''The Captain's Daughter'' () is a

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to oth ...

by the Russian

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...

Alexander Pushkin Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin () was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist of the Romantic era.Basker, Michael. Pushkin and Romanticism. In Ferber, Michael, ed., ''A Companion to European Romanticism''. Oxford: Blackwell, 2005. He is consid ...

. It was first published in

1836 Events January–March * January 1 — Hill Street Academy is named Colombo Academy and acquired by the Government, establishing the first public school in Sri Lanka. * January 1 – Queen Maria II of Portugal marries Prince Ferdinand ...

in the fourth issue of the literary journal '' Sovremennik'' and is his only completed novel. The novel is a romanticized account of

Pugachev's Rebellion Pugachev's Rebellion (; also called the Peasants' War 1773–1775 or Cossack Rebellion) of 1773–1775 was the principal revolt in a series of popular rebellions that took place in the Russian Empire after Catherine II seized power in 1762. It ...

in 1773–1774. The title "The Captain's Daughter" has also been used to refer to a collection of stories, one of which was the actual novel.

Plot

Pyotr Andreyich Grinyov (the narrative is conducted on his behalf) is the only surviving child of a retired Imperial Army officer. When Pyotr turns 17, his father sends him into military service in

Orenburg Orenburg (, ), formerly known as Chkalov (1938–1957), is the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies in Eastern Europe, along the banks of the Ural River, being approximately southeast of Moscow. Orenburg is close to the ...

. While en route, Pyotr gets lost in a blizzard, but is rescued by a mysterious man. As a token of his gratitude, Pyotr gives the guide his hareskin coat. Arriving in Orenburg, Pyotr reports to his commanding officer and is assigned to serve at Fort Belogorsky under Captain Ivan Mironov. The "fort" is little more than a fence around a village, and the captain's wife Vasilisa is really in charge. Pyotr befriends his fellow officer Shvabrin, who has been banished here after a duel resulted in the death of his opponent. When Pyotr dines with the Mironov family, he meets their daughter Masha and falls in love with her. This causes a rift between Pyotr and Shvabrin, who has been turned down by Masha. When Shvabrin insults Masha's honor, Pyotr and Shvabrin duel and Pyotr is injured. Pyotr asks his father's consent to marry Masha, but is refused. Not much later, the fortress is besieged by the insurgent Yemelyan Pugachev, who claims to be the Emperor Peter III. The

Cossacks The Cossacks are a predominantly East Slavic languages, East Slavic Eastern Christian people originating in the Pontic–Caspian steppe of eastern Ukraine and southern Russia. Cossacks played an important role in defending the southern borde ...

stationed at the fortress defect to the forces of Pugachev, and he takes the fortress easily. He demands that Captain Mironov swear an oath of allegiance to him, and when refused, hangs the Captain and kills his wife. When it is Pyotr's turn, Shvabrin suddenly appears to have

defected In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state in exchange for allegiance to another, changing sides in a way which is considered illegitimate by the first state. More broadly, defection involves abandoning a person, ca ...

as well, and upon his advice Pugachev orders Pyotr to be hanged. However, his life is suddenly spared as Pugachev turns out to be the guide who rescued Pyotr from the blizzard, and he recognizes Pyotr whom he remembers with affection. The next evening, Pyotr and Pugachev talk in private. Pyotr impresses Pugachev with the sincerity of his insistence that he cannot serve him. Pugachev decides to let Pyotr go to Orenburg. He is to relay a message to the Governor that Pugachev will be marching on his city. The fort is to be left under the command of Shvabrin, who takes advantage of the situation to try to compel Masha to marry him. Pyotr rushes off to prevent this marriage, but is captured by Pugachev's troops. After explaining the situation to Pugachev, they both ride off to the fortress. Masha-u-posteli

After Masha is freed, she and Pyotr take off to his father's estate, but they are intercepted by Imperial troops. Pyotr decides to stay with the army and sends Masha to his father. The war with Pugachev goes on and Pyotr rejoins the army. At the moment of Pugachev's defeat, Pyotr is arrested for having friendly relations with Pugachev. During his interrogation, Shvabrin testifies that Pyotr is a traitor. Not willing to drag Masha into court, Pyotr is unable to repudiate this accusation and receives the death penalty. Although Empress

Catherine the Great Catherine II. (born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 172917 November 1796), most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was the reigning empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. She came to power after overthrowing her husband, Peter I ...

commutes his death sentence, Pyotr remains a prisoner. Masha understands why Pyotr wasn't able to defend himself and decides to go to St. Petersburg, to present a petition to the empress. In

Tsarskoye Selo Tsarskoye Selo (, , ) was the town containing a former residence of the Russian House of Romanov, imperial family and visiting nobility, located south from the center of Saint Petersburg. The residence now forms part of the Pushkin, Saint Peter ...

, she meets a lady of the court and details her plan to see the Empress on Pyotr's behalf. The lady refuses at first, saying that Pyotr is a traitor, but Masha is able to explain all the circumstances. Soon, Masha receives an invitation to see the Empress, and is shocked to recognize her as the lady she had talked to earlier. The Empress has become convinced of Pyotr's innocence and has ordered his release. Pyotr witnesses the beheading of Pugachev. He and Masha are married.

List of characters

*Pötr Andrejič Grinöv - Young officer of the Russian Army. *Andrej Petrovič Grinöv - Pötr's father. *Avdotja Vasiĺěvna - Andrej's wife, Pötr's mother. *Arhip Saveĺjič - Pötr's loyal servant. *Marja Ivanovna (Masha) - Pötr's great love and his future wife. *Ivan Kuźmič Mironov - Marya's father and the fort's captain. *Vasilisa Ěgorovna - Ivan's wife, Marya's mother. *Aleksej Ivanovič Švabrin - Officer. Pötr's enemy. *Yemelyan Pugatchev - Ataman of the Yaik Cossacks leading a great popular insurrection against Catherine the Great. *Gerasim - clergyman. *Akulina Pamfilovna - Gerasim's wife. *Catherine the Great - Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. *Anna Vlassyevna - Marya's friend. *Andrej Karlovič - General serving in Orenburg. *Ivan Ivanovič Zurin - Cavalry dragoon officer. *Maksimyč - Cossack sargeant. *Ivan Ignaťjič - Old man and lieutenant at Mironov's. *Monsieur Beaupré - Pötr's preceptor. *Palaška, Akuĺka - Maids. *Yulay - A baptized Kalmyk who worked for Mironov's fort.

Adaptations

Composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

César Cui adapted the novel to a

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

for his opera of the same name. Several films have been made as well: * 1934 – '' Volga in Flames'' directed by

Viktor Tourjansky Victor Tourjansky ( 4 March 1891 – 13 August 1976), born Vyacheslav Konstantinovich Turzhansky (), was a Russian actor, screenwriter and film director who emigrated after the Russian Revolution (1917), Russian Revolution of 1917. He worked in F ...

* 1947 – '' La figlia del capitano'' by

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

Mario Camerini Mario Camerini (6 February 1895 – 4 February 1981) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Camerini began his career in the film industry in 1920, working for his cousin the director Augusto Genina. Camerini went on to direct his own fi ...

with Cesare Danova as Pyotr and Irasema Dilián as Masha. * 1958 – '' Tempest'' by director

Alberto Lattuada Mario Alberto Lattuada (; 13 November 1914 – 3 July 2005) was an Italian film director. Career Lattuada was born in Vaprio d'Adda, the son of composer Felice Lattuada. He was initially interested in literature, becoming, while still a studen ...

with

Geoffrey Horne Geoffrey Horne (born August 22, 1933) is an American actor, director, and acting coach at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. His film and television credits include '' The Bridge on the River Kwai'', '' Bonjour Tristesse'', '' The St ...

as Pyotr and

Silvana Mangano Silvana Mangano (; 21 April 1930 – 16 December 1989) was an Italian film actress. She was one of a generation of thespians who arose from the neorealist movement, and went on to become a major female star, regarded as a sex symbol for the 19 ...

as Masha. * 1958 – '' Kapitanskaya Dochka'' by director Vladimir Kaplunovsky with

Oleg Strizhenov Oleg Aleksandrovich Strizhenov (; 10 August 1929 – 9 February 2025) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. He was awarded People's Artist of the USSR in 1988. Biography Strizhenov was born in Blagoveshchensk in 1929. His family moved ...

as Pyotr and Iya Arepina as Masha. * 1998 – '' Dark Brown Eyes'', a musical opera, by director Sha Tamae for the

Takarazuka Revue The is a Japanese all-female musical theatre troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway theatre, Broadway-style productions of musicals and stories adapted from films, nov ...

. * 2000 – '' Russkiy Bunt'' by director Aleksandr Proshkin with Mateusz Damiecki as Pyotr and

Karolina Gruszka Karolina Gruszka (born 13 July 1980) is a Polish actress. She has appeared in more than 30 films and television shows since 1996. She was nominated for an award as Best Actress for her role in ''Kochankowie z Marony'' at the 2007 Polish Film Aw ...

as Masha.(see https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167380/) * 2005 – '' The Captain's Daughter'', a 28-minute

stop motion Stop-motion (also known as stop frame animation) is an animated filmmaking and special effects technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames so that they will appear to exh ...

-animated film. Placed 4th in the professional rating at the 2006 Open Russian Festival of Animated Film. Won a Golden Eagle Award in the category "Best Animated Film" in 2007.

References

External links

«Капитанская дочка»
available at ''Russian Virtual Library''
An English translation of ''The Captain's Daughter'' under the title ''Marie: A Story of Russian Love''Parallel Russian-English text of the novel in ParallelBook format
(based on Milne-Home translation with missing parts translated in 2013)
Book review on novel ''The Captain's Daughter'' on Knigosearch.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Captain's Daughter, The 1836 novels 19th-century Russian novels Fiction set in 1773 Fiction set in 1774 Novels set in the 1770s Cultural depictions of Catherine the Great Novels about revolutions Novels by Aleksandr Pushkin Novels first published in serial form Novels set in the Russian Empire NYRB Classics Pugachev's Rebellion Russian bildungsromans Russian historical novels Russian novels adapted into films Works originally published in Sovremennik Russian novels adapted into operas