The ‘Bag’ (1774)

From the disappointments and strivings of the official and independent publisher sprang his fourth satirical periodical, the Bag, announced in the St Petersburg News of 8 July 1774. Indeed, the magazine can only be fully understood in the context of Novikov's concurrent tribulations. Experience was forcing him to give deeper consideration to issues which had been to the fore in the preceding magazines, such as the elaboration of the social paragon, linguistic purity and the nature of the Russian national character. Had his present publishing, and his growing understanding of Russia's past, caused him to modify his previous views, or had they been confirmed and consolidated by his commercial activities and scholarship? In the Bag Novikov seemed to have taken the opportunity of clarifying his own thoughts on these matters. This he did, however, not by any close, logical analysis, but again by mock dialogues and dramatised debates reminiscent of his earlier writings. And having done so with much success and no little entertainment in nine monthly issues, he brought the Bag – its sole purpose seemingly having been served – to an abrupt end in September.

Novikov's doubts were reflected in the tantalising riddle carried by the title – ‘the turning of a Russian bag into a French one’.