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The Autobiographical Writings in Overseas Russian Literature in the Twentieth Century

Abstract: A great many autobiographical writings emerged in overseas Russian literature in the twentieth century. The “first wave” is most prominent for achievements in autobiographical narratives, such as the autobiographical novels by Ivan Bunin and Ivan Shemelyev, the autobiographical prose by Marina Tsvetaeva the poet, and “ideological autobiography” by Nikolai Berdyaev the philosopher. These autobiographical writings are renowned for their truth in contents, frankness in narrative style and sincerity in the author’s emotions, so they are listed among the most valuable and characteristic of overseas Russian literature. 


Key words: overseas Russian literature; autobiographical writings; the “first wave”


Wang Jie-zhi is Professor of World Literature in College of Humanities at Nanjing Normal University. His research interest includes Russian literature and relationship between Chinese and Western literature. His most recent publications include A History of Criticism on Modern Russian Literature (2015), “Boris Pasternak’s Poetics and His Novels” (2015), and General Preface to the new edition of the twenty-volume Maxim Gorky’s Selected Works (2015). Email: wangjiezhi2012@163.com