Year of publication of the book: 1887.

Leskov's story "The Man on the Clock" was written and published for the first time in 1887. The original title of the work was “The Rescue of the Perishing,” but the author subsequently changed the title. The story is based on a real event that happened in St. Petersburg. Today, Leskov’s book “The Man on the Clock” is included in the school curriculum.

Leskov's story “The Man on the Clock”, summary

The events of N. S. Leskov’s story “The Man on the Clock” take place in St. Petersburg in the winter of 1839. In contrast, the weather was so warm that polynyas began to appear on the Neva. At that time, the territory near the Winter Palace was guarded by a regiment under the command of Officer Miller. If Leskov’s story “The Man on the Clock” is read in full, we will learn that in a few years he will be a general and director of the lyceum. Miller was a responsible person and followed the main rule of the guard - the continuous presence of soldiers at their posts. But then one day an unpleasant incident occurred with one sentry.

A non-commissioned officer burst into Miller’s room and reported that some “trouble” had occurred at the post. The fact is that the soldier Postnikov, who was on guard that evening, heard that a man was drowning because of the hole in the Neva. The soldier resisted the desire to leave his post for a long time, because he knew that he would be punished for this. But the screams of the drowning man did not stop, and Postnikov decided to save the man. He handed the drowning man the butt of his gun and pulled him to shore.

Suddenly a sleigh appeared near the scene of the incident. An officer of the disabled team was sitting in them. He began to understand the situation with a shout, but while the drowning man was being interrogated, Postnikov grabbed the gun and instantly returned to his booth. The officer took the victim and took him to the guardhouse, where he said that it was he who pulled the man out of the river and was now asking for a medal for it.

The drowning man at that moment remembered little because of the fear he experienced. He didn't care who exactly saved him. And while the doctor on duty examined the victim, the police could not understand how exactly the officer managed to pull the man out of the water without getting wet at all.

Meanwhile, Miller understands that because of the incident with Postnikov, he may have problems big problems. He turns to Lieutenant Colonel Svinin with a request to come and sort out the situation.

Svinin was a man of discipline and did not allow any excuse for the soldier leaving his post. As soon as the lieutenant colonel arrived at the palace, he immediately began interrogating Postnikov. After that, he sent the soldier to the punishment cell. Further in Leskov’s story “The Man on the Clock,” the characters began to think about how to get out of this situation. Everything was complicated by the fact that both Miller and Svinin were afraid that the disabled team officer would hand them over to the police. Then the matter may come to Chief Police Officer Kokoshkin, who also had a difficult character.

Further in Leskov’s story “The Man on the Watch” we can read how the lieutenant colonel decides to go to Kokoshkin himself and find out everything. After listening to Svinin’s confession, the chief police officer decided to call the injured and disabled officer to his office. When these two appeared, Kokoshkin listened to the story again and decided that the best solution the problem will be to leave the version of the disabled officer. He told the “savior” that he would report to the sovereign about his action and ask for a medal for saving his life.

When the officer and the victim left the office, Kokoshkin told Svinin that the case could be closed. But the lieutenant colonel was tormented inside by a feeling of incompleteness. Therefore, when he returned to the palace, he ordered, as in, to flog Postnikov with two hundred rods. Miller was surprised by this decision, but could not disobey the order.

Further in Leskov’s story “The Man on the Watch,” a brief summary describes how the soldier was punished and taken to the infirmary. Svinin also visited there, wanting to make sure his order was carried out. Seeing Postnikov, the lieutenant colonel took pity on him and ordered to bring the patient “a pound of sugar and a quarter of a pound of tea” to make him feel better. The soldier thanked Svinin from the bottom of his heart. Postnikov understood that punishment with rods was the best outcome of the event.

After this situation, a lot of gossip spread throughout St. Petersburg. One day, during an audience with the Bishop, Svinin was reminded of the events of that night. He told the whole truth, but the lieutenant colonel placed responsibility for changing the facts in official documents on Kokoshkin. Svinin said that he regretted that he punished the soldier and that Postnikov, who committed a heroic act, did not receive a reward for it. Then the bishop replied that such actions are a person’s duty, not heroism, and the punishment of the body is much easier to endure than the suffering of the spirit.

Leskov concludes his work “The Man on the Clock” with the fact that together they agreed that this incident should continue to be kept secret.

The story “The Man on the Clock” on the Top Books website

Leskov’s story “The Man on the Clock” is popular to read largely due to his presence in school curriculum. Nevertheless, this allowed him to take a high place among. And given the trends, we will see it again and again on the pages of our site.

You can read Leskov’s story “The Man on the Clock” in its entirety on the Top Books website.

Nikolay Semyonovich Leskov

"Man on the Clock"

The winter in St. Petersburg in 1839 was marked by strong thaws. Sentinel Postnikov, a soldier of the Izmailovsky regiment, stood at his post. He heard that a man had fallen into the wormwood and was calling for help. The soldier did not dare to leave his post for a long time, because this was a terrible violation of the Charter and almost a crime. The soldier suffered for a long time, but in the end he made up his mind and pulled out the drowning man. Then a sleigh with an officer sitting in it passed by. The officer began to investigate, and in the meantime Postnikov quickly returned to his post. The officer, realizing what had happened, took the rescued man to the guardhouse. The officer reported that he had saved a drowning man. The rescued man could not say anything, since he lost his memory from the experience, and he couldn’t really make out who was saving him. The matter was reported to Lieutenant Colonel Svinin, a zealous servant.

Svinin considered himself obliged to report to Chief of Police Kokoshkin. The case became widely publicized.

The officer posing as a rescuer was awarded a medal “for saving the dead.” Private Postnikov was ordered to be flogged in front of the formation with two hundred rods. The punished Postnikov, wearing the same overcoat in which he was flogged, was transferred to the regimental infirmary. Lieutenant Colonel Svinin ordered the punished to be given a pound of sugar and a quarter of a pound of tea.

Postnikov replied: “I am very pleased, thank you for your fatherly mercy.” He was actually pleased, sitting in the punishment cell for three days, he expected much worse that the military court could award him.

In the winter of 1839, frequent and long thaws occurred in St. Petersburg. At his post near the location of the military unit was the sentry of His Majesty’s Izmailovsky Regiment, Private Postnikov. Suddenly the sentry heard cries for help coming from the river for a man caught in the wormwood and drowning. Leaving a post is considered in the army to be a gross violation of the military regulations and entails serious punishment, as for a crime. Therefore, the sentry Postnikov was subjected to doubts that tormented his soul for a long time, finally deciding to save the drowning man. He quickly ran up and helped the drowning man get out of the hole.

But it so happened that at the same time an officer on a sleigh was passing by, who began to ask in detail about what had happened, and the soldier Postnikov quickly returned to his post. Everything became clear to the officer, and he ordered the rescued man to be taken to the guardhouse. The officer there reported that he had saved a man drowning in a hole. And the victim at that time was not able to tell anything, since he was in such a terrible state that he himself did not understand who exactly saved him. The incident was reported in detail to Lieutenant Colonel Svinin, a diligent servant.

The lieutenant colonel, in turn, decided to report everything in detail to Chief Police Chief Kokoshkin, after which this event became known in wide circles.

The “rescue officer” posing as a hero was awarded with honors the medal “For saving the dead,” and Private Postnikov received punishment - he was flogged in front of the formation with two hundred rods! Wearing the same overcoat that he wore during the flogging, he was carried to the regiment infirmary. Lieutenant Colonel Svinin, out of compassion, ordered Postnikov to be given a whole pound of sugar and a quarter of a pound of tea.

Soldier Postnikov’s literal answer was: “I’m very pleased, thank you for your fatherly mercy.” The soldier, who was expecting a more severe punishment, was indeed incredibly glad that three days of arrest in a punishment cell was nothing compared to what he could have received under the verdict of a military court.

Essays

1. The action takes place in 1839. According to the author, the story is non-fictional and well characterizes the “mores and direction” of that time.

2. On the eve of Epiphany in St. Petersburg “there was a strong thaw.” Polynyas formed on the Neva, right in front of the Winter Palace. On the palace guard there was a company under the command of the young officer Miller, a well-educated, “serviceable and reliable” man.

3. At about three o'clock in the morning, an alarmed non-commissioned officer came to Miller. He said that there was a problem.

4. Sentinel Postnikov, standing on duty, heard the screams of a drowning man. He wanted to help the drowning man, but he was afraid to leave his post, which threatened him with severe punishment. In the end, compassion triumphed over duty.

5. Postnikov pulled out a drowning man. An officer of the court invalid team drove by. The soldier handed over the rescued man to him and returned to his post. The officer brought him to the administrative police office. There he stated that he himself rescued a man from the water. The rescued man “fell unconscious from fright and terrible efforts” and did not refute anything. The police questioned the officer, particularly interested in how he stayed dry.

6. Postnikov told Miller about what happened. Both were afraid that the disabled officer had reported everything to the bailiff, who passed on the information to Chief Police Chief Kokoshkin, who would definitely report the incident to Nicholas I. Miller sent a note to the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Svinin, asking him to urgently report to the palace guardhouse. There was little time to take action, since Kokoshkin came with a report to the sovereign early in the morning.

7. Svinin was strict and demanding in terms of discipline. At the same time, he understood that Postnikov’s act could greatly harm his career.

8. Arriving at the palace guardhouse, Svinin placed Postnikov under arrest, and he himself began to think about what to do next. At first he wanted to seek protection from Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, the emperor’s brother, but then he realized that it was impossible to come to his palace at such a late time.

9. At the beginning of five in the morning, Svinin went to Kokoshkin, who sometimes “made peace with naughty men and good merry fellows from the military,” and also knew how not only to make a molehill out of a molehill, but also vice versa.

10. Awakened, Kokoshkin calmly listened to Svinin’s story, after which he summoned the bailiff, the disabled officer and the rescued man.

11. When everyone arrived, Kokoshkin studied the protocol. In addition, he interrogated the drowned man. He said that he does not remember who pulled him out of the water.

12. Then Kokoshkin interrogated the disabled officer, who continued to claim that it was he who saved the drowning man. They praised the deceiver and promised to report him to the emperor.

13. At one o'clock in the afternoon Kokoshkin called the disabled officer to his place and presented him with a medal. A few days later, Svinin, delighted at the successful conclusion of the story, ordered Miller to release Postnikov and punish him in front of the formation with two hundred rods.

14. Miller tried to protect the sentry, but Svinin was adamant.

15. The flogged Postnikov, who ended up in the infirmary, was satisfied with the outcome of the case - he expected a more severe punishment.

16. Rumors spread around St. Petersburg, the story acquired incredible details. The ruler, who favored Svinin, drew the attention of her.

17. One day Svinin came to the bishop for a blessing. He asked him about mysterious story. Svinin told the truth. He noticed that he had punished Postnikov in vain and deprived him of his medal. Vladyka thought differently. In his opinion, saving the dying is a duty, not a merit, and the truth must continue to be hidden.

• “The Man on the Clock”, analysis of Leskov’s story
• “The Enchanted Wanderer”, a summary of the chapters of Leskov’s story
• “The Stupid Artist”, analysis of Leskov’s story
• “Old Genius”, analysis of Leskov’s story

/ "Man on the Clock"

Chapter 1

The reader learns that the events that will be depicted in the following chapters of the story actually occurred and reflected the morals of the thirties of the nineteenth century.

Chapter 2

Petersburg 1839. Nicholas I lives in the Winter Palace. Epiphany winter with an unexpected thaw. The snow began to melt, the ice on the Neva turned blue and became covered with water.

The emperor's palace is guarded by sentries of the Izmailovsky regiment under the command of a young and educated officer Nikolai Ivanovich Miller. Miller was a man of what was called at that time the “humane trend,” which slightly hampered his career, but he was also a reliable man. It was the quietest time at that time. Nothing was required from the guards, only standing clearly at their posts. And at such a time, an extraordinary event happened, as for military people of that time.

Chapter 3

At the beginning of the guard, everything was fine, people were assigned to posts, order was not disturbed. Emperor Nicholas was the first to go to bed. I fell asleep all over Winter Palace. Captain Miller sat reading a book, not noticing how the night passed. But suddenly, after two hours, a detached non-commissioned officer unexpectedly comes to him and, not remembering himself, quickly informs him that something terrible has happened.

Chapter 4

Captain Miller could hardly understand the non-commissioned officer's babble. It turned out that at night, while standing at his post, a soldier of the Izmailovsky regiment, Postnikov, heard a cry for help coming from the hole that covered the Neva, which was located just opposite the post. Soldier Postnikov was very sensitive, and on top of that, he was also nervous. Hearing the screams, he himself became numb and did not know what to do. Realizing that the person was not far away, it would not be difficult for him to save the person, but by saving another he could destroy himself. According to the charter, he was not allowed to leave his post. He struggled with duty and human compassion. The latter prevailed and Postnikov, leaving his post, ran to the river.

Chapter 5

A soldier saves a drowning man. At the same time, a sleigh with a court officer of the disabled team passed by. He takes the man saved by Postnikov to the shelter house of the Admiralty unit. And the completely wet soldier runs to his post. Arriving at the bailiff, the insolent officer made a statement that it was he who saved the man. And the drowning man was unconscious from fright and did not remember his true savior. A police paramedic was looking after him, and, according to the officer, a report was drawn up in the office, and they could not understand how, while saving the man, the officer came out unscathed. Since the cunning court officer had a great desire to receive the medal “For saving the dead,” he came up with a vague explanation about the reason for his dry uniform.

Chapter 6

Soldier Postnikov confessed everything sincerely and was removed from his post. They didn’t know what happened next to the rescued person and the actions of the officer on guard at the palace. Captain Miller, sensing danger, urgently writes an alarming note to his battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Svinin, and asks him to urgently come to them to help in the current situation.

Chapter 7

Lieutenant Colonel Svinin was not as compassionate as Captain Miller, but he also could not be called heartless. At that time, such people were called “service workers,” which meant his strict attitude to official duties. He was a seasoned careerist, and valued his career, trying not to allow any violations in his service.

Chapter 8

Lieutenant Colonel Svinin arrived at the Zimny ​​guardhouse, and, making sure that the note says the truth, talks to Postnikov and sends him under arrest to the punishment cell. Angry at Miller for his “humanism.” He thinks about how to find a way out of a very difficult situation.

Chapter 9

Svinin decides to go to Chief Police Chief Kokoshkin, who inspired fear in himself, but was at the same time a tactful person, and could do a lot if he wanted.

Chapter 10

Svinin came to Kokoshkin at five o’clock in the morning and told him about the incident with the soldier Postnikov. General Kokoshkin listened to him attentively, without showing any excitement, and Svinin decides that he already knew everything, since the incident did not alarm him. But the lieutenant colonel did not know that the bailiff, having talked with the disabled officer and with the rescued drowning man, did not attach such importance to this case as to immediately run to the chief of police. He realized that the disabled officer just wanted to get a medal, and since he was dry, he had doubts about what exactly he was saving. Plus, he was not very pleased that the incident happened on his site, and the drowning man was saved not by a policeman, but by a palace officer. Kokoshkin sends for the bailiff, who he ordered to immediately come to him along with the officer and the rescued person. Svinin remains to wait for everyone in the reception area.

Chapter 11

Svinin comes to the general, along with the arriving bailiff, the officer and the rescued. As the conversation progressed, it turned out that the rescued man did not know exactly, due to fear and unconsciousness, who pulled him out of the hole, and the general makes him believe that it was the officer who saved him. The chief police officer releases the rescued man.

Chapter 12

Kokoshkin, talking with the officer, pretends that he believes in his noble deed, and forces the officer, promising him a reward, to testify that when saving the drowning man, the officer was himself and did not see anyone around, which is recorded in the protocol. Hearing about the award, the officer simply lit up with happiness. The general releases him. In this way he saves everyone from inevitable punishment.

Chapter 13

The next day, General Kokoshkin presented the disabled officer with the medal “For saving the dead” to the great joy of the recipient. Svinin became nervous and lay in bed for three days. He asks Captain Miller to come see him. Talking to him, he enthusiastically praises General Kokoshkin, and orders the soldier Postnikov to be taken out from under arrest and punished in front of the whole ranks.

Chapter 14

Captain Miller stands up for Postnikov, but the inexorable Svinin demands punishment. After the execution, the unfortunate soldier is carried away in his greatcoat to the infirmary for treatment.

Chapter 15

Lieutenant Colonel Svinin, as if visiting Postnikov in the infirmary, becomes convinced that he was really punished and gives him sugar and tea. And Postnikov was very grateful to him, since he expected the worst punishment for his salvation of a person.

Chapter 16

In St. Petersburg there were various rumors about this story. The Lord himself cannot understand how everything really happened.

Chapter 17

Svinin told the Vladyka the truth. He is tormented by his conscience because he punished the soldier for his heroism. Vladyka assured Svinin that he had done the right thing.

In winter, around Epiphany, in 1839, there was a strong thaw in St. Petersburg, the ice on the river melted and was covered with polynyas. Sentinel Postnikov was holding his post and was on guard duty when he suddenly heard screams calling for help; a man was drowning, having fallen into the wormwood through carelessness. Postnikov for some time did not dare to leave the guard post, since this was a direct violation of the regulations, and could entail the most terrible punishment - a military court for desertion. But compassion got the better of him, and he left his post. And with the help of his gun he pulled the man out of mortal danger.

While Postnikov was thinking about what to do with the wet man, the sleigh of an officer of the court invalid team appeared on the road. Without asking questions, he took the freezing man with him and took him to headquarters, saying there that the savior was precisely He. But the rescued man was too weak and exhausted, it didn’t matter to him who said what, he wanted to warm up, and was very glad that he was alive.

After some time, senior officials learned that Postnikov was leaving his post while on guard duty. And he had no choice but to turn for help to the battalion commander Svinin, who was a kind and conscientious person, since there were no witnesses to this incident, and no one could confirm that Postnikov left the guard in order to save the life of a drowning man to a person. He tried to help him, but had to report the incident to Chief of Police Kokoshkin, as a result of which the case became widely publicized.

But it so happened that the award, anyway, was awarded to the officer who presented himself as the savior. And the Postnikovs were given two hundred blows with rods, after which they were placed in a punishment cell for 3 days.

After his confinement in the punishment cell came to an end, Svinin brought the soldier a foot of sugar and tea, as he was very worried that he could not protect him from punishment. But Postnikov was happy about this too, since he expected the worst turn of events after spending three days in the punishment cell. He thought that the military court would sentence him to death, so this violation of the charter was unacceptable.

Having heard this story, the bishop turned to Svinin to find out the truth, after which the priest made the following conclusion: punishment for a good deed can bring much more benefit than encouragement and reward exalted by the law.

The main idea of ​​the story The Man on the Clock

This story teaches that a person should always remain human, have compassion, empathy and help others, even if the consequences may be undesirable or even terrible.

You can use this text for reader's diary

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Man on the clock. Picture for the story

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