Leskov and Latin

Overview & Synopsis

In this paper the constant interest of the writer Nikolai Leskov in Russian antiquity, church everyday life, and the life of clergy is noted. Church surnames, characteristic of the Russian clergy in the 18th–19th centuries, were often formed from Greek, Latin, and Church Slavonic terms. The choice of a surname or name for a character of his prose was very important for Leskov: he himself often paid attention to this issue and the heroes of his works talk about it. In modern literary studies, many scholars discuss onomastics in Leskov’s texts, but such an aspect as the Latin language (and related classical antiquity) in Leskov’s writings is rarely touched upon. This paper deals with anthroponomy of the chronicle The Cathedral Folk by Leskov. A more precise explanation of the origin and meaning of the “artificial” ecclesiastical surnames of some characters (Benefaktov, Benefisov, Prepotensky, Omnepotensky) is offered. One episode about Philaret, Metropolitan of Kiev, and his Latin words from Leskov’s ‘Trifles from the Life of Archbishops’ is considered. Some episodes of other works by Leskov are also considered (including At Daggers Drawn and Episcopal Justice). It is noted that Leskov was an “autodidact”: he entered the gymnasium long before the large-scale introduction of classical education in Russia, studied poorly and did not graduate from the gymnasium. He did not have excellent grades in Latin and did not enter the university. It is concluded that there are cases of misunderstanding of Latin vocabulary and grammar in Leskov’s works. He was not interested in Latin and had a poor understanding of this language."