From Livonia to Latvia

In 1993, due to the efforts of Yuri Abizov and the Latvian Society of Russian culture, which he also established, the first volume of “From Livonia to Latvia”, including mainly articles of journalists from the pre-revolutionary „Rizhsky vestnik” (Rus. Riga Herald) and the above-mentioned newspaper „Segodnya”, was published. As to their content, the articles of the first volume cover the epoch from the Middle Ages to the Modern Times, but, as to the time of writing – from 1880 to 1935. The collection contains a broad selection of articles of Boris Shalfeyev (1891-1935): „St. Christofer”, „About the Goblet Thrown Down from St. Peter`s Church's Tower”, „Peter the First in the House of Dannenshtern”, „How Riga Residents did not notice Wagner”, „The Oldest Ancient Russian Cemetery in Riga” and others. Fyodor Pavlov (1872-1933) with the pen-name Spectator, is also among the authors. He has written the following articles: „Grandiose Public Merry-Making in the  Olden Times”, „Russian Merchantry in Riga in the Past”, „New Year’s Celebration in Riga in the Olden Times”, and others; there are also articles by others - not less famous „pen-sharks”. The second volume of „From Livonia to Latvia” is the collection of articles, which had been published during the period from 1917 to 1938. As was mentioned in the foreword by the compiler: „It is impossible not to be impressed, that alongside the historically proven facts, the reality is also provided in the „author’s interpretation”: myths, legends and frank fiction, i.e. the derivative from the historical reality, stipulated by the „state of minds”. Two-volume work „From Livonia to Latvia” does not claim to be scientific. This edition was meant for ordinary readers. Moreover, in the situation of temporary lack of the profound scientific researches, books of such type promoted the interest in the past of the Russian community in Latvia. Among the authors of the second volume is Boris Shalfeyev (known also as B. Pomorsky). Sketches about the Moscow suburb of Riga (Vorshtadt) was left by Georgy Ivanov (1894-1958) - one of the most prominent writers among the Russians living abroad, who was a frequent guest in Riga, where the father of his spouse Irina Odoyevtsova (1895-1990), solicitor Gustav Heinike owned a house. Articles of Jānis Sudrabkalns (1894-1975), a Latvian poet, were also included into that collection. There are also works by Sergey Mintslov (1870-1933), a popular writer in the pre-war Riga, a journalist Henrich Grossen (Neo Silvester) (1881-1974), writers Yury Galich (1877-1940), Leonid Zurov (1902-1971) and others. The second volume also includes interesting illustrative material, which was selected by Y.Abyzov. General public can be interested in the lists of former and contemporary names of towns, settlements and rivers of the Baltics, as well as the names of streets in Riga, districts and localities, which were mentioned in the book. As it is known, do to the political cataclysms, the toponyms of the Baltics have undergone many changes.

Tatyana Feigmane. Latvian Russians in Historiography of Latvia from 1990-2010