Information about the author:
Vera N.Terekhina
Vera N.Terekhina, Director of Research,DSc in Philology, Leading Research Fellow, A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Povarskaya 25 a, 121069 Moscow, Russia.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8708-9914
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Abstract:
Biographical and creative communications between Gorky and Mayakovsky remain among the most important research topics almost hundred years. In the Soviet times, they mostly dealt with in the paradigm of “teacher — student”. Then it has been demanded by scandalous revelations. Objectively-scientific reflection on the theme of “Gorky and Mayakovsky” got in the works of L. Spiridonova [9; 10]. Nevertheless, it is a new storylines. The report puts forward the hypothesis that the prototype of the “suicide girl” from Mayakovsky script “How are you?” and Zoja Berezkina — heroine of “Bedbug” is Maria Ershova. Compares the story of Mayakovsky dating with Maria after her suicide «from love”, but survived in Rostov, and her correspondence with Gorky. To confirm the hypothesis are used A.M. Gorky Archive materials and Documentary Fund of V.V. Mayakovsky State Museum.
Keywords: Gorky, Mayakovsky, Ershova, letters, suicide girl, Zoja Berezkina, “Bedbug”.