“I Saw All THis...” I. Babel in the Newspaper Novaya Zhizn’

Abstract

From 9th March till 2nd July 1918, the Petrograd newspaper Novaya Zhizn’, edited by M. Gorky, published 17 essays by I. Babel, testifying to the young writer’s real immersion in the revolutionary reality. In these essays, there is already that outwardly dispassionate, somewhat detached manner of narration, which is inherent in Babel’s later works. However, he does not describe what is happening with an indifferent tone. The events depicted do not speak in favor of the new Bolshevik government. At the same time, these essays form the humanistic position of the future author of “Red Cavalry”. Babel will always remain true to the belief in the eternal continuity of life and the victory of good principles.