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Abstract:

The article analyzes the image of the real historical figure of the white agent A.L. Nosovich in A.N. Tolstoy’s novel The Bread. In the spring and summer of 1918, a former General Nosovich held the post of chief of staff of the North Caucasus Military District in Soviet Russia, but at the same time was an agent of the Whites and conducted clandestine work. His image in the novel was introduced as an antihero, who was opposed by the shrewd commissar I.V. Stalin. Nosovich’s mentionings in the novel have a negative message. He is shown to be a pragmatic and cruel cynic, for whom the aim justifies any means. Tolstoy did not fail to emphasize the connection between Nosovich and the leader of the Red Army L.D. Trotsky, ostracized in the USSR. When creating the image of Nosovich Tolstoy relied on genuine documents, including the report of Nosovich to the White command about his underground work. Tolstoy’s novel contributed to the strengthening of the personality cult of Stalin and the mythology of the history of the Civil War in line with party attitudes. The image of the white agent General Nosovich served the same task.