The period from the 1790s to the 1820s in Russian literature is commonly referred to as the Karamzin era. Karamzin set the tone for Russian sentimentalism, the movement that dominated Russian literature at the turn of the century. His literary works, particularly his prose fiction, provided models for his fellow sentimentalists and initiated genres that were to blossom among his successors. His works finally bestowed legitimacy on Russian prose fiction. His contributions to Russian intellectual life reached far beyond literature: his ideas on literary language gained wide acceptance and gave rise to one of the most fruitful linguistic polemics in the history of Russian literature; his activities as a journalist enlightened the Russian public and popularized European culture in Russia. In fact, Karamzin is generally credited with creating the Russian reading public, particularly the woman reader. He was one of the first Russian professional men of letters who...