Two branches of Russian emigrant literature: specifics and features of interaction

Over the past three decades, many anthologies and scientific articles devoted to the most famous Russian emigrant writers in Europe have been published by the efforts of researchers from different countries. However, relatively few studies have been written on the Far Eastern branch of Russian emigrant literature. The article is devoted to the study of Russian emigrant literature’s history in the Far East (its formation and development). It compares the Far Eastern and European branches of Russian emigrant literature in thematic and stylistic aspects, reveals the writers from the Far East and the artistic features of their works, as well as their aesthetic preferences and ways of spiritual search. The author comes to the conclusion that Russian emigrant literature’s two branches from the very beginning of their origin had a lot in common and were in close interaction; at the same time, there were significant differences between them, manifested in the choice of themes and motives, the peculiarities of individual styles and the system of artistic images, the aesthetic preferences of the authors, as well as in the ways of their spiritual search. Artistic innovation, philosophical and religious thinking, reflected in the works by Russian emigrant writers, as well as their translation activities, have become convincing evidence of Russian people’s amazing creative potential and energy, which allows them to preserve their national identity in any conditions. Further research will help to determine Russian Far Eastern emigrant literature’s significance for the development of cultural interaction between the West and the East, formulate conclusions about the phenomenon of Russian Far Eastern emigrant literature and its peculiarity, reveal its place in the historical and literary context of the XX and XXI centuries.