How the “sun over a gloomy country” was lit (A.M. Gorky at the head of the Pushkin Сommittee)

Abstract

In the article, based on unknown documents from the Archive of A.M. Gorky IMLI RAS, and the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History, the little-studied part of A.M. Gorky’s work on the preparation of the 100th anniversary of the death of A.S. Pushkin is investigated. The All-Union Pushkin Committee, created by the initiative of Gorky in 1934, played the important role in this event. Gorky’s activities as the head of the Pushkin Committee covered four areas: the publication of books, the installation of monuments to the poet, the restoration of estates and apartments associated with Pushkin’s stay, and finally, the organization of the Pushkin exhibition. Particular attention is paid to the publishing activities of the Pushkin Committee. With the direct participation of Gorky, three collected works of Pushkin were prepared (at the Academia publishing house and at the Pushkin House). The interference of party officials in the work of the Pushkin Committee, as well as excessive bureaucratization in decision-making, led to the contradictory and spasmodic nature of its work: decisions were revised, the membership of the Committee changed, periods of inactivity were replaced by periods of vigorous activity. The problems of bureaucratic delays and tough administration in the decisions of the country’s leadership regarding the Pushkin Memorial Days are illuminated.