The Homeless and Neglected Children of Russia

In my faraway Paris I am now reading the stenogram of the discussion of Strolls with Pushkin, and I bitterly regret that I was not there: how I would have liked to have been at that "roundtable," modestly averting my eyes at the words, "This is a very talented book, in many places very profound" (V. Nepomniashchii), or, "the ideal of pure art for the sake of which, in my opinion, this book was written" (I. Rodnianskaia), or else-"Siniavskii has an absolutely wonderful idea" (A. Marchenko)-and blush from time to time from satisfaction, as if I myself had dreamt all of this up-about the erotic little legs and the vampire. And at times I also want to rip open the shirt on my breast-shoot, bastards: it's all my fault! Because it is my book, written for me, in answer to my plea-lord, save Siniavskii, do not let him perish, Lord, send Your Angel. …