On the outcomes of 20 years of emigre studies: A harsh review [Review: Birman M.A. P.M. Bitsilli (1879–1953). Life and Work. Moscow, Vodolei, 2018]

T.N. Galcheva

Independent Researcher, Sofia, 1504, Bulgaria

E-mail: tanyagalcheva@gmail.com

Received June 20, 2019

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DOI: 10.26907/2541-7738.2020.1.223-235

For citation: Galcheva T.N. On the outcomes of 20 years of emigre studies: A harsh review [Review: Birman M.A. P.M. Bitsilli (1879–1953). Life and Work. Moscow, Vodolei, 2018.]. Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta. Seriya Gumanitarnye Nauki, 2020, vol. 162, no. 1, pp. 223–235. doi: 10.26907/2541-7738.2020.1.223-235. (In Russian)

Abstract

The latest book by M.A. Birman dedicated to the life and works of Professor Petr Mikhailovich Bitsilli, who headed the Department of Modern and Late Modern History of Sofia University in 1924–1948, was analyzed. Views contrary to those of the book’s author were expressed. One of the biggest disadvantages of this biographical research is the methodology used for gathering data. M.A. Birman’s work includes some testimonies from P.M. Bitsilli’s contemporaries and relatives, but no criticism of their words is given. This type of description reflects on the narrative research approach, i.e., when the author goes beyond the limits of the scientific exploration and turns the biography into a romance novel. It seems improper to agree with M.A. Birman on what concerns his idea to divide the life of P.M. Bitsilli into many periods of time, because it contradicts the established theories of considering P.M. Bitsilli’s writings as “all making up a whole piece”. In the book, an attempt is made to completely cover all aspects of P.M. Bitsilli’s personal life story, but the published materials on this problem were incorrectly used by the author – some examples and questions were provided in the final part of this paper. The conclusion is that a new method is needed to comprehensively investigate the voluminous and diverse heritage of P.M. Bitsilli.

Keywords: first-wave emigre, modern and contemporary history, Professor P.M. Bitsilli, M.A. Birman, review, biography, counter arguments

References

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