Books of Short Stories by Andrei Platonov, 1935–1940 (Based on Materials from Archival Collections)

This article examines the history of the preparation for the publication of several books of short stories by A. Platonov in the mid–2nd half of the 1930s. The research is based on the study of preserved typescripts of Platonov’s works of the 1930s, currently belonging to the writer’s personal funds in various archives. We pay special attention to the preliminary versions of the contents of the book, which was eventually implemented under the name “Potudan River” (1937). The analysis reveals the writer’s firm intention to publish in this book, in addition to short stories, the play “The Postman.” The article also presents a preserved fragment of the layout of the book “Stories,” which was fully prepared for publication in the spring of 1940 at the State Publishing House of Fiction (the publication did not take place). The article notes the support of the writer from the editorial board of the Literary Critic journal and, in particular, the role of E.F. Usievich as the editor of Platonov’s books. Most of the typewritten sources of Platonov’s stories from the 1930s have been lost.