“Episcopal Justice”: Nikolaj Leskov’s Life Experience and the Jewish Question

ABSTRACT

The present article gives a detailed account of previously unknown documentary sources of Leskov’s short story “Episcopal Justice.” This story bears the subtitle “True story. From recent recollections,” which seems to suggest an autobiographical basis for the narrative. The ultimate aim of the study is to determine whether the story’s central incident – a Christian bishop comes to the rescue of a Jewish boy – may have been based on real events. My analysis of recently discovered archival materials, as well as of the historical circumstances surrounding the writing of the tale, shows that “Episcopal Justice” may well have been based on real-life events. Moreover, we consider this story in the context of Leskov’s other writings addressing the “Jewish question” and trace the evolution of his position as it shifts, in his later years, toward one of equality of the Christian and Jewish faiths.

KEYWORDS:

• Leskov
• autobiography
• documentary sources
• fiction
• the Jewish question

Notes

1 A.K. Ključarev (1797–1867), director of the Department of the State Treasury of the Ministry of Finances, 1854–1862. At the time of his death in Kiev, Ključarev bore the rank of Privy councillor.

2 I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to Elena V. Polozova of the State Archive of Ukraine, who assisted me in my research with the care and diligence that went far beyond her official duties.

3 Coll. 442, ser. 85, f. no. 605, 18.

4 Coll. 442, ser. 85, f. no. 443, 46.

5 Coll. 442, ser. 85, f. no. 605, 27ob.

6 coll. 442, ser. 160, f. no. 474.

7 coll. 442, ser. 84, f. no. 362.

8 coll. 442, ser. 84, f. no. 194.

9 coll. 442, ser. 82, f. no. 288.

10 coll. 442, ser. 84, f. no. 536.

11 coll. 442, ser. 1, f. no. 11650.

12 coll. 442, ser. 85, f. no. 325.

13 Coll. 412, ser. 770, f. no. 74.

14 Teptjars were a people of non-Bashkir origins, who settled on Bashkir lands in the 18^th through early 20^th c. Another meaning of the word “teptjar” is someone too poor to pay poll tax.

15 Coll. 442, ser. 160, f. No. 42.

16 Coll. 442, ser. 32, f. No. 67.

17 Coll. 442, ser. 85, f. No. 38.

18 Coll. 442, ser. 84, f. no. 506.

19 Ibid., 1ob–2.

20 Coll. 182 (Office of the Metropolitan of Kiev), ser. 1, f. no. 44 (1840), 1–3ob.

21 Coll. 182, ser. 1, f. no. 44, 3ob.

22 Ibid., 4.

23 Ibid., 6.

24 Orshansky, I.G. Laws Concerning Jews. Essays and studies. St. P., 1877, p. 45. Mysh, M.I. Handbook of Russian Laws Concerning Jews. St. P., 1989. p. 1. The Jewish Encyclopedia, v. 15. St.P., pp. 147-8.