“If it Seems Boring, then You Can Cut It.” On the History of the Publication of the Book “The Liberation of Tolstoy” by I. A. Bunin

Abstract

The paper deals with the post-war period of I.A. Bunin’s life. These were years of difficult financial situation and serious health problems for the writer, which also involved additional expenses. The author examines how the Nobel Laureate tried to publish translations of his book “The Liberation of Tolstoy.” The translations significantly expanded the market and brought writers more income than publications in publishing houses of the Russian abroad. With the help of his former secretary Andrey Sedykh, Bunin wanted to undertake an English edition of the book, but he didn’t succeed. The paper reveals some previously unknown details of the complicated relationship between Bunin and Sedykh (along with the Nobel Prize period), including mutual sympathies periods (at least on the part of the author of “The Life of Arsenyev”) as well as periods of disappointment. The article introduces archival materials, including previously unpublished sources, in particular a postcard sent by Bunin to Sedykh.

Keywords

• i.a. bunin
• a. sedykh
• russian emigration
• literary life
• publishing houses
• translations