  trushina-ea-vestnik-2026-2.pdf |
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- Ivan Kashkin’s reception of the works by Gilbert Keith Chesterton
- Trushina E.A. Ivan Kashkin’s reception of the works by Gilbert Keith Chesterton. Vestnik of Kostroma State University, 2026, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 125–130 (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.34216/1998-0817-2026-32-2-125-130
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.34216/1998-0817-2026-32-2-125-130
- УДК: 821(410.1).09”19/20”
- EDN: EAEQWX
- Publish date: 2026-03-24
- Annotation: The article deals with literary critical perception of art created by the English literature classic G.K. Chesterton reflected in the works of the outstanding Soviet literary scholar and critic Ivan Aleksandrovich Kashkin. The author of the article analyses separate works by Kashkin as well as the critic’s dictionary entries. The article compares Kashkin’s opinion on Chesterton’s art in the various works by the critic written within more than twenty years. Kashkin analyses the writer’s works on philosophical topics, his critical and biographical works, essays, historical, theological, poetic and prosaic works including novels and short stories as well as his political views. Kashkin concludes that being a skillful author with a recognisable writing style, in his art Chesterton expresses primarily Orthodox worldview. At first sight, it seems optimistic and oriented on eliminating social injustice. In the end, however, his worldview seems tragic and rather utopian. Kashkin considers essays, poetry and detective stories to be the most impressive and idea-driven works by Chesterton who bears the traditions of classic English literature, whereas his novels seem to Kashkin of a lesser quality.
- Keywords: Ivan Kashkin, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, literary criticism, analysis of poetic and prosaic works.
- Literature list: Chukovskij K.I. Sobranie sochinenij: v 15 t. T. 11: Dnevnik 1901–1921 [Collected Works: in 15 vols. Vol. 11: Diary 1901–1921]. Moscow, TERRA–Knizhny'j klub Publ., 2013, 592 p. (In Russ.) Cvetaeva A.I. Vospominaniya. Poezdka k Gor'komu. Vstrecha s Marinoj [Memoirs. Visitng Gorky. Meeting Marina]. URL: https://tsvetaeva.lit-info.r/tsvetaeva/vospominaniya/cvetaeva-anastasiya/poezdka-k-gorkomu.htm (access date: 02.02.2026). (In Russ.) Dinamov S.S. Ohotnich'i rasskazy. Leningrad, 1926; Chelovek, kotoryj slishkom mnogo znal. Moscow, 1926 [Hunting Stories; The Man Who Knew Too Much]. Knigonosha [Bookseller], 1926, no. 15, pp. 34–35. (In Russ.) Dinamov S.S. Perevedennye anglichane: Chesterton – O’Flaherti – Mak Gill [English Authors Translated: Chesterton – O’Flaherty – Mac Gill]. Vestnik inostrannoj literatury [Bulletin of Foreign Literature], 1928, no. 1, pp. 165–168. (In Russ.) Kashkin I.A. Angliya i Amerika. Obzor literatury [England and America. Literature Review]. Zapad i Vostok: sb. Vsesoyuz. ob-va kul'turnoj svyazi s zagranicej. Kn. 1, 2 [West and East: Collection of the All-Union Society of Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. Vol. 1, 2]. Moscow, VOKS Publ., 1926, pp. 155, 163. (In Russ.) Kashkin I.A. G.K. Chesterton. Dlya chitatelya-sovremennika: stat'i i issledovaniya [G.K. Chesterton. For Contemporary Readers: Articles and Research]. Moscow, Sovetskij pisatel' Publ., 1968, pp. 327–374. (In Russ.) Kashkin I.A. Chesterton G.K. [Chesterton G.K.] Enciklopedicheskij slovar' Russkogo bibliograficheskogo instituta «Br. A. i I. Granat i K°»: v 58 t. T. 45, ch. 3: Hristianstad – Cheti [Encyclopedic dictionary of the Russian Bibliographic Institute “Br. A. and I. Granat and Co.”: in 58 vols. Vol. 45, iss. 3]. Moscow, T-vo «Br. A. i I. Granat i K°» Publ., 1929, pp. 824–828. (In Russ.) Litvak D. Perevodchica dlya zhizni [Translator for life]. Kommersant [Trader], 2009, no. 59 (4114). URL: https://trauberg.com/memoria/perevodchitsa-dlya-zhizni, (access date: 04.02.2026). (In Russ.) Mirskij D.P. Chesterton G.K. Bol'shaya sovetskaya enciklopediya: v 65 t. T. 61: Ch – Shaht [Chesterton G.K. Great Soviet Encyclopedia: in 65 vols. Vol. 61]. Moscow, Sovetskaya enciklopediya Publ., 1934, pp. 423–424. (In Russ.) Morozova S.N., Zhatkin D.N. Tvorchestvo G.K. Chestertona v literaturno-kriticheskom osmyslenii K.I. Chukovskogo [Chesterton’s Works in the Literary and Critical Analysis by K.I. Chukovsky]. Izvestiya Smolenskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta [The News of Smolensk State University], 2020, no. 3 (51), pp. 37–47. (In Russ.) Toper P.M., Lorie M.F. Kommentarij [Commentary]. Kashkin I.A. Dlya chitatelya-sovremennika: stat'i i issledovaniya [For Contemporary Readers: Articles and Research]. Moscow, Sovetskij pisatel' Publ., 1968, p. 557. (In Russ.)