N. I. NOVIKOV AS THE TRANSLATOR

The article analyzes the translation endeavors of N. I. Novikov. It focuses on his self-published book, French Philosophy of Our Times; Abridged Excerpt from the Book „Variétés d’un Philosophe Provinciale, par Mr. Ch… Le Jeune“, Printed in Paris in the Year 1767 (St. Petersburg, 1772; second edition, Moscow, 1787). The author was Francois Champion de Pontalier (1731–1812), renowned for his polemics with the Encyclopedists, who touched, however, on many subjects that were of interest to Novikov: problems of education, morality, critique of contemporary morale, literary, artistic and philosophical issues. One of the principal motifs was the defense of religion and condemnation of the unbelievers. The notes and original texts by Novikov are of particular interest: his annotations to the words pedant, petimetre etc.