M. Gorky's Magazine “Literary Studies” as a School for Beginning Authors (1930–1931)

The article examines the history of the journal “Literary Studies” in the period from 1930 to 1931: this is the stage of formation of a periodical aimed at novice writers. In the process of creating the magazine, Gorky proved himself to be an educator and mentor of Soviet literature personnel. Working with novice/young authors was a matter of national importance for the writer. In 1929, the leaders of the LAPP turned to the writer for help, asking him to support their initiative to publish a magazine to help young writers. Gorky not only supported, but also responded with the article “The working class must educate its masters of culture”. In the summer of 1929, Leningrad writers A. Kamegulov, Y. Libedinsky and others began organizational work on the creation of the magazine. Gorky at the initial stage vigorously supported the initiative of the youth. After solving organizational and other issues, the writer headed the editorial board of the magazine and remained in office until 1936. Gorky participated in the journal not only as an organizer, but also as an author of articles, a reviewer of works by novice authors. In March 1930 The first issue of the journal “Literary Studies: A magazine for self-education edited by Gorky” has been published. This period in the history of the periodical was characterized not only by the search for one's own face, but also by the selection of authors who can convey to their readers in an accessible form the necessary provisions and principles of literary work. The magazine was not spared the literary and political struggles of 1930. Disputes arose in the editorial board between representatives of Litfront and RAPP, which affected the situation in the editorial office and the work of the magazine. The result was the reorganization of the magazine initiated by Gorky. For the first time, the article publishes archival documents from the Archive of A.M. Gorky (Moscow, IMLI RAS), revealing individual episodes of the history of the journal. The thematic richness revealed during the work on the article helped to establish the assumption that the study of the history of Gorky's organizational projects is one of the most important strategic tasks in the study of the literary process of the twentieth century.