Borodin

Some biographers view Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin (1833-1887) as a composer, others as a chemist, and others emphasize his role in the development of women's medical education. His life holds many mysteries, with even the true year of his birth being established only in the 1920s. Was his father a descendant of Georgian princes or Nogai Tatars? Did his pursuits in chemistry and music truly interfere with each other? What were the "clashes" Borodin had with German scientists? Why did he become fascinated with the mythology of Western Slavs? What became of his protégées? A multitude of materials, previously overlooked by researchers (although they often literally "lie on the surface"), allow us to see the personality of this brilliant composer and outstanding scientist in a new light.