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Title: A. Sini͡avskiĭ papers
Date (inclusive): 1906-2011
Collection Number: 98054
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In Russian and French Some documents in English, German, or Italian
Physical Description:
165 manuscript boxes, 8 oversize boxes, 12 audiotapes, media
(102.5 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Writings, diaries, correspondence, interrogation and trial records, printed matter, sound recordings, photographs, and memorabilia
relating to Russian literature, civil rights in the Soviet Union, political trials and conditions of political prisoners in
the Soviet Union, and Russian émigré affairs. Includes records of the Russian-language Paris journal
Sintaksis, published and edited by A. Sini͡avskiĭ and M. Rozanova.
Creator:
Sini͡avskiĭ, A. (Andreĭ), 1925-1997
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1998. Increment acquired in 2018.
[Identification of item], A. Sini͡avskiĭ papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
| 1925 | Born, Moscow, U.S.S.R. |
| 1941-1945 | Graduated from the Moscow Aviation School and served as an airfield radio technician |
| 1946-1952 | Received doctorate in literature |
| Studied at Moscow University | |
| 1952-1965 | Author of essay On Socialist Realism and creative writings, published abroad under the pseudonym of Abram Terts |
| Co-author of books on Russian poetry, author of articles in Novyi mir, and of an introduction to Boris Pasternak: Stikhotvoreniia i poemy | |
| Taught literature at the Gorkii Institute of World Literature, Moscow University, and the Moscow Art Theater | |
| 1965 | Arrested for dissemination of anti-Soviet propaganda. Imprisoned in Lubianka and Lefortovo prisons. Sentenced to seven years of hard labor |
| 1966-1971 | Released early and returned to Moscow |
| Served part of sentence in Potma (Mordovia) labor camps | |
| 1973 | Immigrated to Paris, France |
| 1973-1975 | Author, under the pseudonym of Abram Terts, of Golos iz khora, Progulki s Pushkinym, and V teni Gogolia |
| 1978 | With Mariia Rozanova, began publication of the journal Sintaksis |
| 1980 | Author, under the pseudonym of Abram Terts, of Kroshka Tsores |
| 1982 | Author, "Opavshie list'ia" V. V. Rozanova |
| 1984 | Author, under the pseudonym of Abram Terts, of Spokoinoi nochi |
| 1988 | Author, Sovetskaia tsivilizatsiia |
| 1991 | Author, Ivan-durak: Ocherk russkoi narodnoi very |
| 1996 | Died, Paris, France |
| 1998 (date of publication) | Author, Koshkin dom. Roman dal'nego sledovaniia |
Scope and Content of Collection
The A. Sini͡avskiĭ papers consist of material related to the life and work of the Russian writer and political activist Andrei
Sini͡avskiĭ, both in Russia and abroad, from the 1930s to 1997.
The collection includes a wealth of biographical material related to Sini͡avskiĭ's family and childhood, found in the series
related to his parents, Donat Sini͡avskiĭ and Evdokiia-Torkhova-Siniavskaia. Of special interest are the diaries of his mother,
which include descriptions of his childhood and childhood drawings. The biographical file further includes documentary material
related to the trial of Andrei Sini͡avskiĭ and Iulii Daniel, as well as reports in the Western press about his arrest, trial,
and exile to France.
A major part of the collection consists of Sini͡avskiĭ's scholarly work and creative writing, found in the speeches and writings
series, including preparatory material, drafts and printed copies of writings on scholarly, political and cultural subjects,
as well as creative writing under the pseudonym of Abram Terts. Also of interest is material related to his political activity,
especially as seen through the eyes of the Western media, including newspaper interviews and radio programs.
Finally, the collection as a whole reflects the political and cultural life of the post-Soviet emigration (1970s-1980s). Of
special interest in this respect is the
Sintaksis file, which reflects the development of one particular trend within the former dissident movement.
The increment to the collection, complementing material acquired earlier, includes correspondence, biographical materials,
trial documents, scholarly and creative writings by Andreiĭ Siniavskiĭ. Of great interest is the correspondence series, including
original letters by Siniavskiĭ from the labor camp and more than 600 letters from his wife, Mariia Rozanova, with her drawings.
The increment mostly relates to the life of the Siniavskiĭ family in emigration, reflected in his creative and scholarly writings
during emigration years. The writings document his relations with other Soviet emigres, in particular with Solzhenitsyn and
Vladimir Maksimov, and his views on political development in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
Also of interest is the Svetlana Alilueva (Joseph Stalin's daughter) file found in the Subject File, with her correspondence
with Siniavskiĭ and his recollections about her.
Audio recordings include interviews and musical records and records of BBC programs led by Siniavskiĭ and Rozanova in the
late 1970s.
Books by Siniavskiĭ (under his name or pseudonim Abram Terts, sometimes written with others) translated into various languages
are in the Hoover Library. The books are listed in Stanford library catalog. Several 1924 issues of the
Illiustrirovannaia Rossiia magazine are kept in the Hoover Library art vault.
Bibliography: Separated from the A. Sini͡avskiĭ papers, 2019 increment
Illi︠u︡strirovannai︠a︡ Rossīi︠a︡ La Russie illustrée. (1924). Parizh. Location: Art Vault Sini︠a︡vskiĭ, A. (1965). The
Makepeace experiment. London: Collins Harvill. Call number: PG3476 .S539 L513 1965 Sini︠a︡vskiĭ, A., Đorđević, M., Popović,
M., & Sini︠a︡vskiĭ, A. (1990). Laku noć. Call number: PG3476 .S539 S6173 1990 Sini︠a︡vskiĭ, A. (1971). For freedom of imagination.
New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Call number: PG3476 .S539 F67 1971 Sini︠a︡vskiĭ, A., Staffa, D., & Tert︠s︡, A. (1977).
Che cos'è il realismo socialista. Call number: PG3476 .S539 C54 1977 Sini͡avskiĭ, A., Tert͡s, A., Fitzlyon, K., & Hayward,
M. (1978). A voice from the chorus. Call number: PG3476 .S539 G613 1978 Sini︠a︡vskiĭ, A., Tert︠s︡, A., & Gurjan, G. (1963).
Começa o julgamento. Call number: PG3476 .S539 S8168 1963
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Russian literature
Dissenters -- Soviet Union
Political prisoners -- Soviet Union
Civil rights -- Soviet Union
Political crimes and offenses -- Soviet Union
Soviet Union -- Emigration and immigration