Compiling the 20th century: the compiler’s marginalia

Abstract

The author (also the compiler and editor of the publication) comments on the most contentious issues around the preparation of the biobibliographical dictionary Russian Literary Theorists of the 20th Century [Russkie literaturovedy XXveka]. A. Kholikov discusses the acceptable implementation options for the principles listed in the foreword to the dictionary’s recently published first volume. These options can manifest themselves in different ways: firstly, as deviations from a mere record of facts in favour of presenting the evolution of individual scholar’s views (as a result, some entries are more informative, while others have a bigger analytical emphasis). Secondly, the dictionary challenges the boundaries for the evaluative aspect permissible in such academic works. Thirdly, it reconsiders the balance between the established standard of the size of an entry and the scholar’s actual contribution to literary studies, etc. The below published selection of entries represents various experimentation opportunities with regard to the type of articles, and the ways in which their material is presented and structured.