Authors

Discussion

My focus is Russian cultural societies which emerged at the turn of the 19th century in the British Empire. My paper explores how these organisations – the activities of which are reflected in the periodicals that they published – promoted Russian literature among English-speaking audiences. My other interest is the evasive non-cultural aims of these societies, i.e., the search for political and economic power which their leaders sought to obtain via these activities. I analyse how holding these secondary stakes in the promotion of Russian culture influenced the interest in Russia and the development of both Russophobia and Russophilia in Britain.