# The Review on P.V. Basinsky's book "saint against Leo. John of Kronstadt and Leo Tolstoy: the story of one enmity "

Vladimir Vladimirovich Zalesski

The Review on P.V. Basinsky's book "Saint against Leo. John of Kronstadt and Leo Tolstoy: the story of one enmity "

The Review on P.V. Basinsky's book 'Saint against Leo. John of Kronstadt and Leo Tolstoy: the story of one enmity "


I wandered the Internet.


Was interested in questions of history, related to Napoleon III.


Suddenly, I accidentally came across a book by P.V. Basinsky 'Saint against Leo. "John of Kronstadt and Leo Tolstoy: the story of one enmity."


There was some movement around this book. Even, it seems, of official kind.


Actually, it's evening time now, and there's not much time.


But, I began to read.


'At the turn of the XIX - XX centuries in Russia there were two places of mass pilgrimage - Yasnaya Polyana and Kronstadt. Why did the crowds of people go precisely to Leo Tolstoy and Father John of Kronstadt? The famous writer and journalist Pavel Basinsky, author of the bestselling book 'Leo Tolstoy: Escape from Paradise' (the 'Big Book' award), in the book 'Holy Against Leo' traces the history of the relationship between the most famous writer and the most beloved priest of the time. They became sworn enemies . "


Well well...


'I express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who, through advice, deeds, or by a kind participation, helped the appearance of this book:


Olga Basinskaya, Evgeny Vodolazkin, O.V. Gladun, N. A. Kalinina, V. Ya. Kurbatova, V. S. Loginova, M. G. Loginova, L. V. Milyakova, Gennady Oparin, Nadezhda Pereverzeva, Alexey Portnov ", Vladimir Tolstoy, Tatyana Shabaeva, Elena Shubina, Yadviga Yuferova."


I didn't count, but I see that there are a lot of surnames.


'You cannot limp on both knees. You cannot simultaneously love Leo Tolstoy and John of Kronstadt.

N.S. Leskov in a conversation with L.I. Veselitskaya"


What? Leskov said something about the relationship of Leo Tolstoy and John of Kronstadt? A little bit interesting ...


"Instead of a foreword


The Emperor laughs


In the memoirs of Ivan Zakharyin, a state adviser, a former manager of the Peasant Bank's branches in Vilna, Kovno, Orenburg and Stavropol, as well as a prose writer and playwright, who was writing under the pseudonym Yakunin, tells about the conversation between Emperor Alexander III and Countess Alexandra Tolstoy, a cousin of Leo Tolstoy "[... made a confidant the person with the surname Tolstaya ...]", the famous Alexandrine "[" Alexandrine "- a type of " we are all "our own", included into the "sphere"] ", - a girl, maids of honor, teacher of Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna.


Alexandrine was famous at the court not only for her impeccable piety and penchant for philanthropy, but also for her outstanding intelligence, literary taste and independent character - a hallmark of the entire Tolstoy breed. '


An independent character. It's good...


'There was a separate passage for the Tsar ... - through the glass gallery, which hanging in the air, connecting the Winter Palace with the Hermitage, and the emperor went to consult about the possibility of publishing 'Kreutzer Sonata" by Tolstoy. The work was forbidden by spiritual censorship.


A bit strange. "Separate" - why? And how is it "hanging in the air"? a danger ... for the emperor ...


'I allowed myself to express my opinion... the public ... is a great hunter to the forbidden fruit.'


Something Maxim Gorky is recalled. The story of election him to the Academy ...


'Women in Russia often turned out to be wiser than men. The Kreutzer Sonata was allowed for publication - but only as part of the next volume of Tolstoy's collected works. '


It's getting a little boring ...


'And then they started talking about the extraordinary popularity of Leo Tolstoy in Russia. It was 1891.


- Tell me, who do you find the most wonderful and popular people in Russia? The sovereign asked Alexandra Andreyevna. 'Knowing your sincerity, I am sure that you will tell me the truth ... Of course, don't speak about me.'


- And I will not speak about you.


- 'Whom exactly will you name?'


- Firstly - Leo Tolstoy ...


-'I was expecting that.' And then?


- 'I will name another person.'


- 'But whom?'


- Father John of Kronstadt.


The sovereign laughed and answered:


- 'I didn't remember about him now.' But I agree with you. '


It's a little heavy ... to continue a reading ...


"Zakharyin was not present at this conversation ...."


It's all...


"... Tolstaya even writes:" The sovereign laughed very much ... "

He laughed, but still agreed! '


I stop reading ...


So ... for what purpose time was spent?


To not waste time in vain ... I will write a review ... Still - an intellectual product ... Anyway ...


Yes ... A request for "circles." I beg you! Forgive me for exceeding the limits of quoting ... Show a condescension!


Almost eleven in the evening. I thanks to all.


October 8, 2019 22:57


Translation from Russian into English: October 9, 2019 10:06.

Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Рецензия на на книгу П.В. Басинского 'Святой против Льва. Иоанн Кронштадтский и Лев Толстой: история одной вражды''.