“SOMETHING MAGICAL HAS OPENED UP TO USˮ: KOSTROMA IN THE FATE OF A.N. OSTROVSKY

Abstract

The authors of the article not only reflected the impressions of A.N. Ostrovsky about Kostroma, but, unlike other researchers, analyzed how the appearance of the provincial city was formed. Starting from the diary entries of the playwright, having studied a variety of materials, the authors showed the features of the construction of the city according to the plan of 1781, its central square, streets, the town of “Wildsˮ, the Ipatievsky Monastery, etc., which the playwright saw on his first visit to the city in 1848. In the future, until the end of his life in 1886, A.N. Ostrovsky often visited Kostroma on business, as a provincial city and lived here for a month or more. The article reflects how the city developed, its population increased, new industrial zones were created, a new theater building was built and opened in 1863, which later received the name of the playwright. A.N. Ostrovsky not only witnessed these changes, but may have been a participant in some city events. As a result, the authors came to the conclusion that without the impressions of A.N. Ostrovsky about Kostroma, its surrounding nature, people, the playwright could not have created his immortal works that are relevant both in the XIX century and our time.