Fronde-like sentiment of landed gentry of Right-Bank Ukraine in the second half of the 19th century in the light of book-related practices

Abstract

The purpose of the article. In the process of modernization during the second half of the 19th century, landed gentry of the Russian Empire gradually adapted to new socioeconomic conditions and became more socially active, but they didn't get even minimal political regulators to meet their social, economic and cultural needs until 1906 elections to the State Duma. Like all other social groups of the empire, landed gentry have no could neither formulate their political demands nor create political organizations that would uphold their interests. At the same time, until the revolutionary events of 1917, the nobility was still considered the pillar of the autocracy, so it is important to determine whether it was absolutely committed to the empire, or was there Fronde-like sentiment among its representatives. Within the scope of this article Fronde-like sentiment of a particular social group refers to negativism caused by actions of the authorities, which is exhibited rather as a cultural resistance and does not lead to confrontation with the powers that be. The landed gentry is considered herein regardless of ethnicity of its representatives. Methodology of the study includes using of books as material sources as well as historical and bibliognostical methods. Scientific novelty. Book-related practices of the landed gentry (acquisition, distribution, use, and storage of books) have been analyzed in order to study the passive resistance to power, which traditionally isn't easily accessible. Conclusions. It has been ascertained that there was Fronde-like sentiment among landlords and noblemen of Right-Bank Ukraine during the second half of the 19th century. The police nature of the country's state apparatus concussed even loyal subjects to resort to unlawful actions in order to satisfy their cultural needs. Their deliberate practices related to forbidden books corroborate the existence of quiet opposition to the authorities, which ultimately opposed an individual to the state system and compromised the traditional value system.