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Abstract:

Based on the hitherto unpublished archival materials, the article examines the history of the creation and specifics of the littlestudied “Publishing house of I.P. Ladyschnikov” and analyzes the role and participation of Gorky in his work. Gorky was at the origins of this Berlin institution and was not only the ideological inspirer of the new business, but also took part in its financing. As a result of the collective efforts of Gorky and the prominent leaders of the Bolshevik party in 1905 a Russian-language publishing house was established abroad. It secured Gorky’s and other democratic writers’ of the “Znanie” group copyright in Europe and America by publishing their works, and also deducted part of its income to the Bolshevik party fund. In 1905–1912, under the direction of Ladyzhnikov, all new works of Gorky were published in this publishing house. “Golden years” of “Publishing house of I.P. Ladyschnikov” happily coincided with the flowering of talent and the most fruitful creative period in the life of the main author of this publishing house, i. e. Gorky. This was the time of Gorky’s most comfortable existence as a writer, when he did not have to worry about his future publishing fate, to disturb the intense process of creating a new work, and to make special efforts to make it reach the reader as soon as possible. The “Znanie” partnership in Russia and the “Publishing house of I.P. Ladyschnikov” in Germany were like two huge “wings” that, providing Gorky with financial and political independence for almost a decade, allowed him “to fly” further, to new creative achievements. At the end of 1912 Ladyschnikov, due to financial difficulties in the work of the publishing house, had to transfer the case to his partner — B.N. Rubinstein. However, the publishing house retained its former name and continued to exist until 1932. The article analyzes in detail this little-studied postrevolutionary period of the “Publishing house of I.P. Ladyschnikov” under the leadership of Rubinstein, and shows his significant participation in the translation and publication of Gorky’s works, including translations and productions of Gorky’s plays, abroad.