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Abstract:

The article examines in detail the role of M. Gorky in the activities of the “Academia” publishing house (1922–1937). We consider four periods of the publishing house’s activities and, first of all, the second and third periods, from 1929 to 1935, which connected with M. Gorky’s activity, since he become the chairman of the editorial board. The heyday of the publishing house in 1932–1935 coincides with the years of greatest rapprochement and mutual understanding between the writer and the head of the publishing house L.B. Kamenev. M. Gorky’s main achievement is that he provided the coherent and strong team in the publishing house, insisting on the resignation of I.I. Ionov and the appointment of L.B. Kamenev. From 1929 to 1935 the publishing house held mainly on the authority of Gorky. Thanks to his support the publishing house’s plans were implemented. Gorky played the important role as a “buffer” too, since, on the one hand, he insisted on softening repressive measures (he saved Kamenev several times), and on the other hand, reconciled different publishers (he settled the conflict between the “Academia” Publishing House and “Ogonyok” in 1931 and tried to prevent a clash between the “Academia” Publishing House and “The Poet’s Library” in 1933).