On the biography of Vladimir Gippius

The paper provides archival and little-known materials that extendthe information on the early period of Vladimir Gippius’ biography. In letters to hisacquaintance, Matilda Menzel, he shares his thoughts on A.M. Dobrolyubov, onhis first book, talks about studying at the university. In addition to personal letters,documents concerning Gippius’ service in the Department of Spiritual Affairs anduniversity period are introduced into scientific circulation, facts about his first marriageare reported. The information presented in the paper is also important because Gippiusplaced all the facts of his personal biography in the broad perspective of RussianDecadence and Symbolism, creating his own autobiographical myth, which wasdetermined by the following main stages: overcoming Decadence, then returning todecadence, the path from unbelief to faith, from “reaction” to “revolution”. Materialsof Gippius’ personal fund in the Pushkin House, as well as to his service documents(RGIA) allow to clarify, correct and supplement the known facts of his biography.They also partly shed light on the internal plot of this biographical canvas — relationswith A.M. Dobrolyubov, Gippius' departure from Decadence, which occurred largelyunder the influence of the Merezhkovskys.