interest in the life of a fascinating woman for students of Russian history, women’s studies, and eighteenth-century studies. It will be a significant text for those engaged in the cross-cultural study of the traditions of women’s autobiographical writing.

Genres: History, Russia, Nonfiction, Read For School, Memoir

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1995

Reviews

[siya · Rating 3 out of 5]

really interesting!

[denudatio_pulpae]

Katarzyna Daszkowa była postacią niepospolitą. Żywo zaangażowana w życie polityczne Rosji, bliska przyjaciółka Katarzyny II, brała udział w przewrocie w 1762 roku (chociaż może nie do końca tak aktywnie jak zdaje się to być przedstawione w jej pamiętniku - ze wstępu W. Serczyka dowiemy się, że przedpołudnie, w czasie którego Katarzyna pędziła z Peterhofu do Petersburga Daszkowa spokojnie przespała we własnym domu), a w latach 1783-1794 stała na czele Akademii Nauk i Akademii Rosyjskiej. Zaprzyjaźniła się z wieloma wybitnymi osobistościami epoki (korespondowała chociażby z Diderotem i Wolterem) i odbyła kształcące podróże. W swoim życiu zaznała również i smutnych chwil - w wieku dwudziestu lat została wdową, a po wstąpieniu Katarzyny Wielkiej na tron drogi przyjaciółek rozeszły się, a wizje Daszkowej o roli pierwszej doradczyni carowej okazały się tylko marzeniami.

"Pamiętnik Księżny Daszkow" to nie tylko jej wspomnienia, to również korespondencja obejmująca zarówno listy od cesarzowej Katarzyny jak i takich osobistości jak Diderot, Wolter, Raynal czy Karol XIII (król Szwecji) oraz listy i pisma samej księżnej Daszkow.

Książka ta stanowi bardzo dobre uzupełnienie pamiętników Katarzyny II, pozwalające na poszerzenie wiedzy na temat życia XVIII-wiecznej Rosji.

[Calliope100 · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you are interested in the 18th century,, read memoires! more readable than 18th c fiction and more entertaining than history books. unfortunately we are usually having to read in translation, but they are primary sources.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book for its historical value but I can't help but feel it is very biased. I did get quite tired of her pretending to be modest and then telling extravagant stories about everything she accomplished with such vanity that it made me want to vomit. :) Not to mention her complete disregard for anything negative which did not end in her triumph or complete victimization (ie I won't talk about the negative consequences of my daughter's marriage but I'll talk about how the Orlov brothers treated me like crap). I was actually interested in her more personal life. That does not affect the fact that this was a good read.

[Dori-anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. A time travel in the XVIIIth century, and not only you got to a glimpse of Russia, but also of Europe. For sure she is being very partial when it comes to talk about Catherine The Great (who was her friend, and the godmother of ger children btw), but her memoirs are still a very valuable testimony of its era. And this woman has been so active during her lifetime, and she has contributed so much to the development of art, science and culture in Russia, that I can't believe my teachers never ever bothered to mention this woman during their lectures.

[Ramona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for memoirs, and this was no different. Plus, I didn't know much at the time, so I felt good about the feel.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

read in undergrad for a class. she had something like 20(!) children, only a few survived into adulthood.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would have liked it much better if I had more knowledge of Russian history before reading it. Would have been great if I was more interested in this time period!