ОБЩЕСТВЕННАЯ ЖИЗНЬ ТУРКМЕН АХАЛТЕКИНСКОГО ОАЗИСА В РОМАНЕ В. П. ЧЕРЕВАНСКОГО «ПОД БОЕВЫМ ОГНЕМ»

Abstract

The article analyzes data on the realities of Turkmen life before and during the Akhal-Teke expedition of 1880–1881 contained in the novel “Under the battle fire” by V. P. Cherevansky, а highranking statesman, scientist and famous writer of the second half of 19th — early 20th century, who himself was a participant of this expedition. In addition to the main plotline, the novel describes specific features of relations between various Turkmen tribes and their leaders, position of Turkmens towards neighbor states such as The Emirate of Bukhara, The Khanate of Khiva, Persia, their relations with the Russian and British Empires during the process of joining the Central Asia to Russia. Together with invented characters (or figured under false names) real historical figures are acted in the novel: general M. D. Skobelev, colonel Petrusevich, Turkmen leader Tykma-sardar, orientalist A. Vambery, English journalist E. O’Donnovan and others. V. P. Cherevansky’s personal acquaintance with his characters allowed him to faithfully describe Turkmen realities during the “extreme” period of their life (before and during the joining of the Akhal-Teke oasis to the Russian Empire) and enliven information of his contemporaries and scholars avoiding “oriental” views typical for contemporary western and some Russian literati.