Merezhkovski and Napoleon

This paper paper is dedicated to «Napoleon» (1927), a book by Merezhkovsky which earlier has not been analyzed in detail. This work, in V. M. Tolmatchoff’s estimation, most important in understanding of Merezhkovsky’s emigre period of creative life, synthesizes all the previous key ideas of the writer. Also it corresponds a theme of Napoleon with the Russian history of XX, the European reality of 1920-ies, a vision in Napoleon a religious figure which unwillingly performed a religious mission of world scale, transformed revolution into counter-revolution, sacrificed himself for the future. Imagery of the book is based on the symbolist metaphors, dualisms: in Napoleon Merezhkovsky reveals features of other great heroes as well as of the gods; Napoleon is a contemporary of Stalin and Mussolini. In Merezhkovsky’s view Napoleon is transforming the usual oppostions — a republican in him in a very natural way is becoming a monarch, an atheist appears as a saint of the church of the future. In Merezhkovsky’s view Napoleon is transforming the usual oppostions — a republican in him in a very natural way is becoming a monarch, an atheist appears as a saint of the church of the future