Orest Mikhailovich Somov (
Russian
Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including:
*Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
and uk, Орест Михайлович Сомов,
romanized Ukrainian standard: ''Orest Mykhailovych Somov/Somiv'') ( – ) was a Russian
romantic writer of Ukrainian origin.
He studied at
Kharkiv University
The Kharkiv University or Karazin University ( uk, Каразінський університет), or officially V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University ( uk, Харківський національний університет імені ...
, where he became an admirer of
Romantic literature and
Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction, sometimes called Gothic horror in the 20th century, is a loose literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. The name is a reference to Gothic architecture of the European Middle Ages, which was characteristic of the settings of e ...
.
In 1817 he moved to
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
where he continued his literary career. In addition to being a writer and translator, he established himself as a critic, editor and publisher, thus becoming one of the first professional men of letters in the Russian Empire. Somov was drawn to the folklore of his native Ukraine and much of his writing refers to Ukrainian history and
folklore
Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...
.
Somov was a popular writer during his lifetime. His works on Ukrainian themes made a big impact on the literary canon of the 1820s. His literary works were widely read and his critical opinion was highly regarded. However, after Somov's death, his name and works were consigned to oblivion. Only in 1989
Yuriy Vynnychuk put Somov back on the Ukrainian literary radar
[Vynnychuk, Yuriy 1989, (compl.) ''Ohnianyi Zmii: Ukrainska hotychna proza XIX st.'' he Fire-Breathing Dragon: Ukrainian Gothic Prose of the 19th Century Molod, Kyiv] collection of Somov’s folktales.
He is distantly related to the American actor
René Auberjonois
René Murat Auberjonois (; June 1, 1940 – December 8, 2019) was an American actor and director. He was best known for portraying Odo on ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). He first achieved fame as a stage actor, winning the Tony A ...
; Auberjonois' maternal grandfather's mother was a Russian noblewoman, Eudoxia Michailovna Somova (1850–1924), a collateral cousin of Somov's.
Famous works
* 1825-1830 – ''Haidamaka''
* 1827 — ''God’s Fool'' ()
* 1827 — ''Order from the other World'' ()
* 1829 — ''Kikimora''
* 1829 — ''Rusalka''
* 1829 — ''The Werewolf'' ()
* 1830 — ''Tales of Buried Treasures'' ()
* 1830 — ''Strange Duel'' ()
* 1830 — ''Self-murderer'' ()
* 1831 — ''Kupalo Eve'' ()
* 1832 — ''Wandering Light'' ()
* 1833 — ''The Witches of Kyiv'' ()
* 1833 — ''The Evil Eye'' ()
* 1833 — ''Mommy and Sonny'' ()
English translations
*''Mommy and Sonny'' (story), from
*''Tales of Buried Treasures'', ''The Werewolf'' and ''The Witches of Kyiv'' were included in ''Russian 19th Century Gothic Tales: Anthology'',
Raduga Publishers
Raduga Publishers (russian: радуга, English: "rainbow") was a Soviet publishing house of innovative children's books, which has been described as "one of the most important book publishers of its type" during the early twentieth century.And ...
, 1984.
*''The Witches of Kyiv'', ''Rusalka'', ''The Evil Eye'', ''Wandering Light'', ''Kupalo Eve'' and ''God’s Fool'' comprise
References
Further reading
*
*Charles Moser, ''The Cambridge History of Russian Literature''.
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it is the oldest university press in the world. It is also the King's Printer.
Cambridge University Pre ...
: 1992.
*N. Petrunyna, ' (Orest Somov and His Prose
1793 births
1833 deaths
People from Vovchansk
19th-century writers from the Russian Empire
Russian-language writers
Russian literary critics
Russian translators
19th-century translators
Russian male writers
National University of Kharkiv alumni
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