1831.] C 321 ■} 



MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 



Ivan Vejbeghen, or Life in Russia, By Thaddeus Bulgarin. 



2 vols. 12mo. 



This is a genuine Russian novel, and a tale which, with the interest of a fic- 

 titious story, presents many details of a state of society of which nothing can be 

 learned from books of travel. It is, in every respect, equal to Hope's Anasta- 

 tius ; and were the Russians as likely to awaken attention as the modern Greeks 

 ten or twelve years ago, and we do not see why they should not, Ivan Vejeeghen 

 might, as it well deserves, equal that renowned romance in popularity — it has 

 all the novelty and the ability. The scenes lie chiefly in Byalo-Russia, that is, 

 in one of the border provinces adjoining the old kingdom of Poland, in Moscow, 

 Petersburgh, and the Steppes occupied by some Mahometan tribes. The piece 

 is autobiographic — the hero, an orphan, appears, for the first time, in the half- 

 savage establishment of a sort of country 'squire, where the child is treated like 

 a dog, till he becomes the favourite of his master's daughter, who makes him 

 useful in conducting a correspondence with a young gallant, and, finally, through 

 her means, he falls into new hands. At Moscow he is recognised by an aunt, 

 who is living in splendour as the chere amie of one of the thousand princes of 

 Russia. He is now sent to school, and grows up to the age of seventeen or 

 eighteen, in the enjoyment of every indulgence that the prince's money can pro- 

 cure — the dupe, successively, of the interested of both sexes. By some insidious 

 adviser, he is prompted to quit his aunt's roof, in chase of some lady who had 

 smiled upon him, and in his way is entrapped, half killed, and thrown among 

 a tribe of Kirgheezians — wild marauders of the deserts. In this new scene his 

 activity and accomplishments stand him in good stead — he is the favourite of the 

 chief — shares in the perils of the tribe — gathers plunder at every turn, and at 

 last returns laden with spoil to Moscow, where he finds his aunt in distress. 

 She had lost her protector, and the charms which might have procured her 

 another. The poor woman confesses herself his mother ; Prince Somebody, 

 with an unutterable name, was his father ; and by degrees he discovers the parties, 

 who had had an interest in disposing of him among the Tartars. With money at 

 command, he provides for his mother, and mingling in the pleasures of Moscow 

 society soon gets into divers scrapes, from his love of excitement, gaming, and 

 the ladies. Stripped at last of every penny, he betakes himself to the army, 

 where he wins the favour of the commander, and gathers laurels in a Turkish 

 war ; and after new fluctuations of fortune, finds himself at last master of 

 large property bequeathed him by his father — to deprive him of which had been 

 the object of the prince's heirs in the persecutions he had suffered. With mature 

 experience, the wife of his affections, and an ample fortune, he withdraws to the 

 Crimea, where, in the neighbourhood of an old and staunch friend, he begets 

 sons and daughters, and cultivates his own acres. 



This slight sketch will suggest the scenes of Russian society, into which the 

 book will introduce the reader ; and we assure him there is no want of details — 

 the very things which travellers who scour the country posting can never disco- 

 ver. We select a kind of comparative estimate of Petersburgh and Moscow 

 society, as a specimen of the author's powers. The translation is executed with 

 unusual care and effect : — 



" Petersburgh society is in general much colder than that of Moscow, and in 

 every house attempts are maue to carry etiquette and punctilio to the utmost. 

 The presence of foreign envoys gives to society a sort of diplomatic gravity and 

 restraint which stiffens and strait-laces social intercourse. Here they do not like 

 story-tellers, nor good-fellows, nor people who amuse the company by their talents, 

 who are so much sought after in Moscow. In Petersburgh, every one must speak 

 from notes, proceed upon plan, and appear in the house when he is wanted, like an 

 actor in a comedy. Here every ac<|uaintance is an object of calculation, and is 

 valued for the sake of his consequence, his connections, or his family. Every one 

 looks on his acquaintances as stei)s to the ladder of rank or fortune, and gets hold 

 M.IM. New Series.— Vol!xII. No. 69. 2 F 



