What was the Composition of the Original Corpus of Ivan Peresvetov’s Works? Tracing the History of One Modified Version

Abstract

The author examines which version of The Tale on the Taking of Tsargrad was included in the original Sbornik (i.e. Miscellany) by Ivan Peresvetov. Challenging A. A. Ziminʼs hypothesis that Peresvetov created a “special” late redaction of the Tale, the author demonstrates that the original Sbornik contained its “ordinary” late redaction, which was later reworked only in the 17th century. This conclusion, drawn from a textual comparison of several copies of the Sbornik, is further supported by an analysis of the grammatical features of the “special” redaction of the Tale. The author argues that the text of the “special” redaction reflects the 17th-century trend toward linguistic “simplification”. The findings also suggest that the “Incomplete” redaction of Peresvetovʼs Sbornik better preserves the original text, whereas the “Complete” redaction, which Zimin favored, represents a later adaptation. This reinterpretation offers new insights into the reception and cultural significance of Peresvetovʼs works in the 17th century.

DOI: 10.31168/2305-6754.2025.1.11