Nicholas I and Official Nationality in Russia 1825 - 1855

by Nicholas V. Riasanovsky

Nicholas I and Official Nationality in Russia, 1825 - 1855 developed from a much more modest interest in Uvarov's doctrine of "Orthodoxy, autocracy, and nationality." During the author's study of the Slavophiles in particular, he became increasing aware of the paucity of our knowledge of this so-called Official Nationality frequently combined with a deprecating attitude toward it. Unable to find a satisfactory analysis of the subject, the author proceeded to write his own. This book largely organized itself: an exposition and discussion of the ideology naturally occupied the central position, preceded by a brief treatment of its proponents. But Official Nationality reached beyond intellectual circles, lectures and books; indeed, for thirty years it ruled Russia. Therefore, the author found it necessary to write a chapter on the emperor who, in effect, personally dominated and governed the country throughout his reign; to add a section on the imperial family, the ministers, and some other high officials to an account of the intellectuals who supported the state; and to sketch the application of Official Nationalty both in home affairs and in foreign policy. In this manner this title is able to bring the state doctrine and its role in Russian history into proper focus.

Genres: History, Russia, Nonfiction, Russian History

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Nicholas Valentine Riasanovsky, D.Phil. (St. John's College, Oxford University, 1949; A.M., Harvard University, 1947; B.A., University of Oregon, 1942), born Nicolai Valentinovitch Riasanovskiy (1923–2011) was Professor Emeritus of History in the College of Letters & Sciences at the University of California Berkeley. His mother was a Ukranian novelist under the name Nina Fedorova; his father taught at the University of Oregon.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy shit this book took me a year to read somehow

[FellowBibliophile KvK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good background on Nicholas and all his actions. What is more, Riasanovsky points out how men like Pogodin and Uvarov created many myths, such as "pure Slavic Russia" (obliterating the Warangian inheritance, whose obscuring led to the Nazis degrading and classifying all of Russia as "non-Aryan"), and of how Nicholas, being of largely Germanic blood, fought against Pogodin and Uvarov on this issue.

[GreyAtlas · Rating 3 out of 5]

More concise than I expected and surprisingly readable. The goal of the work strayed somewhat with very intense pages on other notable individuals but they served their purpose.