The canonization of Western writers in the Soviet Union in the 1930s

Abstract

In the 1930s the 'canonization' of selected foreign writers formed an important part of official policies towards translated literature. The term 'canonization' refers here to the process of transforming a writer into an exemplar for others to emulate. The article analyses ways in which several Western authors (Romain Rolland, Henri Barbusse, and André Gide) were canonized in the Soviet Union and what the role of the Party state and official criticism (ofitsial'naia kritika) was in this process. The article pays particular attention to the benefits and drawbacks of the 'canonization' from the point of view of the Party state. © Modern Humanities Research Association 2012.