|Generate QR code
Open Access
Subscription Access
On the border with Russia. Reminiscences of Boris Zaytsev’s trip to Finland
https://doi.org/10.31425/0042-8795-2019-6-221-244
Abstract
The article is concerned with the interaction between M. Aldanov and M. Gorky in Petrograd in the years 1914 to 1918, hitherto unexplored by literary historians. The author focuses on the ideological positions and philosophies of the two writers and intellectuals, both of them prominent advocates of the pro-Western movement of the Russian Silver Age thought. On quite friendly terms before the 1917 October revolution, they used to share similar views of the literary process. But on exiting from the revolutionary crucible, the two became implacable opponents in ideological as well as literary matters. Among other things, Gorky spoke derogatively of Aldanov’s historical novels. The article focuses on Gorky’s and Aldanov’s respective critical receptions of the literary legacy of the 19th-c. Russian writers. Aldanov’s veneration of Tolstoy provoked Gorky’s skeptical response. At the same time, both expressed profound dissatisfaction with F. Dostoevsky’s work, pointing out his ‘pochvennichestvo’ sympathies and the tendency to portray Russians as mentally ill.
About the Author
Mark L. Uralsky
Санкт-Петербургский политехнический университет Петра Великого
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
literary critic, independent researcher
4 Georg-Grosser str., Brühl, D-50321, Germany
References
1. Adamovich, G. (2000). Boris Zaytsev. In: T. Prokopov, ed., The collected works of B. Zaytsev (5 vols). Vol. 7 (suppl.). Moscow: Russkaya kniga, pp. 445-457. (In Russ.)
2. Antsiferov, N. (2009). Problems of urbanism in Russian literature: The experience of building the image of the city – St. Petersburg of Dostoevsky – based on the analysis of literary traditions. Moscow: IMLI RAN. (In Russ.)
3. Azarov, Y. and Hämäleinen, E. (2005). A chronicle of Russian literary life abroad. Finland (1918-1938). Literaturovedcheskiy Zhurnal, 20, pp. 271-319. (In Russ.)
4. Granin, D. (2010). Reminiscences. In: M. Kornakova, I. Vadimova, A. Baeva, eds., Komarovo – Kellomäki. Articles and reminiscences. Revised and extended 2nd ed. St. Petersburg: Relikviya, pp. 239-252. (In Russ.)
5. Likhachev, D. (1995). Reminiscences. St. Petersburg: Logos. (In Russ.)
6. Lotman, Y. (2002). The symbolism of St. Petersburg and problems of the city semiotics. In: Y. Lotman, History and typology of Russian culture. St. Petersburg: Iskusstvo, pp. 208-220. (In Russ.)
7. Lotman, Y. (2010). Semiosphere. St. Petersburg: Iskusstvo. (In Russ.)
8. Prokopov, T. (2000). Annotation. In: T. Prokopov, ed., The collected works of B. Zaytsev (5 vols). Vol. 7 (suppl.). Moscow: Russkaya kniga, pp. 469-516. (In Russ.)
9. Snegovaya, I. (2010). ‘A little capital’. In: M. Kornakova, I. Vadimova, A. Baeva, eds., Komarovo – Kellomäki. Articles and reminiscences. Revised and extended 2nd ed. St. Petersburg: Relikviya, pp. 79-120. (In Russ.)
10. Toporov, V. (2003). The Petersburg text in Russian literature. Selected works. St. Petersburg: Iskusstvo. (In Russ.)
11. Tynyanov, Y. (1977). On literary evolution. In: Y. Tynyanov, Poetics. History of literature. Cinema. Moscow: Nauka, pp. 270-281. (In Russ.)
12. Zaytsev, B. (1990). About myself. In: B. Zaytsev, A distant land [Dalniy kray]. Мoscow: Sovremennik, pp. 25-30. (In Russ.)
13. Zaytsev, B. (1999a). Leonid Andreev. In: T. Prokopov, ed., The collected works of B. Zaytsev (5 vols). Vol. 6 (suppl.). Moscow: Russkaya kniga, pp. 24-32. (In Russ.)
14. Zaytsev, B. (1999b). The other Vera [Drugaya Vera]. In: T. Prokopov, ed., The collected works of B. Zaytsev (5 vols). Vol. 6 (suppl.). Moscow: Russkaya kniga, pp. 393-468. (In Russ.)
15. Zaytsev, B. (2001). Letters of 1923-1971. In: T. Prokopov, ed., The collected works of B. Zaytsev (5 vols). Vol. 11 (suppl.). Moscow: Russkaya kniga. (In Russ.)
16. Zaytsev, B. (2018a). <Close to the longed-for homeland>. In B. Zaytsev, The light of the eternal [Otbleski vechnogo]. St. Petersburg: Rostok, pp. 215-216. (In Russ.)
17. Zaytsev, B. (2018b). Days [Dni] <Kellomäki. Kiryola. Helsingfors>. In: B. Zaytsev, The light of the eternal [Otbleski vechnogo]. St. Petersburg: Rostok, pp. 225-230. (In Russ.)
18. Zaytseva-Sollogub, N. (1999). I remember... In: T. Prokopov, ed., The collected works of B. Zaytsev (5 vols). Vol. 4. Moscow: Russkaya kniga, pp. 3-21. (In Russ).
Review
For citations:
Uralsky M.L. On the border with Russia. Reminiscences of Boris Zaytsev’s trip to Finland. Voprosy literatury. 2019;(6):221-244. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31425/0042-8795-2019-6-221-244
Views:
403
Email this article 
