The "Moscow Diary" of Walter Benjamin: a German philosopher in Russia

Review of: Benjamin W. Moskauer Tagebuch / transl. S. Romashko. Third edition. Moskow : Ad Marginem Press, 2023. 328 p. : il. ISBN 978-5-91103-677-5. The review of the 2023 edition of the Moscow Diary provides a brief description of Walter Benjamin’s travel notes, which became the basis for several essays written by the philosopher for German magazines. These essays are given in the book in the Appendices section. The review highlights the main storylines of the diary, the traveler’s area of interest, and the clusters of urban daily life outlined by the philosopher during his trip. The reviewer notes a wide range of topics covered in the book: museums, theater, cinema, holidays, New Year’s souvenirs, folk crafts and toys, the lives of ordinary Muscovites and representatives of creative circles. The diary is characterized by the fixation of deep individual experiences and, at the same time, the analysis of scientific research in the field of culture. The love theme of the diary is organically intertwined with the search for artistic expression, and art is intertwined with the intensity of the political struggle. The peer-reviewed publication is of interest to specialists studying the history of Soviet culture and, it is possible that it may become the first work with which students and postgraduates of St. Petersburg State University will begin to get acquainted with the legacy of Walter Benjamin.