M. N. Muravyov and D. I. Khvostov: The Problem of Success at the Court of Catherine II

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of literary relations between M.N. Muravyov and D.I. Khvostov. It is based on materials held by the Department of Manuscripts of the Russian State Library, the Department of Written Sources of the State Historical Museum and the Manuscript Department of the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences. These materials have not yet attracted the attention of researchers. In the paper we publish and comment Muravyov’s poem “To Dmitry Ivanovich Khvostov&8j1; and 13 letters to Khvostov. The new data shows that Muravyov played the role of an “intermediary&8j1; between the authorities and the Khvostov, and, consequently, participated in the formation of the cultural policy of Empress Catherine II.