Free Society of Amateurs of Russian Literature

a literary and social organization in St. Petersburg during the years 1816-25.

Among the society’s leading figures from 1819 were such future Decembrists as F. N. Glinka, K. F. Ryleev, N. A. Bestuzhev, A. A. Bestuzhev, and V. K. Kiukhel’beker. A. S. Griboedov was also accepted as a member of the society. Problems of science and art were discussed at the society’s meetings in a spirit of civic patriotism. The society published a monthly journal, SorevnovateV prosveshcheniia i blagotvoreniia.