L. M. Leonov’s novel "Russian forest": figurative and semantic content

The article examines the work of the Soviet writer L. M. Leonov, in particular his novel “Russian Forest”. It is noted that in Russian literature, artistic depictions of native nature are found in many writers: A. S. Pushkin, I. S. Turgenev, L. N. Tolstoy. But L. M. Leonov shows the morally ennobling influence of nature on humans. The beauty of Russian open spaces shapes the spiritual image of the heroes, his beliefs and attitude towards the world. L. M. Leonov lived the longest life in literature, wrote seven novels, many stories and plays. His novel “Russian Forest” (1954) elevated the writer to the top ranks of creators of European literary art. L. M. Leonov, indeed, was endowed with a rare literary talent. Back in the 20s, A. M. Gorky found in the visual arts of his letters “strong, sensible touches” of Lev Tolstoy, “lyricism of the elements” of Tyutchev, “sharp precision of the word” of Lermontov. True, Gorky, who clearly did not like Dostoevsky, refused Leonov his creative ties with the “nervous” writer. Namely, Leonov was always drawn to the poetics of Dostoevsky when he polished his artistic characters. He sought, like to Dostoevsky, to impart to them personal traits that would generally capture the deep meaning of the human spirit and the era from which the meaning of this spirit is born. As a result, the images of Vekshin, Skutarevsky, Vikhrov, Gratsiansky, coming from the pen of Leonov, were as visible and colorful as the figurative phenomena of Raskolnikov, Prince Myshkin, Stavrogin, and the Karamazov brothers. Leonov strives to focus on the problems of the new, Soviet man, on the “storms of his mind and passions,” on the anomalies of the previously unprecedented worldly order of life and everyday life, on the dependence of life on “ugliness” and “disorder.” His main novel “Russian Forest” was dedicated to this topic.