Vladimir Grigoryevich Chertkov, an aristocrat born in 1854, evolved from a member of the Life Guards of the Cavalry into a pivotal figure in Russian literary and ideological circles. He spent his career as a dedicated editor and publisher, most notably as a primary promoter of Leo Tolstoy’s philosophy and written works until his own death in 1936.
Early Aristocratic Life
Born in Saint Petersburg, Chertkov was the son of Grigorii Ivanovich and Elizaveta Ivanovna, née Countess Chernysheva-Kruglikova. Raised in an environment of significant imperial favor, he described his youth as a period of absolute privilege and luxury. Despite this upbringing, he sought a moral framework to govern his behavior, leading him to resign from his military commission in 1880 to live on his family estate in Lizinovka, where he attempted to implement social initiatives and educational programs for local peasants.
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Chertkov’s trajectory shifted permanently following an 1883 meeting with Leo Tolstoy in Moscow. In 1885, he founded the publishing house Intermediary to disseminate moralizing literature to the public, overcoming Imperial censorship and opposition from the Eastern Orthodox Church. The venture attracted contributors including Chekhov, Korolenko, and Leskov, with artists like Repin providing promotional materials. Chertkov managed these operations from his center in Rossosh, which became a prolific hub for literary correspondence and distribution.
Exile and Conflict
Due to the state's hostility toward Tolstoyism, Chertkov relocated to England in 1897. There, he established the Free Word Press to print Russian texts for smuggling back into his homeland and the Free Age Press for English-language editions. His personal life was marked by sustained friction with Sophia Tolstoy, whom he sought to distance from her husband. He successfully pressured the Count to draft a secret will, effectively securing control over the rights to Tolstoy’s collected works, a position he later leveraged in his dealings with the Soviet state.
Post-Revolutionary Activities
Following the 1917 revolutions, Chertkov remained influential within the Russian SFSR. He played a key role in the creation of the United Council of Religious Communities and Groups, which was tasked with administering the state's program for conscientious objectors. He died in Moscow in 1936 and is interred at the Vvedenskoye Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1854, Saint Petersburg
- Died: 1936, Moscow
- Burial site: Vvedenskoye Cemetery
- Primary publishing house: Intermediary
- English publishing venture: Free Word Press
- Key associated figure: Leo Tolstoy
- Citizenship: Russian Empire, Soviet Union
Questions readers ask
What was the main purpose of the Intermediary publishing house?
It was established to release affordable, moralizing, and educational literature to the Russian public.
How did Chertkov impact the legacy of Leo Tolstoy?
He edited Tolstoy’s works, secured legal control over his literary estate via a secret will, and suppressed competing narratives about the author's life.
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