Poetic works by Lyubov’ Garelina: features of lyrical statements

The article is devoted to the introduction of poetry collections by Lyubov’ Garelina, a non-professional writer, wife of Ivanovo-Voznesensk industrialist, philanthropist, and mayor Yakov Garelin, into literary circulation. Until now, Lyubov’ Garelina’s poetry and literary work as a whole have not been subjected to scientific comprehension, while it represents a unique phenomenon of provincial female middle-class literature. The article examines the specifics of two poetry collections by the poetess – 1867 and 1870. The author’s creative attitudes, leading lyric motifs, genre originality, and distinctive features of poetics and style are analysed. In comparison with the first poetry collection, the second one differs significantly: it looks more holistic, professional, with a clearly expressed author’s position. Several poems from the 1867 collection were included in the second one, but were rewritten – in this case, one can speak of the improvement of poetic skill. In general, Lyubov’ Garelina’s lyrics are characterised by the focus on depicting the “female soulˮ and female perception of the world. A feature of her poetic manner is confessionalism and diary-like nature, which developed in women’s literature only in the early 20th century. In general, in her creative attitudes, Lyubov’ Garelina finds herself in line with contemporary public sentiments and the emerging movement for women’s emancipation, although she is not interested in the social issue: she defends a woman’s right to freedom of feeling and life choice, including self-expression in creative work.