Authors

Iris Uccello¹;  ¹ University of Verona, Italy

Discussion

In 1864, Tsar Alexander II proclaimed the Judicial Reform, one of the Great Reforms, which completely renovated the Russian court. It established a fairer court system with new institutions, including juries and legal representation. However, what distinguishes this period is the intriguing discussion that surrounded the Reform within pages of journals and literature. These legal proceedings, akin to cultural palimpsests, sparked discussions that extended beyond the confines of mere legal institutions, delving deep into the realms of societal customs and cultural institutions.

In my presentation I will undertake a microhistorical exploration of four pivotal cases that captured the attention of writers and journalists, including F. Dostoevsky and L. Tolstoy. 

My investigation will delve into the Shabunin case (1866), in which Tolstoy himself served as Shabunin's lawyer, and the Kairova, Kronenberg, and Kornilova case (all from the 1876), a matter upon which Dostoevsky wrote at length in his Diary of a Writer. Through meticulous scrutiny of journalistic, literary, and archival sources, I endeavor to elucidate how the concept of family and the dynamics of established authority underwent a metamorphosis during the last years of the 19th century.

I also aim to emphasise how these trials, and the subsequent narratives they inspired, wielded profound influence in shaping the nascent reformed Russian society.