Studies on Alexey Remizov’s creative biography: “La vie”, or living “miraculously”. Paris, 1924–1925

Abstract

The article deals with determination of new facts and refinement of already known information on the Parisian period of Alexey Remizov’s life. Based on archival materials, the article restores details of the writer's personal biography (including his addresses in Paris), literary connections (according to the visiting and memorial lists compiled by the writer), his reputation in émigré circles (including difficult relations with the Merezhkovskys and Ivan Bunin, support from Nikolay Roerich and Lev Shestov, creative communication with Sergey Sharshun and Sergey Romov). Unpublished archival sources are introduced into scientific circulation: correspondence, diary entries, other ego-documents, as well as materials from the émigré press. Particular attention is drawn to Remizov’s special attitude to the scandalous publication of S.R. Mintslov's etude “The Secret” (1925), which also expressed his estrangement from the émigré community, whose mood was largely determined by Zinaida Gippius. The article also deals with the role of Dmitry Svyatopolk-Mirsky in Remizov’s Parisian life and creative projects, thanks to which, on author’s opinion, the theme of Russian national self-identification was actualized in the Remizovs’ life.

Keywords

• emigration
• russia abroad
• paris
• alexey remizov
• serafima remizova-dovgello
• zinaida gippius
• dmitry merezhkovsky
• nikolay roerich
• lev shestov
• sergey sharshun