Unearthed Manuscript by Eduard Limonov: A Young Poet's Journey to the Bohemian Moscow of the Late '60s
Title: Lost Manuscript of Eduard Limonov's "Moscow in May" Resurfaces
Eduard Limonov, a distinguished Russian writer and political figure, penned his unpublished novel "Moscow in May" in Paris during the late 1970s. The literary work, set in the turbulent world of Moscow's bohemia in 1969, features real-life figures such as poet Arseny Tarkovsky, artist Ilya Kabakov, sculptor Ernst Neizvestny, poet Leonid Gubanov, and others.
According to Limonov, he completed the manuscript but was dissuaded from publishing it by literary figure, publicist, and publisher Maria Rovan. The novel remained unpublished, and Limonov believed it had been lost forever.
In a poignant account, Limonov revealed that his extensive library, which contained the manuscript, was stored in Paris. Years later, he discovered that part of his collection had been tragically destroyed after a former Foreign Legion corporal, left in charge while the owner was away, burned books to fuel the fireplace. Among the books burned was Limonov's "Moscow in May."
Remarkably, the lost manuscript of "Moscow in May" has since been discovered in the archive of Andrei Sinyavsky at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. The archive was transferred to the US in 1998 by Sinyavsky's widow, writer and literary scholar Maria Rovan.
Nearly four decades after its completion, "Moscow in May" has been unearthed as a literary document of its time and a personal diary of the poet.
A portion of the novel involves a young Limonov attending a literary seminar, with notable figures such as Arseny Tarkovsky, who was critical of the work. Limonov, however, aspired to be a part of the seminar, hoping to gain recognition from Tarkovsky. It is worth noting that Limonov would eventually publish his first novel in 1986, marking the beginning of his literary career.
Sources:[1] "Eduard Limonov." Contemporary Authors Online. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007. Web. 02 Mar. 2023.[4] "Limonov, Eduard." Encyclopædia Britannica. Web. 02 Mar. 2023.
Books by Eduard Limonov, such as the lost manuscript of "Moscow in May," serve as significant sources of entertainment and historical documentation. The resurfacing of this lost manuscript has sparked renewed interest in Limonov's literary works, offering readers a glimpse into the turbulent world of Moscow's bohemia in 1969.
