ABSTRACT
From January and through the spring of 1790, Radishchev and one or two of his subordinates from the Customs House toiled away at the weary task of setting up the Journey from St Petersburg to Moscow in type on the private press at Radishchev’s home, correcting the proofs, and printing off an edition of six hundred and fifty copies. In May, the book was ready for publication. Complimentary copies were sent to some of Radishchev’s friends, including Alexis Kutuzov, to whom the book was dedicated. Several of these were later seized by the police. A copy was also sent to the poet Derzhavin, who entertained, as the authors have seen, no high opinion of Radishchev’s literary talents. Count Alexander Vorontsov, Radishchev’s patron, was not among the recipients. To launch the work among the general public, twenty-five copies were delivered to a bookseller named Gerasim Zotov for sale in his shop.
