К истории взаимоотношений А.А. Измайлова и В.Я. Брюсова (По материалам переписки 1909–1917 гг.)

Around history of the relationship of A. Izmajlov and V. Brjusov (Based on materials of their correspondence 1909–1917)

The present study is devoted to the relationship between A. Izmajlov and V. Brjusov. This article is based on their correspondence (1909-1917) which was prepared for publication by researchers of the Institute of Russian Literature (Pushkinskij Dom) Russian Academy of Sciences. This correspondence reveals the important issues of Briusov’s creativity. This is his perception of his own works, the writers plans, etc. Some correspondence is devoted to Brjusov’s activity as an unofficial war correspondent of the newspaper «Russkie vedomosti» in «the theater of war». The poet mentions in his letters about his work on the anthology «Pojezija Armenii» like editor and translator, the preparation of his book «Sem cvetov radugi», his cooperation in the newspaper «Birzhevye vedomosti», etc. We used previously unpublished materials from the archives of St. Petersburg and Moscow. Izmailov is known as a gifted parodist of modernist literature. He reacted very negatively to the first experience of the emerging trends. Over time, his views on literary modernists products have undergone a certain evolution. In particular, it is traced in its relation to the work of Bryusov. Critic discovered the beauty of symbolism through progressive mood in 1907. But he did not fall into the blind worship of a new direction. This article provides an overview of critical reviews of the Bryusov’s poetry. It allows to correct the widespread belief about Izmailov as an irreconcilable opponent of modernist literature. A similar evolution occurred in Izmailov’s views on the work of the most prominent representatives of symbolism — V. Bryusov, A. Block, K. Balmont.