THE ENCHANTED WANDERER BY LEONID YUZEFOVICH

Abstract

The article analyzes the novel “Philellin” by L.A. Yuzefovich, the main attention is paid to the method of narration, the system of characters, the typological characteristics of the main character and the genre features of the work. The novel is a collection of documents of different genres, which together form a story about the events of the liberation war in Greece in the 20s of the XIX century. Almost all of Yuzefovich's characters act simultaneously as subjects of the narrative and participants in the events. The exception is Alexander I, because he is “silent” (his point of view is broadcast by his secretary Yelovsky) and "inactive". Despite the importance of the figure of the Russian emperor in the plot of the novel, for these reasons, Alexander “gives way” to the place of the main character to a fictional character - Grigory Mossepanov, whose fate forms the plot outline of the novel. Mossepanov is not only an important participant in the events, but also one of the main subjects and objects of the narrative. In literary criticism, the hero is given typological definitions of Don Quixote, Petrushka, “a little man”. This article offers a more appropriate definition of the character and fate of Mossepanov - “enchanted wanderer”, which is confirmed by the comparison of the characters of L. Yuzefovich and N. Leskov. The key plot role of the Russian philhellene, the peculiarities of his character and fate largely determine the genre nature of the work as a historical and mythological novel.