THE CREATIVE HISTORY OF THE FORGOTTEN BOOK BY SAMUIL MARSHAK’S

Abstract

The article compares six versions of Samuil Ya. Marshak poem Otrjad (Detachment): it’s publication in the magazine Ezh (Hedgehog) (1928); separate editions 1928, 1930 and 1933; the final text published in the col- lection in 1935; and a revision by M. A. Effendi in 1938. This poem marks Marshak’s first engagement with the theme of the pioneer movement. The book was widely known, popular, highly praised by critics; however, from 1938 until the poet’s death, it was never reprinted and is now entirely forgotten. Analyzing the poetics, themes, and creative history of the text helps to understand the reasons behind its unusual fate. With each reprint, Marshak revised the text to reflect changes in societal realities, public sentiment, stylistic and ideological trends of that time, and critical reception. The poet’s desire to reconcile his creative attitudes with external requirements led to a compensatory editing method: the composition and style, new themes were modified, but the subtext was preserved — philosophical, ethical issues, important for Marshak, running through all of his work. Marshak’s pedagogical stance only partially aligned with the objectives of the pioneer movement; as a result, while the text captivated and delighted readers, it failed to reflect the political specifics of the children’s organization, and ceased to be published after the appearance of poems about pioneers written by other authors in accordance with official ideology. However, the universality and archetypal content, the poetic mastery of the book The Detachment remained relevant and deserving of attention from modern readers.

Keywords: Samuil Marshak, children’s literature, creative history, textology, Russian poetry of the 20th century, images of pioneers