Abstract
This chapter examines the earliest and the most “classical” Gothic tale in Russian literature — Nikolai Karamzin's The Island of Bornholm (1793) where the Russian traveler, stranded on a mysterious Danish island, is surprised to learn that the island used to be populated by Slavs. The fictional traveler's investigation of the mysteries of the island (deriving from possible incest and the resulting punishment) becomes a journey back to the dark pagan origins of Russian history and a Gothic prelude to Karamzin's later historical project. The Island of Bornholm remains an isolated phenomenon in late-eighteenth-century Russian literature, unique for its complex fusing of Gothic tropes and historical concerns.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
