Approaches to publishing artistic works of the East in Maxim Gorky's Vsemirnaya Literatura

The article explores the approaches to publishing literary works of the East undertaken by the Vsemirnaya Literatura [World Literature] publishing house, founded by Maxim Gorky in 1918. Particular attention is paid to the activities of the Eastern Departmentits structure, principles for selecting texts, and translation methodology. The authors analyze key challenges faced by the publishers, including Eurocentrism in the perception of Eastern literatures, the lack of systematic translations from original languages, and the urgent need to develop unified theoretical and practical principles for literary translation. The article emphasizes the collegial nature of the editorial work, which involved leading Orientalists such as S.F. Oldenburg, V.M. Alekseev, I.Yu. Krachkovsky, and others. Their efforts were aimed at producing academically rigorous yet accessible editions. Drawing on archival materials, the authors examine debates around the balance between scholarly accuracy and literary expressiveness, as well as attempts to establish a standardized translation methodology. Particular attention is paid to the publication of the "Eastern" Catalogue, which marked an important step in overcoming cultural isolation and broadening conceptions of the diversity of world literature. The selection of works was guided by their representativeness and cultural significance, with preference given to translations made directly from the original languages. This ensured the authenticity and reliability of the published texts. The article also considers methodological aspects of translation activity. The authors analyze Orientalists' proposals regarding translation principles, including the necessity of prefaces and commentaries to help readers better understand the cultural context of the works. The importance of collegial discussion of translations is highlighted, as it enabled compromise between scholarly precision and artistic expression. Despite the absence of a unified theoretical foundation, the efforts of the project's participants laid the groundwork for the development of a Russian school of translation. The experience of Vsemirnaya Literatura demonstrated the value of a comprehensive approach to translation that combines academic research with educational goals. This experience remains relevant for contemporary research in intercultural communication and translation studies. In conclusion, the authors note the publishing house's contribution to the development of Russian Oriental studies and emphasize that its work helped to expand the philological and cultural horizons of the Soviet reader. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

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