The Perception of F.M. Dostoevsky’s “Demons” Novel in Soviet Culture of the 1930-ies.

Abstract

This is the fi rst one of the small seri4s of articles devoted to the history and peculiarities of the perception of the “Demons” novel by F.M. Dostoevsky in Soviet culture, ideology and literary criticism in the 1930s. The author assumes that in general the attitude towards Dostoevsky in those years was noticeably tougher in comparison t6o that in the 1920s. For the emerging Soviet culture in the 1930s Dostoevsky became more and more persona non grata. Both publishing of his works and the scientifi c research of his creative legacy were cut down. The ideological toughening was specifi cally directed against his most famous anti-revolutionary and anti-nihilistic novel - “Demons”. The author of the article especially focuses his attention on the famous attempt “Demons” mono edition by “Academia” publishing house, the total print run of which was withdrawn and destroyed after the pejorative campaign in the press