Abstract

At the end of the 19th century, representatives of the Russian aristocracy and high bureaucracy with a conservative political orientation, believing that the policies of the new Emperor Nicholas II were insufficiently aligned with the political ideals of his father and that the meanings and values of the reign of Alexander III should therefore be promoted, created a special organization for this purpose. It was named the Society of Zealots of Russian Historical Enlightenment in Memory of Emperor Alexander III. The society was headed by Count S.D. Sheremetev, a close associate of the late Emperor and who maintained close ties with the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. The activities of the Society of Zealots, in keeping with its name, envisioned broad educational work based on principles opposed to the ideas of liberalism and constitutionalism, which were gaining strength and becoming increasingly popular in society. One of the areas of the Society's work was the publication of special literature, and within this framework, the translation of works by foreign authors whose content corresponded to the organization's ideology, for the purpose of their subsequent publication and distribution. This article examines the formation of a special structure within the Society of Zealots — the Translation Commission. This structure, under the purview of the organization's Publishing Department, was charged with selecting such works, organizing their translation, and publishing. A list of the books that were translated is provided, along with commentary. It highlights the fact that these translations were largely unpublished, and speculates as to why this fate awaited them. Attempts by members of the Society of Zealots to rectify this situation are also noted. Special attention is given to the funding of the translators' work. It is noted that such funding was provided, in part, by the leader of the Society of Zealots, Count S.D. Sheremetev. The final part of the article contains a general conclusion on the activities of the Translation Commission of the Society of Zealots, noting the haphazard nature of the selection of books for translation and their poor alignment with the organization's stated goals.