“It seems as if I got to Saratov...”: S. L. Frank in the letters to his wife from Latvia in 1928

Introduction. Eight letters of 1928, related to the philosopher’s lecture tour in the Baltics – in Riga and Dvinsk (now Daugavpils) – are published from the rich epistolary collection of Semyon Ludvigovich Frank, addressed to his wife Tatyana Sergeevna Frank (nee Bartseva, 1886–1984). Theoretical analysis allows us to conclude that these letters reflect the everyday life of the first wave of Russian emigration in comparison with the previous pre-revolutionary way of life: meetings with compatriots in the new Baltic state, religious ideas, problems of Russian and European culture, “spiritual healing”. Particular attention is paid to a theatrical event: the production of Mikhail Bulgakov’s play in Riga becomes an important symbol of the cultural connection between the past and the present. Conclusion. Frank shares his impressions of life in independent Latvia, comparing it with pre-revolutionary Russia and Saratov. It was at the Riga Theatre of Russian Drama that Mikhail Bulgakov’s play “The Turbin Brothers” was staged, which aroused the philosopher’s admiration. His memory went back to Saratov and the Volga province, which he had left behind forever during the Civil War. Personal experiences, lecturing activities, social circle, family concerns, and everyday difficulties create a holistic image of the author of letters, who is reflecting on the spiritual tasks of modern times.