Russian Literature in Czech Periodicals of the 1920s (Magazine «Tvorba»)

The article, written as part of the work on the topic «Russian literature in the Czech periodical of the 1920s», is dedicated to one of the most influential periodicals of the left political wing, the cultural magazine «Tvorba» and shows the process of radicalization of left literary criticism by the end of the decade, when a work of art, regardless of the specifics of its poetics, served only as an instrument of propaganda. Founded in 1925 by F.Х. Šalda, the periodical was initially oriented towards left intellectuals; after J. Fučík took over the leadership, aiming to expand the readership at the expense of the working class and to seek for a special niche for the magazine among of numerous left-wing press, the attention of the editors from contemporary Russian literature was transferred, on the one hand, to other national literatures of the USSR, and on the other, to cinema, which was perceived as a more promising means of influencing the broad masses, while the artistic side of works ceased to be an object of interest in critical notes on literature. The magazine addressed Russian classics mainly in connection with theatrical productions (especially works by L.N. Tolstoy). In the first two years, the editors paid attention mainly to poetry (S.A. Yesenin, B.V. Klyuyev, not counting the only review article on Russian literature by J. Weil, «The Path of New Russian Prose», 1927), then exclusively to prose – in reviews of books in Czech translation (G.D. Venusa, K.A. Fedin, V.G. Lidina, F.V. Gladkova). Emigration figures were subjected to criticism – I.G. Erenburg, N.F. Melnikova-Papoušková.