The history of I.A. Bunin’s short story “New Year” (1901) - from early publications to the Complete Works (1915): biographical aspect

The study presents an analysis of the specifics of the edits of I.A. Bunin's work “New Year” (1901) based on a comparison of eight versions of this story. The author provides information about the first publication of the story, emphasizing the role of abbreviations of individual fragments of the text in the preparation of later versions, as well as the connection of these abbreviations with the chronology of the writer's life. The emphasis is placed on specific changes in the Bunin text - from the first publication in “Russkaya Mysl” (1902) to the last lifetime publication in the Complete Works (Izd. T-va A.F. Marks Publ., 1915). Edits in various publications concerned both stylistics and content elements. The researcher focuses on the change in the relationship between the characters of the “New Year” Kostya and Olya, in the later versions the characters are clearly at odds, show less empathy, openness and trust. This separation of the spouses is connected with the final breakup of Bunin with his first wife A.N. Tsakni (similar in character to the heroine of the story) and the beginning of his relationship with V.N. Muromtseva in 1906. The very consideration of the story from such positions seems relevant, given the important role autobiographies played in Bunin's writings.