Historiographic reflections in the field of Bitsilli studies

Abstract

The scientific review of the monograph by the Israeli historian M. Birman «P. Bitsilli (1879–1953). Life and Work», which offers «...the experience of a consolidated review of life and work...» by the Russian and Bulgarian scientist-humanist Peter Bitsilli. It is noted that the monograph was written in the genre of intellectual biography, which is customary for historiography, where the personal life and creative activities of the investigated historical character are closely intertwined with the broad cultural and historical context of the era. Attention is focused on the fact that, in contrast to the biographies of people of the past widespread in the scientific literature, in the center of this narration is a historical person, whose name, after his death, was forgotten for more than half a century for science and historical memory. Despite the fact that the book poses many questions about the daily life and intellectual activity of a scientist, the answers to them are not given on the basis of scientific research methods. The book under review by the author is not based on a rich source base; it, like many other modern studies, lacks the information content of the preserved grandiose layer of archival documents, the materials of which would give answers to many questions regarding the biography of P. Bitsilli. Despite the existing individual shortcomings, omissions in the presentation of the material in the book, many questions posed for the first time by the author have received answers and arouse genuine interest. One of the characteristic features of the reviewed work is its bibliographic component.

Keywords:

M. Birman, P. Bitsilli, historiography, historical science, bicillian studies, source studies, historical source, bibliography, scientific review