concept
The Pushkin Prize
Pushkin Prize
also: Пушкинская премия
Real literary prize (500 roubles) awarded by the Imperial Academy of Sciences; Chekhov reports having just won it in this letter, news that would be formally announced later that month and that marked his emergence as a serious literary figure. Distinct from, the unrelated Society of Russian Dramatic Writers and Opera Composers' award for best new play (later associated with "Ivanov") -- the two prizes are not to be conflated.
Reading notes
- To A. N. Pleshcheyev, 9 October 1888. Moscow. §7 Я получил Пушкинскую премию
This is the PUSHKIN PRIZE (500 roubles, Imperial Academy of Sciences), confirmed by the translator's report and corroborated by the same-cluster letters 3-496, 3-498, and 3-500, all reporting the same news within days. It is NOT the Griboyedov Prize, an unrelated award of the Society of Russian Dramatic Writers and Opera Composers for best new play, later associated with "Ivanov"; the two prizes must not be conflated.
- To Al. P. Chekhov, 16 November 1888. Moscow. §5 500 laurels
Comic exaggeration of Chekhov's real Pushkin Prize (500 roubles, awarded by the Imperial Academy of Sciences), already announced in the immediately preceding letters to Alexander; "laurels" stands in mock-heroically for the prize money.