L’émigration, une ouverture intellectuelle : Hélène Iswolsky et la « force des faibles »

Abstract

After the revolutions of 1917 , Helen Iswolsky (1896 – 1975 ), the daughter of the Russian ambassador in Paris , became an émigré . Searching for the means of survival , she used her knowledge of languages to work as a journalist and writer presenting Russia ’ s history and presence to the western audience in her articles and novels . Sensitive to political problems and social issues , she joined western intellectuals (e . g . Jacques and Raisa Maritain , Dorothy Day ) and other émigrés (Nicolas Berdiaev ) in the reflection on the historical events and in the search for responsible attitudes to the situation at that time . Entering the Catholic Church in 1923 , she became strongly involved in the promotion of ecumenical dialogs . Intellectual as well as religious aspects of Iswolsky ’ s work are closely connected with her initial situation of “ weakness ” – i . e . with her experience of exile . The latter is , however , transformed in “ strength ” in Iswolsky ’ s capacity to “ cross the borders ” between the Orthodox and Catholics , between Russian and western intellectuals , and also between the rich and poor.