WORKS OF I. BUNIN IN THE ASSESSMENT OF YU. AIKHENVAL'D

The article is devoted to the study of the reception of I. Bunin's work in the collection "Silhouettes of Russian Writers" by Yu. Aikhenval'd. The theoretical principles of Aikhenval'd's critical method and its place in the context of artistic searches of the early twentieth century are comprehended. The system of concentres of Russian literature developed by Aikhenval'd is considered, Bunin's place in it is determined. The article traces the line of succession Pushkin - Bunin; it is shown that traditionalism as the main characteristic of Bunin's style goes back to the harmony of Pushkin's creativity. The key motives of two editions of the feature article "Bunin" are analyzed: restraint and severity of poetic expression, images of nature, village, travel, orientalism. It is suggested that Bunin's high assessment reflects the critic's idea of the poet's mission as a divine "collaborator". It is noted that the spiritual closeness of the writer and critic is reflected in the biographical fact of their exile. It is concluded that in the criticism of Aikhenval'd Bunin appears as a modern bearer of the spiritual categories of Russian literature.