The Problems of the Petersburg Text in F. Chirskov's and A. Bitov's Oeuvre

The term “Petersburg text of Russian literature” (Toporov, 1995) introduced a new metatext to literary studies and then was heavily criticized by the scientific community (Does Petersburg text exist?, 2005). However, literature scholars tend to agree that the term may be an effective instrument of literary analysis (Schmid, 2005). Chirskov’s oeuvre, particularly his novel A Small Town on the Outskirts of the Universe (2007) while part of the Petersburg text has been largely neglected. This fact determines the purpose of the present study, which is to analyse the image of Leningrad in Chirskov’s novel using the term ‘the Petersburg text of Russian literature’ in comparison with A. Bitov’s cycle Aptekarsy island (1996). The main methods used to achieve the purpose are structural analysis and comparative analysis. The results show that Leningrad in the novel is represented as an abandoned capital whose potential has been wasted. The study also reveals that both authors avoid comprehending Peter the Great’s role in Russian history, they do not describe crucial Petersburg places and objects (e.g. Nevsky Prospect, the Bronze Horseman) because they are not informative anymore. These results may be used to complement the research into the change of cultural reception of Petersburg.