“The Surgeon” by M. Stepnova and “Petrushka Syndrome” by D. Rubina as contemporary examples of “creation novel”

INTRODUCTION . The purpose of the research is to identify main features that characterize contemporary works about creators, on the basis of M. Stepnova’s novel “The Surgeon” and D. Rubina’s “Petrushka’s Syndrome”. This comparison is substantiated by the presence of an extraordinary artist-creator as the main character, the similarity of the plot and image system, ideological and artistic affinity. MATERIALS AND METHODS . The research uses the method of descriptive poetics, comparative-historical and mythopoetic methods. The works of Russian and foreign literature devoted to the history of the formation of a creative person and the embodiment of original ideas by him/her are used as contextual material. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . The leading features of the novels main characters are defined, the conceptual principles of depicting their destinies and the paradoxical nature of the creative projects they undertake are outlined. The ways of transforming traditional plot-figurative lines of the “creation novel” are revealed, including in relation to the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea. The techniques for creating female images and the principles for forming the love storyline of works have been clarified. The role of the temporal organization of the novels, the detective component, mystical details, musicality and color painting is noted. CONCLUSION . The practical significance of the conducted research lies in the possibility of using its results during studying modern Russian literature in universities. The prospects of the research are connected with further clarification of the genre specificity of the mentioned novels, establishment of typological connections with other works of world literature created within the framework of the “creation novel”, definition of the leading principles of the creative method of the authors.