“Over that bridge,” a voice rasped, “lives madness.” Our tour takes us to Kokushkin Bridge, a rather unassuming span over the Griboedov Canal. Yet, this bridge has borne witness to extraordinary events and inspired some of Russia’s greatest literary minds. Kokushkin Bridge earned its name from Vasily Kokushkin, a merchant whose house stood nearby. The name, however, has a curious history. Initially Kokushkinov Bridge, it was later misidentified as Kukushkin, meaning “Cuckoo,” adding a touch of whimsy to its story. The current Kokushkin Bridge, built in 1946, replaced earlier wooden versions. Despite its seemingly simple structure of eight welded steel beams, it boasts ornate cast iron railings. These railings echo the elegant designs found along the canal’s embankments. Kokushkin Bridge is a landmark steeped in literary history. Pushkin immortalized it in an epigram, criticizing an illustration of himself and Onegin on the bridge. Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” begins with Raskolnikov heading towards “K. bridge,” widely believed to be Kokushkin. Lermontov’s character Lugin searches for “Shtoss House” near Kokushkin Bridge, possibly inspired by the real Zverkov House. This very house was where a young Gogol penned “Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka,” and featured in his “Diary of a Madman.” So, as you stand on Kokushkin Bridge, remember the troubled souls who walked here before. Reflect on the words of the mad Poprishchin, the conflicted Raskolnikov, and the searching Lugin. Kokushkin Bridge, though small, has a story far larger than itself.
М. К. Прудников
Born into a peasant family in 1913, Mikhail Prudnikov’s journey began in a small village nestled within the Tomsk Governorate.