Professor Martens' Departure

infobox Book |
name = Professor Martens' Departure
title_orig = Professor Martensi ärasõit
translator = Anselm Hollo


image_caption =
author = Jaan Kross
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = Estonia
language = Estonian
series =
genre = Historical novel
publisher = Eesti Raamat
release_date = 1984
english_release_date = 1994
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 247 pp
isbn = N/A
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Professor Martens' Departure" is a 1984 historical novel set in czarist Russia by Estonian writer Jaan Kross.

Plot summary

Friedrich Fromhold Martens, born in Pärnu, Estonia on 27th August 1845, was a renowned expert in international law. He attended the University of St. Petersburg where he later became a professor. He was a polyglot, jurist, arbitrator, and a member of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He represented the Russian Government at many international conferences including the Hague Peace Conference in 1899. He was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1902 and was mistakenly reported by some as the winner.

During a train journey from his home town of Pärnu to St. Petersburg he recalls many events of his life. He remembers meeting his wife Kati for the first time at her father's house. He describes the discovery of his "double", Georg Friedrich Martens, a man who lived an almost parallel life to Friedrich eighty-nine years previously. Georg was born in Hamburg, Germany, attended the University of Göttingen and also became a professor of international law. Some of the recollected events, for example the Great Flood of Hamburg in 1770 and a fire in a wooden suburb of Göttingen actually took place during Georgs life and not his own. He describes the arrest of his nephew, Johannes. He remembers his meeting with the Imperial Chancellor, Prince Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov, to discuss the publication of a compendium of treaties between Russia and other nations. He formulates his theory of "comparativist psychology". With some embarrassment he relates the story of his candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize and the mistaken reports that he was the winner. He outlines his "doctrine of respect for human rights". He describes his affair with an art student, Yvette Arlon, a woman that later bore his child, married and fled to the Congo.

Friedrich discusses politics with a fellow train passenger, an Estonian lady and socialist, Hella Wuolijoki. He wonders how differently he would have lived his life if given another chance. He recalls the embarrassing episode of the Treaty of Portsmouth; Friedrich was a member of the Russian delegation but his name was mistakenly omitted from the initial list of delegates and so the Japanese did not allow him to participate in most of the talks. He remembers Mr. Saebelmann, the son of the man who was rumored to have ousted Friedrich's father from the parish clerk's cottage. Mr. Saebelmann became a composer of some note but later died in Poltava. He describes the death of his double, Georg, in Frankfurt am Main, just before meeting his own demise at the stop-off at Valga.

Characters in "Professor Martens' Departure"

*Professor Friedrich Fromhold Martens - main character.
*Yekaterina Nikolayevna or Kati - wife of Friedrich.
*Nikolai Andreyevich - father of Kati and a senator.
*Nicol - son of Friedrich and Kati.
*Katarina - daughter of Friedrich and Kati.
*Edit - daughter of Friedrich and Kati.
*Heinrich Martens - brother of Friedrich and a shoemaker in Riga.
*August Martens - brother of Friedrich and a celebrated physician in Funchal, Madeira.
*Julius Martens - brother of Friedrich and a pharmacist.
*Johannes - son of Heinrich.
*Huik - the stationmaster at Pärnu.
*Kaarl - servant of Friedrich.
*Frieda - wife of Kaarl and servant of Friedrich.
*Mr. Vodovozov - contributor to the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary and former student of Friedrich.
*Ignati Yakinfovich or Ivan Ivanovich or Ivanovski - dean at the University of St. Petersburg.
*Mary Christiansen - neighbor of Friedrich with whom he had an affair.
*Mr. Christiansen - manager of a provincial factory.
*Yvette Arlon - an art student with whom Friedrich had an affair.
*Frédéric Martens - the illegimate son of Friedrich and Yvette.
*Witte - a Russian economic reformer.
*Rosen - a Russian diplomat and Ambassador to the United States.
*Hella Wuolijoki (nee Murrik) - an Estonian lady and socialist.
*Georg Friedrich Martens - Friedrich's "double".
*Magdalena - wife of Georg.
*Mr. Saebelmann - a composer whose father replaced Friedrich's father at the parish clerk's cottage.
*Platon Lvovich - a friend of Friedrich from the university.
*Yokim Viktorovich - a friend of Friedrich from the university.
*Mr. Kapp - a distant relation of Friedrich.