His books on the various historical milestones of Russian history are the desk books of many scholars who believe that this writer has earned the right to stand alongside such eminent researchers as Vasily Tatishchev, Nikolai Karamzin and Vasily Klyuchevsky. Leo Tolstoy himself at one time highly appreciated the material that the Pole outlined. Subsequently, he writes: “Kazimir Valishevsky with unobtrusive strokes knows how to lively convey the main thing.”
One way or another, but in his writings subjectivity periodically slips, therefore the foreigner's point of view on some events of the past sometimes does not find agreement and response in the soul of a Russian person. So who is he, Kazimir Valishevsky? And why is the interest of readers keen on domestic history so riveted on his books? Let's consider this question in more detail.
Years of childhood and youth
Kazimir Feliksovich Valishevsky is a Pole by birth. He was born on November 19 in 1849 in the village of Gole (Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland).
To receive primary education, Casimir was enrolled in a Warsaw gymnasium. But after some time, the boy was forced to continue his studies at the Jesuit school, which was in France. Having matured, Kazimir Valishevsky became interested in law and eventually became a graduate of the school of law in Paris, where he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Law. After studying, the young man took up teaching at educational institutions in Krakow.
The field of journalism
Since the mid-80s of the 19th century, Kazimir Valishevsky spends most of his time in France. He has been writing work for several years in a row, where he touches on topical issues on political, legal and economic problems. Part of his monographs, for example, “Poland and Europe in the 2nd half of the 18th century.” even translated into Russian.
Books about outstanding personalities from the past of Russia
Soon, a doctor of law from Poland became interested in Russian history from the 17-19th centuries.
He writes a series of works about monarchs, which "faithfully" served our Fatherland. In one of the narratives, the journalist writes in detail about the difficult foreign policy relations between Russia and Poland that developed in the era of the Time of Troubles. That is, in fact, what became famous for Kazimir Valishevsky, whose books are in great demand not only in our country, but also abroad. To prevent his works from diverging from real facts from the past, the publicist “shoveled” the state archives of Vienna, London, Berlin, and, of course, St. Petersburg.
Let us analyze the content of the most popular works of the Polish author, who spent more than three decades of his life studying Russian historical science.
“The novel of one empress. Catherine the Great
This work of the Polish historian was published in 1892. Already from its name it becomes clear which object for research Kazimir Valishevsky chose. The Empress’s novel is, in fact, the culmination of the entire series, despite the fact that the book was written first in terms of chronology. Did the author try to describe in detail all the love affairs of Catherine II?
Not at all, the work is not about that. His main idea is to emphasize how much and devotedly a German from the province fell in love with Russia, and how, having ascended the throne, she did everything in her power for her prosperity and well-being. But the novel also contains the author’s point of view on the personality of the empress, which Kazimir Valishevsky conveyed to the reader. Catherine the Great in his eyes is a lazy, sometimes absent-minded and insufficiently educated person. But this is the subjective position of the Pole.
"Peter the Great"
This work appeared in 1897. What content did Valishevsky Casimir put into it? "Peter the Great" is a novel in which the author does not hide his if not admiration, then satisfaction with the affairs of the first Russian emperor. He rewards him with a whole series of odious epithets: daring, rude, impatient, impetuous ... Kazimir Feliksovich emphasizes that the emperor has a strong and close relationship with his people. Tsar Peter in every way cares and protects him. The author admires the reforms of the emperor in military affairs and directly says that he managed to create the most powerful and advanced army since the time of patriarchal Russia.
At the same time, the Polish historian, again showing subjectivity, criticizes the tsar’s affairs in relation to the navy. In his opinion, ships are extra, and very expensive and therefore unnecessary expenses for the treasury ...
"Ivan groznyj"
This work came out of the pen of the author in 1904. What does Kazimir Valishevsky describe in it? "Ivan the Terrible" - a book that in its content differs from the views on the era of the Oprichnina, formed by domestic historians. The fact is that traditionally we are used to evaluating the king according to his internal affairs in the state, and only then we pay attention to the quality of the ruler’s foreign policy. Kazimir Feliksovich changed priorities and described Ivan IV in terms of his ability to build diplomatic relations with “foreign” states. This, in particular, is about Lithuania and its native Poland. Of course, for Valishevsky, domestic policy matters, but it is secondary. The discrepancy with the positions of Russian historians was also manifested in the characterization of the personality of Ivan the Terrible himself, for whom the status of a tyrant, villain and murderer was firmly entrenched in Russian science.
Kazimir Feliksovich in assessments here is softer and interprets the nickname Grozny as “revered” and “respected”. In addition, the author speaks positively of the reforms that the king started.
"Time of Troubles"
This work became available for reading in 1911. What Casimir Valishevsky wanted to say with this novel. "Time of Troubles" is a book that is a continuation of the large-scale work of a Polish publicist entitled "The Origin of Modern Russia." The first pages of the Time of Troubles are devoted to the evaluation of one of the offspring of Ivan the Terrible - Fyodor Ivanovich, who grew up in an atmosphere of terror and fear. The author smoothly proceeds to cover the events of the beginning of the 17th century, when a real struggle for spheres of influence was on the political map of Eastern Europe. At that time, Poland turned into a strong state with a strong army. But in Russia, far from the best of times. The "terrible" king died, power in the country passed to the son of Ivan IV, who in fact turned out to be a weak ruler. The Oprichnina and the Livonian War were serious echoes of the socio-economic crisis. The discontent of the masses was growing in the country.
Kazimir Feliksovich describes in detail the political situation in Russia and Poland. He focuses on the fact that the Time of Troubles had a completely different effect on the future life of Russians and Poles. Valishevsky, using "strong literary temperament", gives a bright and colorful characterization of the complex and difficult period of Russian history, which dates back to the beginning of the 17th century.
Assessment of his work
The press in Russia, of course, did not keep waiting long for responses about the works of the Polish historian and publicist, who dedicated his final novel, published in 1925 to Paris, to Emperor Alexander I.
Moreover, reviews of his work were both positive and negative. And Kazimir Feliksovich meticulously monitored the ratings that readers gave to his books. He will write: “Despite the fact that the majority treated my work condescendingly, I could still notice that my presentation of certain historical periods of Russia provoked some discussions in society. And the fact that a certain part of people accuses me of slanderous past did not upset me at all. ”
A Polish publicist and historian died in Paris in 1935.
The publication of Valishevsky's books in Russia began in 1905 and continued until the First World War. And only at the end of the 80s of the last century did reader interest in his works reappear.