Letters of E.V. Bakunina to N.N. Evreinov (1931–1934). History of a “Minor” Woman Writer

Abstract

The letters of émigré woman writer Ekaterina Bakunia (1889 –1976) to the dramatist, director and theater historian Nikolai Evreinov (1879 –1953) are published for the first time. These documents are of great value: these letters encourage us to plunge into creative laboratory of Bakunina (her collection of poems entitled “Poems,” two novels — “The Body” and “Some love for six persons”), to discover her doubts and fears (description of human body and physical love in literature) as well as some details about literary émigré life. The correspondence with Evreinov enlightens its readers about a marginal status of the authors, especially women writers, who dare to raise prohibited questions. “Minor” women writers were systematically under pressure of literary canon and cultural rhythm of the epoch and therefore they were forced to characterize their texts as quickly and badly written and “minor.” The publication includes a very short introduction, the correspondence with comments and a list of references.

Keywords

• ekaterina bakunina
• nikolai evreinov
• emigration
• women’s literature
• body
• prohibition
• minor