Dostoevsky and World Culture Dostoevsky and World Culture 2619-0311 2712-8512 IWL RAS https://doi.org/10.22455/2619-0311-2025-2-157-192 Research Article Articles The Dream about the Battle of Berezina in Dostoevsky’s Novel White Nights Podosokorsky Nikolay N. fedor@dostmirkult.ru 25 06 2025 1 2 157 192 Fyodor Dostoevsky White Nights the Battle of Berezina Napoleon “night” literature romanticism R.M. Zotov Honoré de Balzac the Patriotic War of 1812 Copyright © 2026, IWL RAS 2026 The article examines the Battle of Berezina in the Patriotic War of 1812 as one of the significant historical and literary dreams of the Dreamer’s story in Dostoevsky’s early sentimental novel White Nights. The list of dreams of the hero of White Nights — which includes, in addition to the Battle of Berezina, St. Bartholomew’s Night, a heroic role in the capture of Kazan by Tsar Ivan IV Vasilyevich, the burning of Jan Hus in Constance, Danton, Cleopatra and her lovers, a house in Kolomna, etc. — was added by Dostoevsky to the text of the novel during its revision in 1860. It is argued that this list cannot be reduced to the writer’s autobiography and identified with the similar list from the feuilleton Petersburg Dreams in Verse and Prose (1861), nor it is correct to strictly divide it into purely literary and historical elements. It is proved that Dostoevsky’s hero looks at world history as an artist and poet, mainly through the prism of art, and his interest in tragic and bloody events, executions and murders, is due not to pathological cruelty, but to the desire to transform these perversions of the human spirit into stories of human compassion and empathetic participation. Special attention is paid to possible sources of the hero’s dreams about the Battle of Berezina: Honoré de Balzac’s short story Farewell! (1830), the historical novel by R.M. Zotov Borodino core and Berezinskaya ferry (1844), etc. In addition, an attempt is made to describe the hidden Napoleonism of the Dreamer, who, like Dostoevsky, was born in the year of Napoleon’s death. Al’tshuller, M.G. Epokha Val’tera Skotta v Rossii: Istoricheskii roman 1830-kh godov [The Epoch of Walter Scott in Russia: The Historical Novel in 1930s]. St. Petersburg, Akademicheskii proekt Publ., 1996. 336 p. (In Russ.) Apollonio, Carol. Sekrety Dostoevskogo: chtenie protiv techeniia [Dostoevsky’s Secrets: Reading against the Grain]. Trans. from English by E. Tsypina. St. Petersburg, Academic Studies Press / BiblioRossika Publ., 2020. 320 p. (In Russ.) Balzac, Honoré de. “Pereprava cherez Berezinu” [“The Passage of the Berezina”], part 11. Teleskop, no. 17–20, 1832, pp. 186–213, 312–343, 440–469. (In Russ.) Belinskii, V.G. Polnoe sobranie sochinenii: v 13 tomakh [Complete Works: in 13 vols]. Moscow, Izd-vo AN SSSR Publ., 1953–1959. (In Russ.) Bessonova, A.S. “Pushkin i Val’ter Skott v kruge detskogo chteniia Dostoevskogo” [“Pushkin and Walter Scott in Dostoevsky’s Childhood Readings”]. Dostoevskii i mirovaia kul’tura. Filologicheskii zhurnal, no. 1 (29), 2025, pp. 89–122. (In Russ.) Biar, M., and M. Linton. Terror: Demony Frantsuzskoi revoliutsii [Terror: The Demons of French Revolution]. Trans. from French by A.Iu. Kabalkin. Moscow, KoLibri; Azbuka-Attikus Publ., 2025. 384 p. (In Russ.) Bogdanovich, M.I. Istoriia Otechestvennoi voiny 1812 goda, po dostovernym istochnikam: v 3 tomakh [History of the Patriotic War of 1812, according to Reliable Sources: in 3 vols]. St. Petersburg, Tipografiia Torgovogo doma S. Strugovshchikova, G. Pokhitonova, N. Vodova i K° Publ., 18591860. (In Russ.) Buturlin, D.P. Istoriia nashestviia imperatora Napoleona na Rossiiu v 1812 godu: v 2 chastiakh [The History of Napoleon Campaign in Russia in 1812: in 2 parts]. 2nd Edition. St. Petersburg, V Voennoi tipografii Publ., 1837–1838. (In Russ.) Büchner, Georg. Sochineniia [Works]. Trans. by E.T. Rudnevaia; article by A.K. Dzhivelegov; comments by A.I. Rubin. Moskva; Leningrad, Academia Publ., 1935. 399 p. (In Russ.) Viktorovich, V.A. “Zametki kommentatora” [“A Commentator’s Notes”]. Dostoevskii: Materialy i issledovaniia [Dostoevsky: Materials and Research], vol. 23. St. Petersburg, NestorIstoriia Publ., 2021, pp. 411–421. (In Russ.) Gibbon, Edward. Kratkoe nachertanie istorii sveta, iz sochinenii Gibbona [A Short Essay on World History, from Gibbon’s Work]. Trans. from English by Burinskii. Moscow, V Universitetskoi tipografii Publ., 1805. 112 p. (In Russ.) Glinka, F.N. Pis’ma k drugu, soderzhashchie v sebe: zamechaniia, mysli i rassuzhdeniia o raznykh predmetakh. S prisovokupleniem Istoricheskogo povestvovaniia: Zinobii Bogdan Khmel’nitskoi ili Osvobozhdennaia Malorossiia: v 3 chastiakh [Letters to a Friend, Containing: Notes, Thoughts, and Reflections on Various Topics. With an Historical Tale: Zinobii Bodgan Khmelnistkii or The Liberation of Malorossiia: in 3 parts]. St. Petersburg, V tipografii K. Kraiia Publ., v tipografii I. Baikova Publ., 1816–1817. (In Russ.) Hoffmann, E.T.A. “Pustoi dom” [“The Deserted House”]. Literaturnaia Gazeta, vol. 1, no. 31, 1830, pp. 245–250. (In Russ.) Gus, M.S. Idei i obrazy F.M. Dostoevskogo [Ideas and Images of Dostoevsky]. 2nd Edition. Moscow, Khudozhestvennaia literatura Publ., 1971. 592 p. (In Russ.) Deni E. Gus i gusitskie voiny [Gus and the Wars of Gus]. Moscow, Klio Publ., 2016. 424 p. (In Russ.) Jones, Malcolm V. Dostoevskii posle Bakhtina. Issledovanie fantasticheskogo realizma Dostoevskogo [Dostoevsky after Bakhtin: Readings in Dostoevsky’s Fantastic Realism]. Trans. by A.V. Skidana. St. Petersburg, Akademicheskii proekt Publ., 1998. 256 p. (In Russ.) Dostoevskii, F.M. Polnoe sobranie sochinenii: v 30 tomakh [Complete Works: in 30 vols]. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1972–1990. (In Russ.) Dostoevskii, A.M. Vospominaniia [Memories]. Comm. and ed. by S.V. Belov. St. Petersburg, Andreev i synov’ia Publ., 1992. 395 p. (In Russ.) Dostoevskii, F.M. Polnoe sobranie sochinenii: v 35 tomakh [Complete Works: in 35 vols]. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 2013−continuing publication. (In Russ.) Dryzhakova, E.N. “Dostoevskii i Val’ter Skott” [“Dostoevsky and Walter Scott”]. Khudozhestvennyi perevod i sravnitel’noe izuchenie kul’tur [Artistic Translation and Cultural Comparative Studies]. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 2010, pp. 316–326. (In Russ.) Zhiliakova, E.M. Traditsii sentimentalizma v tvorchestve rannego Dostoevskogo (1844–1849) [The Tradition of Sentimentalism in Dostoevsky’s Early Works (1844–1849)]. Tomsk, Izdatel’stvo Tomskogo universiteta Publ., 1989. 272 p. (In Russ.) Zhiliakova, E.M. “Val’ter Skott i F.M. Dostoevskii” [“Walter Scott and Fyodor Dostoevsky”]. Volkov, I.O, editor. Tvorchestvo Val’tera Skotta v prostranstve mirovoi kul’tury: Kollektivnaia monografiia [Walter Scott’s Works in World Culture: A Collective Monograph]. Tomsk, Natsional’nyi issledovatel’skii Tomskii gosudarstvennyi universitet Publ., 2023, pp. 92–105. (In Russ.) Jomini, Antoine-Henri. Politicheskaia i voennaia zhizn’ Napoleona. Sochinenie generalad’iutanta, barona Zhomini, perevedennoe s frantsuzskogo Ushinskim: v 6 chastiakh [Political and Military Life of Napoleon. A Work by the General, Baron Jomini, Translated from French: in 6 parts]. 2nd Edition, corrected. St. Petersburg, Tip. Shtaba Otdel’nogo korpusa vnutrennei strazhi Publ., 1838–1842. (In Russ.) George Sand. Ian Zhizhka [Jean Zyska]. Trans. from French. Ed. by A. Trachevskii. St. Petersburg, Izdanie Kartograficheskogo zavedeniia A. Il’ina Publ., 1902. 124 p. Available at: http://az.lib.ru/s/sand_z/text_1843_jean_zyska.shtml (Accessed 29 March 2025). (In Russ.) Zagidullina, M.V. “Belye nochi” [“White Nights”]. Shchennikov, G.K., and B.N. Tikhomirov, eds. Dostoevskii: Sochineniia, pis’ma, dokumenty: Slovar’-spravochnik [Dostoevsky: Works, Letters, Documents: Reference Dictionary]. St. Petersburg, Pushkinskii Dom Publ., 2008, pp. 16–19. (In Russ.) Zotov, R.M. “Borodinskoe iadro i Berezinskaia pereprava. Istoricheskii roman” [“The Core of Borodino and the Passage of Berezina. An Historical Novel”]. Repertuar i Panteon, vol. 8, book 10, 1844, pp. 120–204. (In Russ.) Karamzin, N.M. Istoriia gosudarstva Rossiiskogo: v 12 tomakh [History of the Russian State: in 12 vols]. 5th Edition. St. Petersburg, I. Einerling Publ., 1842–1843. (In Russ.) Kasatkina, T.A. O tvoriashchei prirode slova. Ontologichnost’ slova v tvorchestve F.M. Dostoevskogo kak osnova “realizma v vyschem smysle” [On the Poietic Nature the Word. The Ontology of the Word in the Work of F.M. Dostoevsky as the Fundament of “Realism in a Higher Sense”]. Moscow, IWL RAS Publ., 2004. 480 p. (In Russ.) Kireeva, R.A. “Pushkin kak istorik glazami V.O. Kliuchevskogo” [“Pushkin as an Historian through the Eyes of V.O. Kliuchevsky”]. Otechestvennaia istoriia, no. 4, 2004, pp. 108–112. (In Russ.) Kirpotin, V.Ia. Izbrannye raboty: v 3 tomakh [Selected Works: in 3 vols]. Moscow, Khudozhestvennaia literature Publ., 1978. (In Russ.) Konechnyi, A. Byloi Peterburg: proza budnei i poeziia prazdnika [Ancient Petersburg: Everyday Prose and Prose of the Feast]. Moscow, Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie Publ., 2021. 672 p. (In Russ.) Liamina, E.E. “Kommentarii” [“Commentaries”]. Pushkin, A.S. Sochineniia. Kommentirovannoe izdanie [Works. Commented Edition], issue 4 (7): Domik v Kolomne [A House in Kolomna]. Comm. by E.E. Liamina; ed. A.L. Ospovat. Moscow, Ruteniia Publ., 2025, pp. 15140. (In Russ.) Mérimée, Prosper. Sobranie sochinenii: v 6 tomakh [Collected Works: in 6 vols]. Trans. from French; ed. by N.M. Liubimov. Moscow, Pravda Publ., 1963. (In Russ.) Millot, K.F.K. Vseobshchaia drevniaia i novaia istoriia abbata Millota, soderzhashchaia povestvovanie o vsekh narodakh mira, i dovedennaia do 1815 goda. S prisovokupleniem Atlasa drevnei i novoi geografii v 13 chastiakh [The Universal Ancient and Modern History of Abbé Millot, Containing an Account of All the Peoples of the World, and Continued Until 1815. With the Addition of an Atlas of Ancient and Modern Geography in 13 parts]. St. Petersburg, V Tipografii Imperatorskikh Teatrov Publ., 1820. (In Russ.) Mikhailovskii-Danilevskii, A.I. Opisanie Otechestvennoi voiny v 1812 godu, po vysochaishemu poveleniiu sochinennoe general-leitenantom Mikhailovskim-Danilevskim: v 4 chastiakh [The Description of the Patriotic War in 1812, Compiled by General-Lieutenant MikhailoviskyDanelevsky on Highest Command: in 4 parts]. St. Petersburg, Voennaiia tipografiia Publ., 1839. (In Russ.) Mikhaleva, A.A. Geroi-dvoinik i struktura proizvedeniia (E.T. Gofman i F.M. Dostoevskii) [The Hero-Double and the Structure of the Text (E.T. Hoffmann and F.M. Dostoevsky: PhD Thesis]. Moscow, 2006. 248 p. (In Russ.) Mochul’skii, K.V. Dostoevskii: Zhizn’ i tvorchestvo [Dostoevsky: Life and Works]. Paris, YMCA-PRESS Publ., 1980. 564 p. (In Russ.) Odoevskii, V.F. O literature i iskusstve [About Literature and Art]. Intro, comm. and comp. V.I. Sakharov. Moscow, Sovremennik Publ., 1982. 223 p. (In Russ.) Pleshcheev, A.N. Povesti i rasskazy: v 2 tomakh [Tales and Stories: in 2 vols]. Ed. by P.V. Bykov. St. Petersburg, 1896. (In Russ.) Podmazo, A.A. “Zhivopisnye pamiatniki voiny 1812–1814 gg.” [“Pictorical Monuments of the War of 1812–1814”]. Otechestvennaia voina 1812 goda v kul’turnoi pamiati Rossii [The Patriotic War of 1812 in Russian Cultural Memory]. Moscow, Kuchkovo pole Publ., 2012, pp. 198–220. (In Russ.) Podosokorskii, N.N. “Napoleonizm kniazia Myshkina” [“Prince Myshkin’s Napoleonism”]. Literaturovedcheskii zhurnal. Sektsiia iazyka i literatury RAN, no. 21, 2007, pp. 113–125. (In Russ.) Podosokorskii, N.N. “1812 god i napoleonovskii mif v romane F. M. Dostoevskogo ‘Idiot’” [“The Year 1812 and the Myth of Napoleon in Dostoevsky’s Novel The Idiot”]. Voprosy literatury, no. 6, 2011, pp. 39–71. (In Russ.) Podosokorskii, N.N. “Prizraki ‘Belykh nochei’: mason v pautine posmertia, maiskaia utoplenitsa i dukh tsaria Solomona” [“The Ghosts of White Nights: A Freemason in the Net of Afterlife, The Maiden Drowned in May and the King Solomon’s Spirit”]. Dostoevskii i mirovaia kul’tura. Filologhicheskii zhurnal, no. 3 (7), 2019, pp. 88–116. (In Russ.) Podosokorskii, N.N. “Legenda o Rotshil’de kak ‘Napoleon finansovogo mira’ v romane F.M. Dostoevskogo ‘Idiot’” [“The Legend of Rothschild as the ‘Napoleon of Finance’ in Dostoevsky’s Novel The Idiot”]. Dostoevskii i mirovaia kul’tura. Filologicheskii zhurnal, no. 1 (9), 2020, pp. 31–50. (In Russ.) Podosokorskii, N.N. “‘Napoleon vy, chto li, kakoi?’: ‘Napoleonova pamiat’’ v rasskaze F.M. Dostoevskogo ‘Gospodin Prokharchin’” [“‘Are You Some Napoleon, or What?’: ‘The Memory of Napoleon’ in Dostoevsky’s Story ‘Mr. Prokharchin’”]. Komutstsi, L.V., and Glushakov, P.S., eds. “Mery ne znal ia, smertnykh liubia”: k 90-letiiu rossiiskogo filologa Vladimira Serafimovicha Vakhrusheva (1932–2011) [“I Did Not Know Measure in Love for the Mortals”: in occasion of the 90th Anniversary of the Russian Philologue Vladimir Serafimovich Vakhrushev (1932–2011)]. St. Petersburg, Rostok Publ., 2022, pp. 329–341. (In Russ.) Podosokorskii, N.N. “‘Napoleonovskii’ Peterburg i ego otrazhenie v romane F.M. Dostoevskogo ‘Prestuplenie i nakazanie’” [“‘Napoleonic’ Petersburg and its Reflection in Dostoevsky’s Novel Crime and Punishment”]. Dostoevskii i mirovaia kul’tura. Filologicheskii zhurnal, no. 4 (20), 2022, pp. 71–135. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22455/2619-0311-2022-4-71-135 Podosokorskii, N.N. “Napoleon-Solntse v romane F.M. Dostoevskogo ‘Prestuplenie i nakazanie’” [“Napoleon-Sun in Dostoevsky’s Novel Crime and Punishment”]. Dostoevskii i mirovaia kul’tura. Filologicheskii zhurnal, no. 2 (22), 2023, pp. 57–105. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22455/2619-0311-2023-2-57-105 Podosokorskii, N.N. “Istoriia v zhizni i tvorchestve F.M. Dostoevskogo” [“History in Dostoevsky’s Life and Works”]. Dva veka russkoi klassiki, vol. 6, no. 3, 2024, pp. 98–125. (In Russ.) Podosokorskii, N.N. “Lakei Smerdiakov kak pochitatel’ Napoleona v romane F.M. Dostoevskogo ‘Brat’ia Karamazovy’” [“Smerdyakov the Footman as an Admirer of Napoleon in Dostoevsky’s Novel The Brothers Karamazov”]. Novyi mir, no. 1 (1185), 2024, pp. 172–183. (In Russ.) Polevoi, N.A. Istoriia Napoleona: v 5 tomakh [The History of Napoleon in 5 vols]. St. Petersburg, Tip. Imperatorskoi Akademii Nauk Publ., 1844–1848. (In Russ.) Ponomareva, L.G. “Otvet ‘Russkomu vestniku’” [“An Answer to the Russian Herlad”]. Shchennikov, G.K., and B.N. Tikhomirov, eds. Dostoevskii: Sochineniia, pis’ma, dokumenty: Slovar’-spravochnik [Dostoevsky: Works, Letters, Documents: A Reference-Dictionary]. St. Petersburg, Pushkinskii Dom Publ., 2008, pp. 232–235. (In Russ.) Postnikova, A.A. “‘Shveitsarskaia’ Berezina: pamiat’, vospivaiaiushchaia slavu” [“The ‘Swiss’ Berezina: Memory, Speaking of Glory”]. Mitroshenkova, L.V., editor. “Epokha napoleonovskikh voin: liudi, sobytiia, idei”. Materialy XII Mezhdunarodnoi nauchnoi konferentsii. Moskva, 25 aprelia 2013 g. [“The Epoch of Napoleonic Wars: People, Events, Ideas.” Materials from the 12th International Conference. Moscow, 25 Apr. 2013]. Moscow, GBU “TsGA Moskvy” Publ., 2014, pp. 116–128. (In Russ.) Pushkin, A.S. Polnoe sobranie sochinenii: v 10 tomakh [Complete Works: in 10 vols]. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1977–1979. (In Russ.) Scott, Walter. Zhizn’ Napoleona Bonaparte, imperatora frantsuzov: v 14 chastiakh [Life of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French: in 14 parts]. St. Petersburg, V Tip. Aleksandra Smirdina Publ., 1831–1832. (In Russ.) Smaragdov, S.N. Rukovodstvo k poznaniiu novoi istorii dlia srednikh uchebnykh zavedenii, sochinennoe S. Smaragdovym, ad’iunkt-professorom Aleksandrovskogo litseia [Guide to the Study of Modern History for Secondary Educational Institutions, Composed by S. Smaragdov, Adjunct Professor of the Alexander Lyceum]. St. Petersburg, Frantsuzskaia tip. Publ., 1844. IV, 612 p. (In Russ.) Tatishchev, V.N. Istoriia rossiiskaia s samykh drevneishikh vremen. Neusypnymi trudami cherez tridtsat’ let sobrannaia i opisannaia pokoinym tainym sovetnikom i astrakhanskim gubernatorom, Vasil’em Nikitichem Tatishchevym: v 5 knigakh [Russian History from the Most Ancient Times. Collected and Described Over Thirty Years of Unceasing Labor by the Late Privy Councillor and Governor of Astrakhan, Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev: In 5 books]. Moscow, Napechatana pri Imperatorskom Moskovskom universitete Publ., 1768–1848. (In Russ.) Tikhonova, A.V. “Uchastie shveitsartsev v voine 1812 g. v sostave Velikoi armii Napoleona” [“The Partecipation of the Swiss in the War of 1812 in Napoleon’s Great Army”]. Voprosy istorii, no. 3, 2017, pp. 86–97. (In Russ.) Troitskii, N.A. Napoleon Velikii: v 2 tomakh [Napoleon the Great: in 2 vols]. Prep. by M.V. Kovalev, Iu.G. Stepanov. Moscow, Politicheskaia entsiklopediia Publ., 2020. (In Russ.) Cherepnin, L.V. Istoricheskie vzgliady klassikov russkoi literatury [The Historical Views of Russian Classics]. Moscow, Mysl’ Publ., 1968. 383 p. (In Russ.) Shapir, M.I. “Semanticheskie motivy iroi-komicheskoi oktavy: (Bairon — Pushkin — Timur Kibirov)” [“Semantic Motifs of the Heroi-Comic Octave: (Byron — Pushkin — Timur Kibirov)”]. Philologica, vol. 8, no. 19/20, 2003/2005, pp. 91–168. (In Russ.) Shilova, N.L. “Dostoevskii i problema interpretatsii ‘Egipetskikh nochei’ Pushkina [“Dostoevsky and the Question on the Interpretation of Pushkin’s Egyptian Nights”]. Problemy istoricheskoi poetiki, no. 6, 2001, pp. 360–367. (In Russ.) Shklovskii, V.B. Za i protiv. Zametki o Dostoevskom [Pro et Contra. Notes on Dostoevsky]. Moscow, Sovetskii pisatel’ Publ., 1957. 259 p. (In Russ.) Shcherbatov, M.M. Istoriia rossiiskaia ot drevneishikh vremen: v 7 tomakh [History of Russia from Ancient Time]. St. Petersburg, Pri Imperatorskoi Akademii nauk Publ., 1770–1791. (In Russ.) Entsiklopedicheskii leksikon: v 17 tomakh [Encyclopedic Lexicon: in 17 vols]. St. Petersburg, V tipografii A. Pliushara Publ., 1835–1841. (In Russ.) Balzac, Honore de. Oeuvres complètes de M. de Balzac. Paris, Furne, 1842–1848. (In French) Büchner, Georg. Dantons Tod. Leipzig; Wien, Bibliographisches Institut, 1890. 83 p. (In German) George Sand. Jean Ziska, épisode de la guerre des Hussites, par George Sand. Bruxelles et Leipzig, C. Muquardt, 1843. 167 p. (In French) Hugo, Victor. Les châtiments (1853). Éditeur scientifique Paul Berret. Paris, Librairie Hachette, 1932. 771 p. (In French) Mérimée, Prosper. Chronique du règne de Charles IX; suivie de La double méprise; et de La Guzla. Nouvelles éditions revues et corrigées. Paris, Charpentier, 1842. 484 p. (In French)