Аннотация: The Story about creation of a writer's image
The Story about creation of a writer's image
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov has come into Gorky's cafe-library.
Chekhov and Gorky with pleasure looked at each other, greeted and smiled.
They were surrounded by readers of library.
- Tell about creation of a writer's image! - the someone's request was heard.
- In our biographies you will find a similar life circumstances - Gorky said. - For example, Anton Pavlovich and I were ill with pulmonary diseases. We both worked in newspapers, writing materials for periodicals. Both we had a difficult financial situation for a long time. Both have developed a close personal relationship with famous actresses. In our biographies you will find a long trips to Russia.
- Let's not touch upon the issue of "talent" - Chekhov suggested.
Gorky nodded in agreement.
- Some basic biographical circumstances are a result of actions of Destiny, - Gorky continued.
Chekhov nodded in agreement.
- I had no reasons to complain of Suvorin. Aleksei Sergeyevich Suvorin is a son of the "one-house-owner", of the participant of the Borodino battle, which has served up to the rank of shtabs-captain and who has received the hereditary nobility. Aleksei Suvorin became the rich person. He was besides also the cultural figure and had tendencies of the patron. You know about his reputation. In his reputation there are considerable components recognized as doubtful. You know, maybe, and about so-called public, non-state "court" which considered some aspects of activity of Suvorin. Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko took part in this "court". The result of public "judicial review" was not favorable for Suvorin.
- Anton Pavlovich after the inspiring letter to him of the recognized writer Dmitry Vasilyevich Grigorovich long and gradually went to literary popularity. On this way to literary glory he a long time has been economically interconnected with Suvorin.
- The economic relations with Suvorin have given me a certain point of an economic support. In his maintaining there were periodicals, publishing house, bookstores - network of distribution of printed materials. My works were publishing. My books were published and on sale. I had almost guaranteed income - several honeycombs of rubles a month. Plus the fees from sale of circulations of my books. But almost constant debts, my balancing on the verge between economic wellbeing and falling into poverty, almost constant feeling of financial trouble were added to it.
- It was the difficult, long way to success combined with constant need of volume literary labor and gradual weighting of a pulmonary disease, - Gorky noted.
- Alexei Maximovich's way to a literary popularity was difficult, very difficult. But pay attention to the sudden launch of the rocket "Gorky", an exit of this rocket to a literary orbit. Those fans of literature who direct their attention to start, to the beginning of literary activity of Gorky, but has no opportunity to penetrate into details, finds a surname of Korolenko on start.
- Neither Kalyuzhny, nor Tsvetnitsky wouldn't prepare the spaceport for launch of missile "Gorky" and wouldn't fuel this rocket, they wouldn't make a "basis" for my literary reputation. Prospect of long-term, heavy, a little remunerative work in any provincial newspaper? How many years I would sustain in such mode? Also whether I would achieve for any popularity? Quite another matter - Korolenko.
Korolenko, as far as I know, was not in charge of any publishing house, or media, or bookstores (distribution network of printed products). But he was "affiliated" with a powerful a social layer of a media. Having the opportunity to "base" on the brand "Korolenko", I suddenly came out on the all-Russian, - and then on the world-level, - literary orbit. Relatively suddenly came fame and very, very big money. Later it was necessary to make a rebranding: the surname "Korolenko" was replaced by the word combination "Russian Revolution". From"student","colleague" of Korolenko I turned into a writer and figure of the"Russian Revolution". And the considerable money received through the general background support of a social layer of a media, were gradually replaced with very noticeable budget money from new - revolutionary - the state, - Gorky explained.
- But Korolenko did not immediately "recognized" Alexei Maksimovich. Korolenko was in no hurry. Alexei Maksimovich had to travel around Russia and publish his work "Makar Chudra" in the pro-government newspaper "Kavkaz"in Tiflis. It was Alexander Kalyuzhny and Vladimir Tsvetnitsky, ordinary cultural people, benefactors (both, perhaps, from Malorossiya) who provided initial support in Tiflis to the talented, but not recognized, traveler Alexei Peshkov (Maxim Gorky). Business began to move. Suddenly it became clear that there is such a rocket "Gorky". What if this rocket will fly? Korolenko changed his attitude to the creativity of Gorky, - recalled Chekhov.
- It was necessary to me to show patience and persistence on a long way to mutual understanding with Korolenko, - Gorky explained.
- A suddenness and a strength, - perhaps these words describe the literary fame of Gorky, - said Chekhov.
- A gradualness and a harmony, - might be, these concepts describe the difficult process of recognition of Chekhov's talent in the Russian society, - Gorky expressed.
- At some point, Gorky became an independent figure, playing on several boards at the same time. Similarly it is possible to see that at some point a "distance" between me and Suvorin increased, - Chekhov added. - Drama, plays began to take more and more place in my work. In economic terms, the revenues from the productions of my drama, plays in theaters have become increasingly noticeable.
- Unfortunately, Anton Pavlovich's health was weakening, - Gorky stated.
- Alexey Maksimovich moved to Italy for a long period of time. The climate of Italy had a positive influence on the pulmonary disease,- Chekhov added.
- Gradually the names "Gorky" and "Chekhov" became the property of eternity - someone of the readers spoken.
Chekhov and Gorky smiled. "Our meeting turned out to be a meeting with readers!"
Chekhov said goodbye to Gorky and to readers and left the library.
Readers lined up for books.
The reader, who stood first in line, turned to Gorky:
- Please give me a collection of Chekhov's works.
Gorky smiled and looked at the reader and gave him a book by Chekhov.
The reader for some reason was confused, has felt himself a little awkwardly.
November 1, 2018 11:09
Translation from Russian into English: November 1, 2018 12:58.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Рассказ о построении литературного имиджа'.