The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-05-26
published in "Pravda'' March %,
1929

1929
Sorrento, January 20, 1928.
My Dear Friend:
l have read the Letter of the Rus
sian Writer'S Living in Russia" l
doubt very much whether the letter
was actually written by Russian writ
ers. These could not possibly have
said that the Classics are forbidden
in Russia" Only recently the State
Publishing House issued a splendid
edition of all of Dostoevsky's works,
including even his counter-revolution-
airy Demons; as we'll as the whole
of Pushkin and Gogol. They are pre-
pairing for publication the works Of
Turgeniev, as well as a complete edi-
ton of Tolstoy's works in ninety
volumes edited by Tolstoy's friend,
Chertkov). Today there are published
in the Soviet Union the selected
works of Bunin himself, as well as Of
Kuprin and Shmeliev. Nor have they
forgotten old writer's like Mamin-
Sibiriak and Garin- Michaelovsky.
From the reports of the public Ii
braries, where Tolstoy and Dostoev-
sky occupy leading places, the Rus
sian writers know very well that the
classics are not forbidden in Russia.
Every year young Russian writers
visit me. How could they be "dy-
ing of hunger" and yet take distant
journeys abroad? 1t seems to me l
have the honor of enjoying the full
confidence of these writer's. In in
innate conversations with them
have asked them: What group of
Russian writer's could have made such
charges against the Soviet Govern
ment? For reply l received only
skeptical shrug of the shoulders.
You say you have been informed
that Russia has no literature. What
a strange statement! l am astonished
at the tremendous fertility of the
new Russian literature, of the new
writers, of whom there are hundreds
and whose number is increasing. This
confirms my deep faith in the crea-
tive powers of my Russian people.
The Russian people are beginning to
acquire self-consciousness, are begin
ming to understand it's right to the
free development of it's creative pow
ers in all walks Of life.
This year alone has brought US sew
eral talented writer's from whom one
can expect good work. These are:
Fadeyev, who has written novel
called Destruction; Leonid Borisov,
Nina Smidovna, and the poet N.
Tichonov, who has written fine
book. I could also mention a long
list of important new Russian writ
ers. There are, for example, Leonid
Leonov, Babel, Vsevolod Ivanov (who
at present edits the magazine "Krass-
NY Now" although he is not a Com
munist). All of these have made
niche for themselves; as have also
Constantine Fedin, Vladimir Lidin,
Boris Pilniak, Serge Semenov "a
worker gifted with an original tai
ent and influenced by Knute Ham
SUM; Zoschenko, who wastes himself
on short stories, but none the less has
talent; there is no doubt that he is
gradually progressing from humor to
satire. Then there is also Kataev, the
author of "Wastrels," who writes in
the Gogol manner; and the rapid
growth of Jakolev and Kaverine; and
SO on and so forth.
1t is not necessary to list all those
who deserve not only to be mentioned
but also to be praised. Of non-revo-
lutionary writers l could mention
whole list: Sergeev, Tsunski, Michael
Prishwin, Constantine Treniov, Nika-
drov, Veresaiev, Ivan Volgov, Olga
Forsh, Alexi Chapigin (who recently
published his splendid novel "Stenka
Rainy the poet Serge Klichkov (who
writes much and well); Alexi Tolstoy
(who works sincerely and remains
marvellous story teller) and Ivan Nov
ikov (who has just issued a volume
of stories).
In my opinion there are now at
the head of Russian literature two
extraordinary artists: Serge Tsenski
and Michael Prishwin. The latter has
sent you his novel, "The Pursuit of
Happiness" Undoubtedly l have
omitted to mention many other tai
ented authors. l have not had
chance to read everything, and be-
sides | do not wish to burden you
with list of all the writer's. l have
also omitted mentioning the poets,
among whom there are many we'll
known talents like Pasternak, Itch
onov, Asseyev, Szharov, KAHN, Sell
vinski, Oreshin, and others. =