Izvestiya of Saratov University.
ISSN 1817-7115 (Print)
ISSN 2541-898X (Online)


Literary criticism

F. M. Dostoyevsky in the Journal Zavety (1912–1914): Stating an issue

The article attempts to identify the key moments of F. Dostoevsky’s presence in the context of the literary and critical declarations of the journal Zavety, primarily, by its co-editors, V. Chernov, and especially by Ivanov-Razumnik. His attitude towards the writer as a “world genius”, “the apogee of ethical individualism”, expressed in a number of articles, should be considered programmatic for this journal. A. Dolinin’s critical reception and reviews in the bibliographic department are in line with this attitude.

American underground spirit: Dostoevsky’s Notes From Underground and the 20th century USA literature

F. Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground (1864) exerted a considerable influence on American literature since 1940s. The works by outstanding authors beginning with Saul Bellow (Dangling Man, 1944) or Jerome Salinger’s prose and up to Bret Easton Ellis (American Psycho, 1991), Percy Walker, David Foster Wallace, show a persistent fascination of American writers with the novella and are based on re-reading and re-interpreting Dostoevsky’s ideas, motives and imagery.

Literary and critical publications of Andrey Nemzer in newspaper and magazine periodicals: An attempt at comparison

The article presents a comparative analysis of the materials of the critic, philologist and literary historian Andrey Nemzer, published in political and social, as well as literary and art journals of the 1990s. Structural and content features and self-editing are brought under close scrutiny.

“Here out of the foam of my saliva purest…” A. Kruchenykh: Transformation of the myth about Venus Anadyomene

The article examines the transformation and functioning of the myth of Venus Anadyomene in the early lyrics by A. Kruchenykh in the context of the main trends of the futurism aesthetics and literary/painting studies on Venus-Aphrodite iconography of 1910-1925. The myth remains at the level of the plot basis as a relic; however, there is a shift of emphasis from the female ideal of beauty and cultural symbol to the male figure, usurping the power of creation.

Lafcadio Hearn and Russia

The article studies the reception of the Anglo-American writer Lafcadio Hearn in Russia. The author analyzes the literary influence of L. Hearn on K. Balmont and his individual mythology, reveals the connection with such Russian cultural figures as S. Eisenstein and P. Florensky. The essay “Living God” by L. Hearn is compared with its translation by K. Balmont. The use of color in works by L. Hearn is considered from the standpoint of Eisenstein’s sound and visual correspondences.

Fyodor Batyushkov and Ivan Bunin. An unknown autograph

In the Manuscripts and Rare Books Division of the Regional Scientific Library of Saratov State University, an early autograph of Ivan Bunin, which has not yet been introduced in scientific circulation, has been discovered. This is a signed copy of the translation of G. G. Byron’s Manfred published by the “Znanie” Partnership. It is known that Fyodor Batyushkov, holding the post of the editor-in-chief of the magazine Mir Bojiy (The World of God), wrote reviews of the works of authors nominated for the Pushkin Prize.

A Crimean page in the biography of Fet: Afanasy Fet and Xenophont Revelioti

The article deals with the study of the Crimean journey of A. A. Fet (September 25 – October 8, 1879). The introduction of unpublished materials (from the poet’s correspondence with X. Revelioti, A. Kazi, S. Argamakov, A. L. Brzheska, and M. K. Revelioti) into the scientific circulation allows us to clarify the chronology, circumstances, and content of the trip to the Crimea.

‘Remember till every birch’. Metaphor in the poetry of Gennady Kasmynin

In an article dedicated to the poetic heritage of G. G. Kasmynin, an attempt is made to determine the artistic and philosophical paradigm of metaphor in the poet’s creative method, the metaphorical picture of the world of his poetry is actualized, opposing the time of decay, the tragic consept of the historical frontire, when the author’s talent reached its peak.

Eidological complex “Dream of Clair” in prose by Gaito Gazdanov

This article first novel Gaito Gazdanov regarded as a software product, and his final words appear eydologicheskoy install ation implemented in subsequent nove ls. Romantic creativity is analyzed in the context of the prose of the writer. The eidological complex “Dream of Claire” is transformed into the teleology of the author’s metaromaniac cycle.

The commonality of the story of V. Kataev “Knives” and the Russian fairy tale

The article analyzes the similarity of the actions of the hero in the story “Knives” by V. P. Kataev and the character functions in Russian fairy tale. In order to establish the commonality of the story “Knives” and the Russian fairy tale, a comparison is made and the relationship between the actions of the hero of the story and the character functions in the fairy tale is determined by the monotony and compositional sequence.

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