Mongolian texts by the Vsemirnaya Literatura publishing house

This article analyzes the study of Mongolian literature and the work on translations within the framework of the Vsemirnaya Literatura (World Literature) publishing house (1918-1925). Generally, this period is not taken into account by researchers when reconstructing the chronology of understanding the Mongolian literature and folklore by Russian scholars. A surge in Mongolian studies is observed after 1921, initiated by the revolution in Mongolia and the signing of a diplomatic agreement between the RSFSR and the People's Government of Mongolia. However, the records of the meeting of the Eastern Board of the Vsemirnaya Literatura publishing house, stored in the A.M. Gorky Archive of the IWL RAS and the St. Petersburg Branch of the Archive of the RAS, indicate that the understanding of Mongolian sources and the work on translations for the general public had been carried out before the creation of special bodies for collaborative work in this direction. The article identifies the list of scholars and translators that worked in this field within the framework of the Vsemirnaya Literatura publishing house, based on the unpublished records of the publishing house meetings. It includes B.Ya. Vladimirtsov, V.L. Kotvich, N.N. Poppe and Yu.K. Shchutskiy. The article also sheds light on the published ("The Mongol-Oirat Heroic Epic" and "The Magical Dead Man. Fairy Tales") and finished translations of Mongolian fiction and folklore texts, as well as unfulfilled plans of the publishing house employees, and restores the chronology of work on translations, published individual books, historical, literary and theoretical articles, as well as preambles in collections and on the pages of the Vostok journal. The plans for the publication of Mongolian texts can be evaluated based on the extensive list of works published in the Vsemirnaya Literatura's catalogue Literature of the East. Some of the works were published; a large corpus of texts was left out of the work process, and several completed but unpublished translations were stored in the archive of the Academia publishing house. It is noted that during the translation and editing work there arose a need for historical and literary articles, which later became textbook works of Soviet Mongolian studies (the "Mongolian Literature" article by B.Ya. Vladimirtsov, and the "Preface" to the publication "Mongol-Oirat Heroic Epic"), as well as articles on the Mongolian heritage that introduced the topic of literary connections and influences ("Tibetan Literature" by B.Ya. Vladimirtsov). The interests of Mongolian scholars of Vsemimaya Literatura also included modem academic works of the 1920s, and even works of art, which was reflected in reviews for the Vostok periodical. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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