Vera Bunina's family hell: Why did the writer's wife endure a rival in her house for years
Vera Bunina's family hell: Why did the writer's wife endure a rival in her house for years

Video: Vera Bunina's family hell: Why did the writer's wife endure a rival in her house for years

Video: Vera Bunina's family hell: Why did the writer's wife endure a rival in her house for years
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Ivan Bunin with his wife Vera, 1907
Ivan Bunin with his wife Vera, 1907

84 years ago Ivan Bunin became a laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature. In many ways, he owed this to his wife, Vera Muromtseva, who is called the ideal writer's wife, who created all the conditions for the creative realization of her husband. However, at the awards ceremony, not only she stood next to him, but also her young rival, the poet Galina Kuznetsova. For many years Vera Bunina put up with her presence in their house, perfectly understanding the absurdity and drama of the situation. But she had her own reasons.

Vera Nikolaevna Bunina (Muromtseva)
Vera Nikolaevna Bunina (Muromtseva)

Vera Muromtseva became the third wife of the writer. At that time he was 36 years old, she was 10 years younger. Calm, reasonable and balanced Vera was not like any of those women whom Bunin was fond of before. Her restraint seemed to many to be cold and detached, but in fact it was dictated by her upbringing - Vera grew up in an aristocratic family and received a good education. By her confession, she is "".

A writer often inspired by personal dramas
A writer often inspired by personal dramas

They met in 1906, and the following year went on a trip to the countries of the East - Egypt, Syria and Palestine. From this trip, their life together began, although they officially became husband and wife only in 1922. Their first years were happy and serene - Bunin wrote a lot, she was always there, knowing how to be invisible.

Ivan Bunin with his wife Vera, 1907
Ivan Bunin with his wife Vera, 1907
Vera and Ivan Bunin
Vera and Ivan Bunin

Autumn and winter 1917-1918 The Bunins spent in Moscow, where "", and in the spring they left for Odessa. The writer did not accept the revolutionary events, and six months later they went to Constantinople, and from there to Paris. Bunin told Vera Nikolaevna that "". He never returned to his homeland.

Vera and Ivan Bunin
Vera and Ivan Bunin

The Bunins settled in Grasse, in the south of France. Only here, after 16 years of marriage, they finally got married. However, there was a noticeable cooling in their relationship. And in 1927 a drama broke out that had catastrophic consequences for all of its participants. Bunin met the poetess Galina Kuznetsova, who was 30 years younger than him, and fell in love without memory. The girl answered him in return, left her husband and settled in the writer's house. Bunin then said to his wife: "".

Galina Kuznetsova, 1934 and 1931
Galina Kuznetsova, 1934 and 1931

Vera Nikolaevna perfectly understood what kind of relationship her husband had with Galina Kuznetsova. But she also knew that Bunin could not leave her and do without her tacit participation, care and friendly support. Therefore, Vera acted in a way that even one woman would hardly have behaved in her situation: she hospitably received a young rival in her house and began to live with her under the same roof. This strange union lasted for 7 years. In 1929 Vera Bunina wrote in her diary: "".

A writer often inspired by personal dramas
A writer often inspired by personal dramas

In the emigrant environment, this scandalous situation caused a lot of misinterpretation. Many accused Bunin of immorality and insanity. Some reproached Vera Nikolaevna for allowing herself to be treated this way and resigned herself to this state of affairs. Only a few could understand her and admired her behavior. So, Marina Tsvetaeva wrote: "". The writer himself, when asked whether he loves his wife, answered: "". And for creativity, completely different feelings were needed.

I. Bunin, G. Kuznetsova, V. Bunina, L. Zurov. Grasse, 1932
I. Bunin, G. Kuznetsova, V. Bunina, L. Zurov. Grasse, 1932

The atmosphere in the house was very unhealthy: everyone knew about everything, but they observed external decency. And so it lasted until Galina left the writer … for another woman. Opera singer Marga Stepun won her heart, and their relationship went so far that they decided to live together. And since they had neither money nor housing, they settled in the Bunins' house. Since then, the life of all the inhabitants of this house has become a living hell. The love triangle has become a polygon. In addition, since 1929, the emigre writer Leonid Zurov lived in the Bunins' house. He was unrequitedly in love with Vera Nikolaevna, she also perceived him as a son, which is why he repeatedly tried to commit suicide. Bunin went crazy with jealousy and was on the verge of insanity, but it was then that he created a wonderful cycle of stories "Dark Alleys".

Left: Galina Kuznetsova, Ivan Bunin and Vera Muromtseva. Right - Ivan Bunin, Marga Stepun, Leonid Zurov, Galina Kuznetsova (sitting)
Left: Galina Kuznetsova, Ivan Bunin and Vera Muromtseva. Right - Ivan Bunin, Marga Stepun, Leonid Zurov, Galina Kuznetsova (sitting)

Marga and Galya left Grasse only in 1942. They spent the rest of their lives together in America and Europe. And Vera Nikolaevna still loyally and tenderly took care of her aging husband. She remained with him until his death in 1953 and once wrote in her diary: "" And added: "". She outlived her husband for 8 years and did not stop loving him until the last days.

Ivan Bunin with his wife Vera
Ivan Bunin with his wife Vera
The film by A. Uchitel is dedicated to these events. His Wife's Diary, 2000
The film by A. Uchitel is dedicated to these events. His Wife's Diary, 2000

The family drama of Ivan Bunin was no exception to the rule in the writer's environment: Silver Age love polygons.

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