From the Correspondence of Shalom Aleichem and A.V. Amfiteatrov (on the Problem of the Russian- Jewish Literary Dialogue)

This publication of letters of Shalom Aleichem and A.V. Amfiteatrov — part of extensive epistolary corpus — dates back to the period of 1909–1912. The writer’s dialogue, which began with a discussion of literary and publishing topics, grows into an extensive correspondence taking place against the background of different cultural and historical events of the pre-revolutionary era. The letters selected for this publication examine the history of publication of Shalom Aleichem’s novel Wandering Stars in the magazine Sovremennik. The volume of correspondence covers the history of Sovremennik from the time when it was founded to the time when Amfiteatrov left the magazine. Fragments of parallel correspondence between Amfiteatrov and A.M. Gorky supplement the study with the facts of Gorky’s contribution to Sovremennik. The circumstances of Amfiteatrov’s trip to Capri are being clarified; in a letter written upon his return, Amfiteatrov shares the content of the conversation with Gorky about the publication of Shalom Aleichem’s works. Letters from A.V. Amfiteatrov to Shalom Aleichem are published in accordance with the manuscripts kept at the Beit Shalom Aleichem (Tel Aviv, Israel); letters from Shalom Aleichem to Amfiteatrov are based on the manuscripts kept at the Amfiteatrov Collection (Indiana University, USA).