Neizdannye pis’ma L’va Vasil’evica Pumpjanskogo k Borisu Michajlovuchu Ejchenbaumu

his paper presents and analyses six previously unpublished letters from L.V. Pumpyanskiy to B.M. Eikhenbaum, written between June 1937 and February 1940. These letters provide invaluable in- sight into the close relationship between the two scholars during the 1930s, highlighting their shared intellectual pursuits and the convergence of their theoretical interests. Pumpyanskiy, while maintaining his focus on the theory of prose, revisits and refines the categories he explored in his earlier symbolist works on Dostoevskii from 1919 and 1922. These categories include relativism, author, hero, judgment, and shedding of blood (in the context of crime in Dostoevskii’s novels). Pumpyanskiy’s approach in these letters is notably different from his previous one of 1910s, that is, less metaphorical and imbued with less pathos, reflecting a matured perspective. During the same period, Eikhenbaum, despite starting from different theoretical premises, began to explore themes which paralleled Pumpyanskiy’s interests. Eikhenbaum’s focus shifted towards genre elements related to literary evolution, adopting a primarily his- torical approach. This typological convergence be- tween the two scholars, despite their differing starting points, illustrates the dynamic and evolving nature of their intellectual engagement. By examining these letters, we gain a deeper understanding of the intel- lectual climate of the 1930s, particularly the ways in which Pumpyanskiy and Eikhenbaum influenced each other. Their correspondence not only docu- ments their personal closeness but also illustrates the broader scholarly dialogues of their time.