Mikhail Serafimovich Meyer

This publication is based on the presentation made in the 26th Congress of the Union Européenne des Arabisants et Islamisants (UEAI) which took place in Basel, Switzerland in September 12–16, 2012. The motto of the congress was Arabic and Islamic Studies in Europe and Beyond. The publication is dealing with the major stages in the history of the translation of the Muslim scripture into Russian and reconstruction of the comprehensive panorama of Qur’anic studies as an essential part of Arabic and Islamic studies.

The survived correspondence of Vasiliy V. Bartold and Agafangel E. Krymsky contains important data about crucial changes which took place in the Oriental science in the post-revolutionary Russia. The letters of two distinguished scholars, dated before 1918, were concerned mainly with discussion of the professional issues. Anyhow, the following correspondence increasingly touched upon social and political problems and included their thoughts about methods of their resolving. The correspondence of these two eminent scholars remains a significant factor in the history of the Oriental science.

The article analyzes the unpublished correspondence between V.V. Bartold and A.E. Krymsky during the period from 1908 till 1913. It contains valuable data which helps us to reconstruct main trends of the academic life at that time and to have a better understanding of the problems which occurred in the field of Oriental studies in Russia in the early 20th century. The correspondence of these distinguished scholars shows that they shared obvious common sympathy and similar professional interests. The letters of V.V. Bartold and A.E. Krymsky confirm that their primary concern was the state of Oriental studies and the system of education.

The publication presents previously unpublished letters from V.A. Gordlevsky to A.E. Krymsky dated 1906–1909.

An in memoriam article dedicated to Alexander Mikhailovich Dubyansky.