Emergence and Consolidation of “Book as Companion” Metaphor in Russian Literature from Twelfth to Twentieth Century

This study reconstructs the process of the emergence and establishment of the metaphor “book as companion” within the context of Russian literary development from the twelfth to the twentieth century, exploring its semantic spectrum. The analysis draws on a variety of sources, including literary texts, letters, literary-critical articles, and memoirs. It is established that the absence of this metaphor in early Russian literature can be attributed to the religious worldview of the time, which regarded texts as spiritual sustenance and guiding mentors rather than companions in earthly life. Furthermore, it is noted that this bibliometaphor is also absent at the dawn of the Enlightenment, as the extensive nature of reading during this period fostered a rapid exchange of texts, leaving little room for the notion of a book as a steadfast companion. The emergence of the “book as companion” metaphor in Russia is proposed to coincide with the Decembrist era. Early references to this concept are found in letters from A.F. Brigen, G.S. Batenkov during their Siberian exile, and A.A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, who was relocated from Siberia to the Caucasus. Positive connotations of this metaphor are illustrated through Brigen’s characterization of books as “dear, faithful companions” in his solitary Siberian existence. Conversely, a negative (astronomical) connotation is evident in Bestuzhev-Marlinsky's remarks on non-original texts, referring to them as “other companions alongside the guiding star.” The study demonstrates that in the twentieth century, the semantic spectrum of the bibliometaphor expands significantly.

bibliometaphor, book as companion, Russian literature, Decembrists in Siberia, reading practices