To the Hermitage

Historical Context and Significance

Malcolm Bradbury’s «To the Hermitage» is an exquisite literary mosaic in which the present meets the age of Enlightenment. The book builds a bridge between the eighteenth century, when Diderot travels to Russia at the invitation of Catherine the Great, and the end of the twentieth century, where a group of scholars and writers retrace his steps. Bradbury masterfully weaves into the narrative reflections on the fate of reason, freedom of thought, and the cultural interplay between East and West. Through irony and historical allusion, the novel explores how the ideas of the Enlightenment resonate in today’s world, questioning the boundaries of truth, memory, and interpretation. «To the Hermitage» became a significant event in English-language literature, enriching the cultural dialogue about the role of intellect and art in shaping identity and historical consciousness, and reminding us of the eternal relevance of philosophical quests and the human thirst for meaning.