The Romantic Exiles: A Nineteenth-century Portrait GalleryThe story of a group of Russian exiles, men who left their country in the 'forties and 'fifties of the 19th century, all revolutionary in word if not in deed, and nearly all bound together by some kind of more or Iess intimate personal relationship. On the human side the story forms a series of recurrent triangles, Natalie Herzen, after a romantic friendship with Natalie Tuchkov, becoming' the mistress of the German poet Hervegh ; Herzen himself, after the death of the first Natalie, becoming the lover of Natalie Tuchkov, now married to his friend Ogarev. Ogarev, true to his advanced opinions, continued to live with them both, only consoling himself with drink and a Leicester Square prostitute whom, with unquenchable - and justified - idealism he set up in a separate establishment. In the story the dissident/poet Michael Bukanin (possibly gay) and George Sand (a cross-dressed female writer) also play a role. |
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affair Aksheno Alexander Alexander Herzen appeared arrival Bakunin became Bell character Charlotte Hudson child daughter declared Dolgorukov Emma emotions Engelson English Europe everything exile faith feel followed France French Galakhov Geneva George George Herwegh George Sand German hand happiness heart Herwegh Herzen and Ogarev honour husband Italy la Boissière Land and Liberty later Letourneau letter live Liza London lover Madame Malwida Malwida von Meysenbug Maria marriage married Mary Sutherland months Moscow mother Natalie Herzen Natalie Ogarev Natalie Tuchkov Natalie's Nechaev never Nice Nicholas Olga once Orsett Paris passion Past and Thoughts Penza perhaps Petersburg Poland police Polish political Postnikov Prince Prince Vorontsov remained revolution revolutionary romantic roubles Sasha scarcely secret seemed soul story suffer Switzerland Tata Tchorzewski tion took tragedy Tsar Ward Jackson weeks wife woman write wrote young Zürich