Interpretation of historicism and features of the historical epoch in the works of I.I. Lazhechnikov “Basurman” and “Rival Mothers”

The work is devoted to the peculiarities of Lazhechnikov’s historicism in the novel “Basurman” and in the drama “Rival Mothers”. The article attempts to conduct a parallel analysis of these works of the writer, focuses on the features of the image of the historical era and the image of Ivan III. It is noted that Lazhechnikov presents the concept of history not only in historical novels of the 1830s, but in dramatic works of the late period. The features of the writer’s historicism are connected with the close proximity to the views of Karamzin, however, throughout his creative career, Lazhechnikov develops his concept of “poetry of history”, the writer’s historicism deepens. Lazhechnikov comes to understand the past as the prehistory of his time, seeks to create characters motivated by the era, which he especially succeeded in depicting the personality of Ivan III.