H. Walpole

This article examines one version of national self-identification against the background of the “Other”. In 1758, Horace Walpole published the notes of the English ambassador Charles Whitworth on his stay in Russia from 1704 to 1710 at his publishing house, Strawberry Hill. The publisher included his comments in the “Introduction,” placed immediately before the text. The “Introduction” contains an extensive panegyric on Whitworth as a model representative of English diplomacy. At the same time, very little is said about the content of the text written by Whitworth.

The problem of intercultural dialogue and the formation of the image of the “other” in a certain cultural tradition is being actively developed in modern historiography at different levels. When writing this article, the level of personal perception by the representative of the English Enlightenment of the carriers of the Russian cultural tradition was chosen. Horace Walpole gained fame in various areas of cultural life. The article analyzes Walpole’s perception of the Russian theme, examines how in this case the personal corresponds to the national tradition.

The article is devoted to the analysis of events concerning the Italian Tour undertaken by H. Walpole in 1739-1741. Young English aristocrats set off for a Grand Tour to the continent to complete their education. Horace Walpole was a representative of the mid-18^th century English culture. He was active in many fields, but the article focuses on the impact of the everyday Italian culture on the views of young Walpole