POETICS OF NARRATION IN LEONID LEONOV’S NOVEL “THE THIEF”: AUTHOR AND HIS “ALTER-EGO”

Abstract

Aim. We study of the evolution of the ‘real’ author and the image of the ‘fictional’ writer created by L. M. Leonov in three editions of the novel “The Thief”. Methodology. All editions of the novel “The Thief” are reviewed. The evolution of the relationship between the author and his “doubles” in the process of processing the work (editions of 1927, 1956 and 1982) is analyzed. The image of the writer Firsov - ‘the author within the author’ - provides rich material for penetrating into the poetics of the narrative and allows one to consider the work in the metafiction coordinate system. Biographical, textual, cultural-historical and hermeneutic research methods are used. Results. It is concluded that L. M. Leonov fully managed to reveal the potential inherent in the format of meta-prose as a literary device. Having saved the reader from the author's dictate, the writer gave him complete independence in the perception of the artistic reality of the novel. Research implications. The work allows one to look at the novel “The Thief” in the context of modern research methods and actualize the role of L. M. Leonov in the current literary process.