Thank you for your letter. Shekhter called me and we talked with him about Shalamov’s publication before I could send you mine. So, I know what is going on.
If I understand correctly, you received a different version than I thought. I was familiar with the five volumes compiled by Leonid Efimovich Pinsky together with the author, which consisted of the following parts:
1. “Kolyma Tales.”
2. “The Left Bank.”
3. “The Artist of the Spade.”
4. “Sketches of the Criminal World.” This volume, as far as I remember, consisted of two things: the essay “Sketches of the Criminal World” and “Bitch Wars.” It seems that nothing else was there (or maybe there were several stories – I don’t remember), and in terms of volume it was thinner than the previous ones.
5. “Resurrection of the Larch.” (I am not sure about the name; I’m starting to think that I’m confusing it with Rozanov.) These were his last stories, which, I must say, are weaker than the previous ones.
So, you have a shorter and clearly later version. I am afraid if Shalamov did not begin to censor himself after everything that had happened to him. They only confirmed to me from Moscow that “all of Shalamov’s manuscripts are in the West.” Obviously, all of it has ended up with Gul’ again, but I have no idea how to get it out of him.
As for Sveshnikov’s drawings, of course, I am ready to provide everything I have for the Russian edition. In this case, it would be worthwhile to preface the drawings with a small (1-1.5 pages) preface, where something could be said about the stylistic closeness of the text and the images, as well as the fate of their authors (I could do that). Overall, I would be happy to be of use in any way.
