Аннотация: Gorky and Andreyeva, Stalin and Alliluyeva. Some reflections in connection with the novel "The Only one woman."
Gorky and Andreyeva, Stalin and Alliluyeva. Some reflections in connection with the novel "The Only one woman."
1. The theme of the novel "The Only one woman".
The novel "The Only one woman" is dedicated to the relationship of Joseph Stalin (1878 (1879) - 1953) with Nadezhda Alliluyeva (1901-1932).
Electronic libraries indicate the author - Yuri Trifonov (the year of writing the novel is not reported).
On the website of the publishing house "AST" ["ACT"] in the series ""Idols. The Story of Great Love ' ['Кумиры. История Великой любви'] is a book cover. The book cover shows the author: Olga Romanovna Trifonova [Ольга Романовна Трифонова], book title: The Only one woman. Wife of Stalin [Единственная. Жена Сталина]. One of the sites shows the year of publication: 2009.
On March 11, 2004, 'Экспресс газета' published an interview between Boris Kudryavov and Olga Trifonova. The interview is dedicated to the completion by Olga Trifonova of the book "The Only one woman".
2. A negative semantic accents of the novel.
The novel is dominated by negative semantic accents when describing Stalin's personality: a rudeness, a cruelty, an insensitivity, a soreness, a physical impure ...
3. A positive semantic accents of the novel.
There is a weak mention of Stalin 's love of reading (shelves for books were needed, "he likes to read" in general, and liked to read Chekhov aloud, in particular), of his work in the leadership position in the editorial office of the newspaper, of his ability to play flute...
4. What 's not seen in the novel.
With attention to the huge disasters that have covered the population of Russia, there seems to be no mention of the positive cultural, educational, economic programs started under Stalin. There are minor references in connection with notes about a disasters, a difficulties...
There is no 'corruption theme', no references to trade in influence (a state power in exchange for money).
5. Lenin, the "old Bolsheviks" and Stalin.
Lenin and the "old Bolsheviks" could not boast of any economic achievements. The idea of a 'world revolution' did not work. The concept of "the war communism" did not produce a positive result. It was necessary to announce the "New Economic Policy." In this situation, the change in the political elite was quite natural and explainable.
6. Nadezhda Alliluyeva and the "old Bolsheviks."
In the novel, the origin of Nadezhda Alliluyeva from an intelligent family of 'old Bolsheviks' is constantly mentioned. The participation of the Alliluyev family in historical revolutionary events is emphasized.
7. Maxim Gorky, Ekaterina Peshkova and Maria Andreyeva.
The lawful wife of Alexei Maksimovich Peshkov (Maxim Gorky) (1868 - 1936) was (and remained) Yekaterina Peshkova (Volzhina) [Екатерина Пешкова (Волжина)] (1876 - 1965).
In the early 1900s, Maxim Gorky had a relationship with Maria Andreyeva. This relationship took the form of a marriage, - facto, but not de jure.
Here we can mention Maria Budberg, with whom Gorky also developed close relations (after the relations with Maria Andreyeva).
The higher the star of Gorky ascended, the more problems arose before him.
The main life problems of Maxim Gorky included a forced emigration and a maintaining health. In exile, one of the most important tasks was to establish, to organaize a full-fledged creative and social life.
In this situation, the actual marriage of Maxim Gorky with Maria Andreyeva was the basis of their normal life, and maybe the condition of their physical survival.
Gorky's relationship with his lawful wife, Ekaterina Peshkova (Volzhina), maintained up to the possible extent. Her position in Russia (USSR) was maintained at a high level due to the preservation of the official marriage with Gorky.
Maria Andreyeva, and then Maria (Moura) Budberg, created Gorky's inner circle, an atmosphere and an environment, in which he could comfortably to exist and to effectively creatively work - both in exile and in Russia.
In this environment, a cultural figures and politicians were approaching, were visiting - a well-known and a little-known people, who could be of interest to Gorky and to his activities. In exile, Gorky lived comfortably and freely, in a sense - a style of a "wide court."
The topics of everyday life, relations with the authorities (during the emigration), with doctors, with an official sphere, with a foreign environment were decided in an automatic or semi-automatic mode. Any notable problems (from the memoirs about Gorky) - they are not coming to memory.
The famous actress Maria Andreyeva, and the representative of the aristocracy and the highest imperial bureaucracy Baroness Maria Budberg, knew how to pose, to put themselves. About their falling under the influence of a someone else - for example, girlfriends - of noticeable memories not remained.
A little even strange is the question of the presence of girlfriends at Andreyeva or Budberg, and about the "female frankness" of Andreyeva or Budberg with " girlfriends." Not of such a level and of a psychological warehouse were Andreyeva and Budberg.
8. The family of the Alliluyevs and Stalin.
The novel "The Only one woman" may prompt the question: what did Stalin and his relatives (both those who was from the side of his wife and the others relatives) talk about when they gathered together?
It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question ... Probably, there were memories, discussions of personal and domestic problems ...
What could be of interest to Stalin, as a former revolutionary who spent considerable periods of time underground and in exile, a man who became the leader of a huge state with a thousand-year history?
Suppose he was interested in journalism, literature, the history of diplomacy, the history of foreign policy ...
It is a little strange to assume that Stalin, in the circle of his relatives, would discuss the Tilsit Peace Treaty of 1807, the Tianjin Treaty of 1858, the Beijing Treaty of 1860 or a topic of a similar level.
Probably this was not required. Although, if the 'inner circle' attracted people, who were capable of discussing such a topics (or the themes of a culture, education, economic development), into Stalin's personal communication environment, he probably would not mind.
From the novel "The Only one woman" it seems that the themes of household, personal, a memories of the revolutionary past dominated...
The actual failure, the bankruptcy of the "old Bolsheviks" in a domestic and foreign policy, the renewal of the political elite, made the theme of the "revolutionary past" more and more disharmonious in the family environment of Stalin.
The relationship between Nadezhda Alliluyeva and Joseph Stalin had every chance to persist until those times when the achievements of the USSR would become an obvious. A new historical situation, with victories and achievements, could create a new context for a personal, family relations.
Perhaps, for the young woman Nadezhda Alliluyeva, the dependence on the influence of 'girlfriends' and 'friends' led not to the best results.
A unique contribution to Stalin's personal life was the gift of a small pistol to Nadezhda Alliluyeva from side of her brother Pavel ...
No matter were the relationship between Nadezhda Alliluyeva and Joseph Stalin much tensed, the divorce, it seems, was not a real perspective.
9. A summation.
The novel 'The Only one woman', for obvious reasons (Yuri Trifonov's mother and father were repressed), tends to emphasize the negative characteristics of as Stalin himself and so his relationship with Nadezhda Alliluyeva.
The novel has many interesting historical details, historical and psychological hypotheses, versions ...
This literary work may to direct, to orient a reader to carry out a more or less independent mental reconstruction of the relations of Joseph Stalin with his circle of relatives.
March 7, 2020 10:53
Translation from Russian into English: March 7, 2020 21:38.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Горький и Андреева, Сталин и Аллилуева. Некоторые размышления в связи с романом 'Единственная''.