What interpretation did Vladislav Khodasevich give to the life of Nina Petrovskaya in emigration? On the poetics of Renata’s end, a memoir essay

This article suggests a literary analysis of “Renata’s End”, a memoir es-say written by V. Khodasevich (1928), one of the key examples for understanding theparticular nature of Russian symbolism. It is focused on the interpretation that Khoda-sevich gave to Petrovskaya’s life abroad. The author of the memoir looks at the life ofhis character through the prism of a symbolist life-creation (zhiznetvorcheskaya) modelbased on the concept of doppelgangers, or doubles. Simultaneously, the author’s com-mentary of Petrovskaya’a life abroad is related directly to his own arduous experienceas an émigré. In other words, in the article “Renata’s End” is examined as a text whereKhodasevich reflects upon his trauma of emigration. In this perspective it is clear thatPetrovskaya’s biography– in keeping with Symbolism– was perceived by Khodasevichas an alternative version of his own life. Particular attention is paid to the compositionof the memoir essay and to its textological history.