 Sumarokov's interest in the form of French literature mirrored his devotion to the westernizing spirit of Peter the Great's age.Although he often disagreed with Trediakovsky, Sumarokov also advocated the use of simple, natural language in order to diversify the audience and make more efficient use of the Russian language.Like his colleagues and counterparts, Sumarokov extolled the legacy of Peter I, writing in his manifesto "Epistle on Poetry", “The great Peter hurls his thunder from the Baltic shores, the Russian sword glitters in all corners of the universe”.