Researchers explain specifics of Alexandre Dumas’ Caucasian notes

On March 1, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (known as MGIMO) hosted an open seminar on the theme "Anthropology of Travel". Zoya Makhmudova, Associate Professor of the Ethnology Department of the Moscow State University (MSU), spoke about the travel notes written by Alexandre Dumas, a classic of the French fiction, and artist Jean-Pierre Moynet, devoted to their journey to the Caucasus in 1858-1859.

"Alexandre Dumas had the following aim: his popularity in France was declining and he wanted to attract the attention of his readers by tales about such an exotic region as the Caucasus. That was the purpose of his arrival. That is why he used such a genre, including description of adventures and excursions into the history of cooking... Jean-Pierre Moynet, his friend and companion, was travelling together with Alexandre Dumas," reported the specialist in Caucasian studies.

According to Zoya Makhmudova, Alexandre Dumas preferred to talk about the mountaineers' fight against the empire; however, he writes almost nothing about Islam.

"Alexandre Dumas had no arrogant attitude towards the Caucasus. All his assessments are of good nature. The book is good, no acid-tongued, no spiteful," added Zoya Makhmudova.

However, Alexandre Dumas often writes about untidiness of Caucasians and gives a lot of emotional evaluations. On the contrary, the notes written by Jean-Pierre Moynet are more neutral.

"The Jean-Pierre Moynet's notes are an ethnographic work. He describes everything as a traveller, an ethnographer," said Zoya Makhmudova.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.