Literature as an Alternative Writing Experience: the Case of Fedor Stepun

This paper considers novels of Fedor Stepun «Letters of an Artillery Ensign» and «Nicholay Pereslegin» in terms of their exclusivity in the philosopher's bibliography. The complex form of a novel and syncretic nature of the content allow us to talk about the author's conscious alternative strategy. Research issues are caused by the specificity of blending literary (fiсtional) and scientifically philosophical discourses within the selected works. Based on classical literary theories the paper gives a description of a genre originality of novels and highlights the main aspects of research focus: epistolarity, fiсtionality, syncretism. It is shown how these properties of a fictional prose contribute to the integration of philosophical knowledge in it. On the basis of pairwise comparative analysis with the works of Viktor Shklovsky «Sentimental Journey» and «Zoo or Letters not about love» the main structural and stylistic devices for introduction of philosophical material in fictional novels are identified.