Who is Happy in Russia? () is an epic four-part poem by Nikolai Nekrasov, which he started publishing in January 1866 in Sovremennik and Otechestvennye Zapiski. Its fourth part, "The Feast for All the World" (1876–1877), remained unfinished.
The only full English translation was made in 1917, under the title Who Can Be Happy and Free in Russia?, by Juliet Soskice. The other suggested titles are Who Lives Happily in Russia?, Who Is Happy in Russia? and Who Can Be Happy in Russia?
Synopsis
Seven peasants embark upon the eventful journey across the Russian land united by an idea of finding just one happy person. Witnessing nothing but suffering and injustice all around, they are surprised to find that even those supposed to be the masters of the land find life here totally unsatisfactory.
The peasants decide not to return home until they find the right answer. In the prologue, they also find a self-assembled tablecloth that will feed them, and hit the road.
Chapter I. Pop
The peasants continued on their way. They met many people, but no one was interested in life. All the wanderers were close to them: the bast shoe, the artisan, the beggar, the coachman. The soldier could not be happy. He shaves with an awl, warms himself with smoke. Toward nightfall, they met a pop. The peasants stood in a row and bowed to the holy man. Luka began to ask the priest if he was free to live. The priest thought about it and began to talk. He simply kept silent about the years of study. The priest has no rest. He is called to a sick, dying person. My heart aches and aches for orphans and people leaving for another world. The hand does not rise to take copper dimes - a reward for demand. And you have to live on something. The priest has no honor. They call him insulting words, stay away on the way, compose fairy tales. They do not like either a priest's daughter, or a priest, or seminarians. Pop is not held in high esteem among all classes. Where does the priest get wealth? There used to be many nobles in Russia. Children were born in the estates, weddings were played. Even if one of the landowners lived in cities, then he came to die in the village and bequeathed to be buried in the parish. Everyone went to the priests, the wealth grew and multiplied, and the laity also received something. Now everything has changed in Russia. The landowners scattered across the foreign land, leaving only ruined possessions in their homeland. Pop complains about the emerging schismatics who live among the Orthodox. However, he was lucky here, he avoided the need to cash in on schismatics, since in his parish there are Orthodox Christians in the majority - two-thirds. But the life of the priests is becoming more and more difficult, only poor peasants give income. And what can they give? Only a dime and a pie for the holiday, and eggs for Easter. The priest finished his melancholy story and moved on. The men pounced on Luka, who argued that the priests live at ease.
History
Nekrasov started working upon the poem soon after the Tzarist manifest abolishing serfdom was published in March 1861. The rough version of the Prologue as well as Part 1 have been ready by 1863; the latter's first chapter were published in Otechestvennye Zapiskis January 1869 issue. The whole of the Part 1 appeared in the 1873 (5th) edition of the Works by N.Nekrasov. Chapter 2, "The Last One" (Последыш, Posledysh) was written in the late 1872 and appeared in print in the OZ February 1873 issue. Part 3, "The Peasant Woman" (Крестьянка, Krestyanka), was published in OZ No.1, 1874. In all the posthumous editions "Krestyanka" featured as part 2 and "Posledysh" followed it. In 1876-1877 Nekrasov was working hectically upon Part 4, "The Feast for All the World" (Пир на весь мир), but death from cancer on 28 December 1877 (old style) prevented him from finishing it.
Problems with censorship
All four parts of the poem had their problems with censorship. Part 4, which was supposed to appear in Otechestvennye Zapiskys November 1876 issue, was banned altogether. A.Petrov, the head of the Saint Petersburg censorship committee informed the magazine that it will be closed immediately should it proceed with the proposed publication. For the now terminally ill author this proved to be a heavy blow.