How Separate Are We ?

Are we more connected then we think we are? Henry Green's quote used in the title of this blog and then posted below came to my mind today as I was reading a book by Russian thinker, historian and specialist in medieval literature Petr Mikhailovich Bitsilli (Петр Михайлович Бицилли). In the Foreword to his book "Elements of Medieval Culture" (Элементы средневековой культуры) he says that "any scientific book is to some extent the result of mutual work of a group of people, though the members of this group might not be aware of their cooperation". This is so true!
As I am getting ready with my article on Eudora Welty and Anton Chekhov I am overwhelmed by the number of people whose work I use... Why are we so surprised when coincidences happen? Are we really that separate?

Petr Mikhailovich Bitsilli was born in 1879 in Russia. He became a professor in 1917 and taught and lectured in Odessa. He could not agree with the changes which took place in Russia after October Revolution of 1917 and in 1920 had to leave Russia. Since that time lived and taught history and literature in Sofia University, Bulgaria. In 25 years of his teaching career he developed 78 lecture courses on different historical issues. He is also an author of one of the most interesting works on Russian writers, Anton Chekhov included. P.M. Bitsilli he passed away in 1953 and is buried in Sofia. His books are gradually returning to Russia, the first one published in St.Petersburg in 1995.

White Heron

When asked if she had any favorite stories Eudora Welty would always say that her favorite was the one she was working on. But if the interviewer insisted she would often mention "A Still Moment" a story which was published in her collection The Wide Net and Other Stories (1943). It is about an imaginative meeting of three historical figures Lorenzo Dow, John James Auduborn and James Murell the Bandit. It is a very unusual story. There is a bird all the three see - it is a white heron. The heron in the story is snowy white, it is solitary and it feeds beside the marsh water. The time of the day is sunset and the bird is sen by the three in its serene, shy beauty. "But before them the white heron rested in the grass with the evening all around it, lighter and more serene than the evening, flight closed in its body, the circuit of its beauty closed, a bird seen and a bird still, its motion calm as if it were offered: Take my flight..." It seemed to me that this picture taken by Eric Lincoln is a perfect embodiment of what Eudora Welty described.

Books By Eudora Welty in Russian

I am often asked if there are any books by Miss Welty in Russian. Yes there are. Her novel Optimist's Daughter is translated and piblished twice. As a separate edition in 1975 and in one volume together with fiction by Katherine Anne Porter, 1991. A collection of stories was also published in 1981

April 13, 2009 . Celebrating E.Welty's Centennial With My Students

This year April 13 happened during Passionate Weak. Being Russian Orthodox I love the season of Great Lent and still wanted to have some sort of celebration. So, back in March I had my students start reading Death of a Traveling Salesman. They were diligent and came to class prepared. I told them about Eudora Welty, introduced her books of photographs, conversations and stories. We discussed Death of a Traveling Salesman and my students got excited about reading and discussing some other stories by Eudora Welty. And then of course there was some nice food. I could not bring a cake (it was the time of Great lent) but I did bring apples and bananas and some juice. So we had a real party.


It was a beautiful spring day in Krasnodar, Russia and Eudora Welty made it special for us.

Miss Eudora's Cake

The cake turned out to be good to butI was so full emotionally that I had hard time eating anything, but then in Russia we say "There is no sense to come to Rome and not see the Pope", so to come to such a special birtday and not to have any cake would have been a shame - so I had my piece of the cake and fully enjoyed it!

Thanking Miss Eudora

I did not know that I would have an opportunity to see Miss Welty face to face and talk with her. for me it was the real icing on her birthday cake. I wasn't prepared. When I approached Eudora she was seated in a chair and looked tiny. I hated to tower over her, so I went on my knees in front of her. When later on I told about this to a Russian Orthodox priest he said that this exactly how Russian priests talk to their Archbishops. Wow! My instinct was right: she was a patriarch of American letters! I told Eudora Welty that her stories and The Optimist's Daughter are translated into Russian and I also thanked her for the book she autographed for me. She was gracious, friendly, very open and warm. The day stays out in my memory very clearly and once again I am grateful - to those who organised the party and invited everyone, to Eudora Welty who was willing to make a public appearance and of course to my beloved Barbara without whom I would have never ever celebrated Miss Welty's 85th birthday with her. What a blessing!

Eudora Welty's 85th Birthday Party!

When Barbara Smith told me that we are going to Eudora Welty's Birthday party I did not know what to think of it. After all we were not invited, right? No, said Barbara, everyone is invited! Well, I did not know what to think of it plus I have never been to a Birthday party of a famous writer... so we both put our Sunday clothes and went.
Lemuria Bookstore parking lot was packed. The hall within was air conditioned and decorated with balloons and flowers. Everyone was excited. There were at least 500 people present and everyone was waiting for Miss Welty to arrive, which she did in due timing.
I am glad there was just one candle in her cake - rather then 85 and after it was blown away the party was open.
There were lots of telegrams from friends and admirers from all over the world, among which was a telegram from US president Bill Clinton.