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History / Slavic Studies / Philosophy / Religion

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Doubt, Atheism, and the Nineteenth-Century Russian Intelligentsia Victoria Frede “Frede offers an intriguing, complex, often subtle, and always well-documented answer to the question, How did Russian intellectuals (unlike their European counterparts) come to ground their systemic worldviews on an assertive atheism?” —David McDonald, University of Wisconsin–Madison The autocratic rule of both tsar and church in imperial Russia gave rise not only to a revolutionary movement in the nineteenth century but also to a crisis of meaning among members of the intelligentsia. Personal faith became the subject of intense scrutiny as individuals debated the existence of God and the immortality of the soul, debates reflected in the best-known novels of the day. Friendships were formed and broken in exchanges over the status of the eternal. The salvation of the entire country, not just of each individual, seemed to depend on the answers to questions about belief. Victoria Frede looks at how and why atheism took on such importance among several generations of Russian intellectuals from the 1820s to the 1860s, drawing on meticulous and extensive research of both published and archival documents, including letters, poetry, philosophical tracts, police files, fiction, and literary criticism. She argues that young Russians were less concerned about theology and the Bible than they were about the moral, political, and social status of the individual person. They sought to maintain their integrity against the pressures exerted by an autocratic state and rigidly hierarchical society. As individuals sought to shape their own destinies and searched for truths that would give meaning to their lives, they came to question the legitimacy both of the tsar and of Russia’s highest authority, God. Victoria Frede is assistant professor of history at the University of California at Berkeley. Praise: “Although primarily concerned with ideas regarding doubt and atheism, Frede explains how various personal, social, political, and foreign influences affected the thinkers mentioned.” —Choice “[Frede's] sources are compelling and moving, her arguments insightful, and her narrative fascinating.” —Slavic Review “An excellent, solidly researched, and fascinating study that should henceforth be regarded as essential reading on the topic.” —Journal of Religion “A significant contribution to a subject that has not been granted its due share of academic investigation.” —Slavonica “The ‘Russian soul,’ a concept much toyed with a century ago, has disappeared from informed commentary on Russian culture. Yet the 19th-century spiritual phenomenon known to us from the great Russian novels still seeks its definitive explanation. Russian thought contains the best potential answers but notoriously resists analysis. In Doubt, Atheism, and the Nineteenth-Century Russian Intelligentsia, Victoria Frede has heroically broken down some of the resistance. . . . [This] is an encouraging example of what the end of the Cold War has meant for Russian scholarship.” —Lesley Chamberlain, Wall Street Journal “Frede’s investigation of the writings of her subjects will not be surpassed, especially in her sensitivity to changes in their ideas and the personal and political occurrences that influenced them. . . . [This book] achieves the elusive balance of being forthright enough for classroom adoption and illuminating for seasoned scholars.” —William B. Husband, Russian Review “This book makes an important contribution and is also a pleasure to read; it will be appreciated by Russian historians as well as those interested in the development of religious and secular ideas in the modern world.” —Scott M. Kenworthy, Secularism and Nonreligion “Lucid and engaging. . . . In six well-balanced chapters [Frede] examines the development first of skepticism and then of atheism among the nineteenth-century Russian intelligentsia.” —Derek Offord, Slavonic and East European Review “A splendid book. Frede draws upon published as well as archival sources, integrating these materials seamlessly into a narrative that is remarkable for its clarity and its sensitivity to nuance. The resulting book is therefore a rarity, being self-evidently learned and yet a great pleasure to read.” —Gary Hamburg, Claremont McKenna College Media & bookseller inquiries regarding review copies, events, and interviews can be directed to the publicity department at publicity@uwpress.wisc.edu or (608) 263-0734. (If you want to examine a book for possible course use, please see our Course Books page. If you want to examine a book for possible rights licensing, please see Rights & Permissions.)

September 2011 LC: 2011011567 BL 280 pp.   6 x 9   6 b/w illus. Paper $26.95 s ISBN 978-0-299-28444-2 ADD TO CART

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