(Listing based on writings in Kochina, LOVE and MATHEMATICS, and Koblitz, CONVERGENCE OF LIVES. And on listings in S.V. KOVALEVSKA": VOSPOMINANI" POVESTI k 125-leti] so dn' rohdeni'. P.I. Kochina, redaktor. Nauka. Moskva, 1974.)
Memoirs:
VOSPOMINANI" DETSTVA
MEMOIRS OF CHILDHOOD (also known in English as A RUSSIAN
CHILDHOOD)
Kovalevskaya's most well known and highly praised work in literature. She relates in beautifully poetic prose her early childhood up to the age of 15 years. The story beautifully expresses the beginnings of her complex relationship to her family and to her sister in particular. Kovalevskaya, as is her trademark, places the story within the wider context of the social problems of the time and place. Frequently translated into English. The most recent translation by Beatrice Stillman, 1978.
Available in English from used book sellers at AMAZON.com.
Russian
Childhood.
Novellas:
NIGILISTKA
A NIHILIST GIRL
The first edition was printed in Geneva, 1892. This is the story of a young girl who strives to be of use to people by participating in revolutionary circles. The prototype for the heroine is Vera Sergievna Goncharova, niece of N.N. Goncharova, Pushkin's wife. Kovalevskaya was acquainted with Vera Goncharova. The novel appeared in two versions in English, one entitled Vera Vorontsova, the other Vera Barantsova. The novella appeared in Russia in 1906, but was then banned. A Czech translation was allowed into Russia in 1908. The novel was also translated into German, French, and Polish. The work is considered one of two outstanding works by Kovalevskaya, the other being her MEMOIRS OF CHILDHOOD.
Modern Language Association (MLA) published Natasha Kolchevska and Mary Zirin's new translation of NIHILIST GIRL in October 2001.
An epilogue, or perhaps a sequel, to NIHILIST GIRL relating the later interactions between the heroine, hero, and Sofya have found there way into the lore of Kovalevskaya's life. The story of the NIHILIST GIRL was not "and they lived happily ever after." For some of the fascinating details see my page Pavlovsky and Goncharova.
NIGILIST
THE NIHILIST
This novella is based on the life of N. Chernyshevsky, the famous Russian populist and author. His novel WHAT IS TO BE DONE? was very influential to young Russians from the 1860's up to and through the 1917 Revolution. Kovalevskaya's novella gives the reader a view of political activists who centered around Chernyshevsky. Kovalevskaya had never met Chernyshevsky, but was acquainted with his son. This novella has never been published in English.
VAE VICTIS
WOE TO THE VANQUISHED
Only the introduction and part of the first chapter of this unfinished novel have survived. Kovalevskaya's friend Anna Charlotta Leffler commented that this novella was to illustrate Kovalevskaya's inner life. The story starts with a young girl who falls in love with an ailing man. They are separated when he must go South to seek treatment. The story is never developed. No English translation available.
A FRAGMENT OF ROMANCE ON THE RIVIERA
Kovalevskaya tells the story of a girl who is taking a holiday in Nice after her studies in Russia. The hero, Zvantsev, is modeled on Kovalevskaya's lover, Maxim Kovalevskii. Only fragments of this novella exist. No English translation available.
Articles/Essays:
On the death of the Russian satirical novelist, Saltykov-Shchedrin, Kovalevskaya tried to bring some of the wonder and enjoyment of Shchedrin to the attention of European readers. Her article appeared in Sweden. She comments on the story Sore Point, the novels THE GOLOVLEVS and THE HISTORY OF A CITY. No English translation available.
RECOLLECTIONS OF GEORGE ELLIOT (sic).
Kovalevskaya writes a psychological essay on Eliot. Kovalevskaya had met Eliot twice, once when Kovalevskaya was a young student visiting England with her 'husband' and again just two weeks before Eliot's death. This article has appeared in English.
THREE DAYS IN A PEASANT UNIVERSITY IN SWEDEN
During the summer of 1886, Kovalevskaya was traveling throughout Sweden. In 1890 while summering in Switzerland, she wrote this description of a rural school in Sweden. The article was published in the Russian magazine Severny Vestnik. In the article she describes briefly the Swedish parliament, the peasant party, and gives a description of one of the party members. She describes the rural school and its beginnings. She relates that she read the students two of Tolstoy's short stories, Let Out the Fire, Don't Put It Out and How Much Land Does A Man Need? No English translation available.
TWO RELATED ARTICLES ON HYPNOSIS -- the articles are sequential. Kovalevskaya visited La Charite one day before visiting La Salpetriere
In this article written and published in 1888, Kovalevskaya describes for the Russian readers of Russkie Vedomosti (Russian Gazette) her experiences at a seance conducted by Dr. Luys. Kovalevskaya is very perceptive in her observations and very skeptical of the procedures. I believe this is the only available English translation.
In this article written in 1888 and appearing that year in the Russian Gazette, Kovalevskaya describes a lecture on hypnotism given by Dr. Charcot. I believe this is the only available English translation. However, recently (Jan 2009), I came across a reference to another translation of this article in the journal SubStance, vol 25, No1 (1996), pp3-23 by Sabine I. Gölz and Oleg V. Timofeyev. I haven't, as yet, been able to examine the work.
An interesting novel with mention of Charcot and his work at Salpetriere is The Book About Blanche and Marie: A Novel by Per Olov Enquist translated from the Swedish by Tiina Nunnally. The 'Marie' of the title is Marie Curie.
In the 2023 novel The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein, Charcot's Friday Lectures on hysteria and the use of hypnosis are powerfully presented. A fascinating read.Other Works:
AT AN EXHIBITION
Kovalevskaya was an honored guest of the World Exhibition of 1889 held in Paris. She previewed the exhibition with her daughter and Julia Lermontova, a close friend. Kovalevskaya gives her impressions of various visitors and organizers of the exhibits. No English translation available.
SWEDISH IMPRESSIONS
Kovalevskaya describes political and social freedoms in Sweden, along with the role of public opinion. She points to public concern of Swedes using the founding of the Stockholm University as a model. No English translation available.
DRAMA IN A SWEDISH FAMILY
Kovalevskaya sketches Swedish daily family life. Unfortunately, the whole work was not sufficiently developed by Kovalevskaya for the reader to see the plot. However the work is still of interest for its perceptions. No English translation available.
CUPID AT THE FAIR
Kovalevskaya describes a fair held annually during May and June in one of the suburbs of Paris. The story is incomplete. No English translation is available.
THE LADY OF PUT
Kovalevskaya attempts to describe in a story setting her impressions of Maxim Kovalevskii's mother, a beautiful and elegant widow. Maxim is described as a returning student. No English translation is available.
IVAR MONSON
In this fragment of a story, Kovalevskaya describes a fine, healthy young man who is jilted by his fiancee. He becomes involved with a group of socialists in Sweden. No English translation is available.
Play written in collaboration with Anna Charlotta Leffler
WHAT WAS WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
THE STRUGGLE FOR HAPPINESS
The play was written in Swedish by Leffler, but the plot and the development were primarily due to Kovalevskaya. The play was not very successfully implemented or received. Swedish audiences were not interested in its underlying utopian socialist themes. However in 1895, when the Russian translation of WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN was performed in Moscow the audiences reception was more encouraging.
A translation and commentary of Kovalevskaya's play is in progress and will appear in SOFIA KOVALEVSKAYA, MATHEMATICIAN WITH THE SOUL OF A POET by Sandra DeLozier Coleman (SDColeman@aol.com).
Four short autobiographical pieces:
CURRICULUM VITAE
June 1874, written for Gottingen University on receiving her Doctorate in Mathematics. A brief view of her mathematical training and her family history.
A LETTER TO THE DEAN OF FACULTY (of Gottingen University)
Berlin, July 1874. Kovalevskaya discusses her mathematical work and requests that she be granted a degree without an oral examination as she is uncomfortable in spoken German.
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTE TO MIKAIL SEMEVSKI
9 March 1890. The note was written in Semevski's personal album. Semevski was editor of a Russian journal and became one of Kovalevskaya's publishers. In his youth, he had been a suitor of Kovalevskaya's sister Anyuta. Kovalevskaya writes of her remembrances of herself and her sister and speculates on their potential.
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL TALE
Written for the journal 'Russian - Old Times' [Russkaya starina 1891, No.1, p450-463, edited by M.I. Semevski. Starting with her early childhood interest in mathematics nurtured by her Uncle, Kovalevskaya relates her academic life, mathematical career, and successes. Translated into English and included in Beatrice Stillman's A RUSSIAN CHILDHOOD, p213-228.
Some Poems:
A Joking MESSAGE TO V.O.KOVALEVSKII
IF IT HAD HAPPENED
AN UNKNOWN SINGER
IF YOU IN LIFE . . .
A POEM IN PROSE
THE CHAMELEON
"THE 13th of APRIL"
A HUSBAND'S LAMENT
Russian text of the above poems can be found in S.V. Kovalevskaia : Vospominaniia povesti : k 125-letiiu so dnia rozhdeniia published by Nauka, Moscow, 1974. (S.V. Kovalevskaq Vospominaniq povesti k 125 leti[ so dnq ro'deniq. Nauka. moska 1974) on pages 310 - 320.
A dual language presentation and commentary on Kovalevskaya's poetry is in progress and will appear in SOFIA KOVALEVSKAYA, MATHEMATICIAN WITH THE SOUL OF A POET by Sandra DeLozier Coleman (SDColeman@aol.com).
Reviews in Novoe Vremya attributed to Kovalevskaya (all in Russian)
Nov 10, 1876 -- Solar Steam Machine of Mouchot, Siemens's Artificial Eye. A New Photometer.
March 10, 1877 -- Efforts of Aeronautics in France and Germany. The Use of Balloons for Military Purposes since the Times of the First French Republic. Mechanical Flying. Investigation into the Flight of Birds and the Structure of Their Wings. Flying Apparatuses.
May 5, 1877 -- Latest Inventions: Telephone, or Speaking Telegraph. A Concert in Philadelphia Transmitted to New York. An American Typewriter.
July 21, 1877 -- The Process of Fermentation and the Nature of Ferments. Old Chemical Theories and the New Research of Pasteur. The Problem of Independent Origination of Life. Tyndall's Observations of Optic Properties of Air and Their Relation to the Evolution of Life. Manufacture of Wine and Beer.
Ten Theater notices in Novoe Vremya attributed to Kovalevskaya (all in Russian)
June 8, 1876 -- Mrs. Fedotova in Easy Money. No. 98
Sept 12, 1876 -- Mrs. Struiskaya's Benefit Performance. No. 194.
Sept 22, 1876 -- Mr. Zubov's Benefit Performance. No. 204.
Nov 7, 1876 -- Mrs. Chitau's Benefit Performance. No. 250.
Nov 17, 1876 -- Mrs. Levkeeva's Benefit Performance. No.260.
Nov 24, 1876 -- Mr. Burdin's Benefit Performance. No. 267.
Dec 13, 1876 -- Mr. Leonidov's Benefit Performance. No.287.
Dec 19, 1876 -- Mr. Gorbunov's Benefit Performance. No.292.
Jan 9, 1877 -- Mr. Vinogradov's Benefit Performance. No.311.
Jan 30, 1877 -- Mr. Nilsky's Benefit Performance. No.292.