Abstract
<jats:p>The article analyzes the pamphlet of the Russian diplomat and writer of Polish origin K. K. Labensky (1798-1855), which has not been translated into Russian, “A word about the work of Mr. de Custine, entitled ‘Russia in 1839’” (1843). The purpose of the study is to determine the place of K. K. Labensky’s pamphlet in the controversy surrounding the book by A. de Custine “Russia in 1839”, to reveal the logic of Labensky’s position in his correspondence dispute with Custine, to describe his argumentation and style features that ensured the success of the book. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the fact that it is the first in Russian literary studies to analyze a non-translated brochure by K. K. Labensky. Based on archival materials, the article clarifies certain facts from Labensky’s biography, places his book within the context of Russian literary responses to the work of the Marquis de Custine, and describes the techniques and arguments used by Labensky in his polemics with Custine. The article also highlights certain stylistic features of Labensky’s writing that contributed to the success of his brochure in France. The results showed that the exact date of K. K. Labensky’s birth was December 26, 1798, that his pamphlet became one of the most detailed and reasoned critical responses to A. de Custine’s pamphlet “Russia in 1839”, that its success with the French reader was due to contrasting with the harsh personal attacks against Custine contained in a number of other responses to his book, diplomatic restraint of tone, the art of argumentation, skillful use of literary techniques (primarily irony).</jats:p>