
Herzen's Letters
A Life in Opposition
Kathleen Parthe(Author)
Northern Illinois University Press
Will be published approx. on 15. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
552 pages
978-1-5017-8706-5 (ISBN)
Description
Herzen's Letters offers readers a biographical narrative based on translated and annotated correspondence written by and to Alexander Herzen (1812-1870), one of the most consequential figures in the run-up to the Russian Revolution and an inspiration to dissidents fighting authoritarianism and imperialism ever since. Kathleen Parthe has selected the most significant epistolary material from over a dozen volumes, interweaving letters with commentary to provide context on the time of composition. Parthe also provides excerpts from key Herzen writings mentioned in his letters that are not widely available in translation.
While some letters are presented whole, in most cases Parthe selected excerpts that illuminate Herzen's ideas, opinions, and plans, as well as his stylistic gifts. Herzen enjoyed spirited debate, and Herzen's Letters includes the voices of his famous contemporaries, including Mikhail Bakunin, Ivan Turgenev, Lev Tolstoy, and others. In brief introductory essays to the six sections Parthe sketches life events, publications, and settings, as Herzen moved from Moscow to the Urals, Petersburg, Novgorod, the European continent, and England, before returning to the continent for his final years.
While some letters are presented whole, in most cases Parthe selected excerpts that illuminate Herzen's ideas, opinions, and plans, as well as his stylistic gifts. Herzen enjoyed spirited debate, and Herzen's Letters includes the voices of his famous contemporaries, including Mikhail Bakunin, Ivan Turgenev, Lev Tolstoy, and others. In brief introductory essays to the six sections Parthe sketches life events, publications, and settings, as Herzen moved from Moscow to the Urals, Petersburg, Novgorod, the European continent, and England, before returning to the continent for his final years.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Cornell University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-5017-8706-5 (9781501787065)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
approx. 06/2026
Northern Illinois University Press
€27.49
Available for download
Person
Kathleen Parthe studied at Barnard, Cornell, and in Moscow, and taught at the universities of Rochester and St. Petersburg. Parthe served on the Kennan Institute's Advisory Council and conducted research with Librarian of Congress James Billington. Her most recent publication (with Robert N. Harris) is a new translation of Herzen's My Past and Thoughts.