Theatrical context: the unsent letter of Demyan Bedny to F. I. Shalyapin

Abstract

The unsent letter of the proletarian poet Demyan Bedny to F. I. Shalyapin is for the first time published in this article. The letter has been preserved in the poet’s collection in the manuscript department of the the Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The history of Demyan Bedny’s relationship with a great singer is described in this paper. For the first time an attempt is made to outline the circle of theatrical acquaintances of the proletarian poet.