READING CIRCLE OF THE CENTRAL BLACK EARTH NOBILITY IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE XIX – EARLY XX CENTURIES

Abstract

The relevance of the research is determined by the need to study the experience of the development of reading culture in the Central Chernozem region of the Russian Empire among the educated segments of the population. The features of the selection of literature for family evenings are analyzed, the features of the reader's interest among different social and age groups of nobles are characterized (primarily due to the appeal to the composition of book collections). During the study of the reading circle of the central Chernozem nobility, it was possible to establish the fundamental importance of family reading for the formation of interests, creative abilities, moral qualities of the upper class. The daily appeal to books and the culture of thoughtful reading itself were due to the difficulties in acquiring (in comparison with the capitals) new publications. The shelves of bibliophiles could contain French atheistic writings and religious texts, books of economic importance and novels for easy reading. The provincial nobility sought to adopt the capital's book fashion, but the specific conditions for the creation of libraries and the personal interests of landlords created a special information environment, individual in each case. Through the active development of the book heritage, the early socialization of noble youngsters took place, interest in certain topics and directions in literature was formed. At the same time, the image of reading parents became a role model and formed the necessary conditions for the reproduction of reading traditions in the future.

Keywords

• noble libraries
• home reading
• education
• estates
• book culture
• russian empire