Claudia Gioia: “From Russia to Sweden: Maksim Gor'kij in the pages of Moa and Harry Martinson”

Claudia Gioia (University of Bologna), guest researcher at the department during the autumn term 2021, presents her dissertation project about Maksim Gor'kij's influence on the writings of Harry Martinson and Moa Martinson.

The seminar will be held in English.

Abstract
In the 19th and 20th centuries, in the 'silver age' of Russian literature, literary links between Russia and Scandinavia intensified considerably. This was the time when great writers established themselves on the Nordic national scene. They enjoyed considerable international reception and appreciation, especially in the Slavic area. In Russia, many of their works began to be translated and published, their dramas were widely performed on the stages of the capital and in provincial theatres. In 1910, Maksim Gor'kij stated that 'Вообще скандинавы интереснее и серьезнее всех в наши дни", i.e. that "in general, Scandinavians today are the most interesting and profound of all". The admiration was mutual: many of the Scandinavian writers took inspiration from their Russian colleagues and also took a trip to Russia. So did Moa and Harry Martinson. The two authors were indeed invited to represent Sweden at the First Congress of Soviet Writers, held in Moscow in 1934. They had the opportunity to meet Maksim Gor'kij, their mentor and one of their greatest sources of inspiration, and to witness with their own eyes the functioning of the Soviet machine. The aim of this research is to investigate the extent to which the influence of Gor'kij can be seen in the works of Harry and Moa, such as Nässlorna blomma and Mor gifter sig, and to analyse what were their reactions, thoughts and opinions about the Soviet experience.

Ordf.: Williams