I. Bunin and K. Simonov: Paris Meetings

Abstract

The article presents a chronicle of personal meetings between I.A. Bunin and K.M. Simonov in Paris in the summer of 1946. K. Simonov was sent by the Soviet government to France in order to influence the decision of some Russian emigrants to return to Russia. The first number in this short list, of course, was I.A. Bunin. The beginning of the return of emigrants was the Decree of the USSR Supreme Council for the restoration of citizenship of the USSR citizens of the former Russian Empire, released in June 1946, Many Russian immigrants want to come back, started to issue a Soviet passport. I.A. Bunin at first hesitated, he really wanted to return to his homeland, but at the same time he perfectly understood the whole situation that had developed there. It was precisely to “push” the first Russian Nobel laureate to return to Russia that K.M. Simonov arrived in Paris. However, his mission, in the end, was not crowned with success, I.A. Bunin remained in exile with a Nansen passport.

Keywords

• ivan bunin
• k.m. simonov
• valentina serova
• russian emigration
• paris