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Abstract

This article examines economic narratives in Russian literature of the second half of the 19th century through the works of S. N. Terpigorev („Impoverishment“), A. N. Engelgardt („Twelve Letters from the Village“), and A. A. Fet (“The Life of Stepanovka, or A Lyrical Farmstead“). The author identifies three main narratives that emerged during Russia’s transition from a traditional feudal economy to capitalist relations. The first concerns the gap between theoretical views on agriculture (propagated by the intelligentsia, professors, and the press) and the practical experience of landowners and peasants. The second involves differing understandings of „rationality“ in farming among various social and professional groups. The third deals with the issue of pricing for hired labor. The theoretical framework draws on Robert Shiller’s concept of narrative economics as well as insights from behavioral economics (D. Kahneman, R. Thaler). The analysis shows that the dominant narratives of the time failed to address the real needs of the agrarian sector, while the selected authors who combined theoretical knowledge with hands-on farming experience offered a more balanced approach that integrated local conditions, economic rationality, and behavioral factors. The article concludes that although these alternative narratives were relevant to their era, they did not reach a critical mass capable of transforming mass consciousness and agricultural practice; nevertheless, they retain analytical value for contemporary discussions on economic rationality and agrarian development.