A C T A U N I V E R S I T A T I S L O D Z I E N S I S
F O L I A C A U C A S I C A 2, 1987
K rz y s zt o f B a ra n o w sk i
BAKU FRO M STEFA N ŻERO M SK I'S N OV EL P RZ E D W I O Ś N I E
P rze d w io śn i e is p er h a p s q u ite rig h tly c o n sid e re d to be o n e of th e
g r e a te s t m a s te r p ie c e s of th e P olish l it e r a t u r e 1. A n d it is a m az in g th a t th e first c h a p te r s of th is n o v el, th e a c tio n of w h ich ta k e s p la ce in d ista n t A z erb aija n , a r e am on g th o se m ost s u g g e stiv e ly w ritte n . A s it is k n o w n Ż ero m sk i n e v e r v isite d th e C au c asu s. A c co rd in g to th e in fo rm a tio n p ro v id ed by S ta n isła w S tru m p h -W o jtk ie w icz — w e ll a c q u a in te d w ith B ak u's e n v i ro n m e n t — th e m ost im p o rta n t in fo rm an ts fo r Ż ero m sk i w e r e su p p o sed to be tw o ,,d o c to r s ’ w iv es" from B aku, w h o r e tu r n e d to P o lan d la t e r on, n a m ely M rs. C ze rn ie ck a an d M rs. P rz e d b o rsk a 2. It is d iffic ult to a sc e r ta in w h e th e r this w as r e a l ly so. W h ile co n d u c tin g m y in v e stig a tio n s on th e P oles liv in g in B aku a t th e b e g in n in g of 20th c e n -tu ry , I did n o t m an a g e to find th e n am e of d o c to r P rz ed b o rsk i. O n th e o th e r han d , as re g a rd s th e o th e r n am e, it a p p e ar e d th a t a t th a t tim e (1915) th e r e liv ed in Baku S ta n isła w A le k sa n d ro w icz C zar n ie ck i or C z arn ec k i, w ho w a s n o t a d o cto r b u t an a p o th e c a ry . T hu s, it is p o ssib le th a t th e a p o th e c a r y 's w ife on r e tu r n to P ola nd as a w id o w p r e te n d e d to be a d o cto r's w ife. T his d oes n o t h a v e a n y in flu e n c e on th e sig n ifc a n ifc e of h e r in fo rm atio n for Ż ero m sk i, w ho in a w a y w a n te d to a ssim i-late a n y in fo rm a tio n ab o u t th e e v e n ts th a t o c c u rr e d in this to w n d u rin g the F irst W o rld W ar.
1 R. M d t u s z i- w s k i , O d H o m e r a d o G o m b r o w i c z a , „ P o lity k a " 1978, N o . 13, p. 8. 2 A s S. S t r u m p h - W o j t k i e w i c z , w h o h a d s p e n t h is y o u th in B ak u , w r o te (O w ł a s n y c h s i l ac h . K a r t k i г p r y w a t n e g o a r c h i w u m , W a r s z a w a 1967, p. 89— 90) Ż e r o m s k i l u d o b ta in e d h is in fo r m a ti o n ab o u t B ak u s o c i e t y „Irom tw o P o lis h m a - Iroits, w h o l iv e d in B ak u fo r a l o n g tim e. T h e s e l a d i e s w e r e a d o c to r 's w if e — M rs. P r z e d b o rs k a [...] an d a n o th e r d o c to r 's w if e M rs. C z a r n o c k a or C z a r n ie c k a . B a th tlv s c l a d i e s w e r e v is it in g th e Ż e ro m s k i fa m il y ait K o n s ta n c i n . S itt in g lo n g h o u r s ou t h i ‘ v e r a n d a h t h e y w o u ld b e t e l lin g h im w ith a g r e a t z e a l a b o u t th e l if e ol th e P o lis h c o lo n y in B ak u " .
A w e ll-k n o w n h isto r ia n of lite r a tu r e a n d at th e sam e tim e a lite r a r y m an — W a cła w K u back i, w h ile d e sc rib in g a lr e a d y a t th e tim e of the P eo p le's P o lan d his so jo u rn in B aku p o in ted a t a r tif ic ia lity of Ż e ro m -s k i ^ in fo rm a tio n ab o u t thi-s tow n (,,he did n o t k n o w th e c a p ita l of A z erb a ijan , an d th a t is w h y his d es c rip tio n of th e to w n do es n o t h a v e c h a ra c te r istic s of a u th e n tic ity " ) 3. In fact, th e m a g n ific en t n o v e list a v o ided g iv in g m ore d e t a i l e i d e sc rip tio n s of Baku m ak in g o n ly v e r y g e n e -ra l m e n tio n s e.g. th at C e za ry B ary k a „w as ru sh in g from p la c e to p la ce [...] on th e ru in s of G v e b riy a n tem p les " 4, a n d th er e h a d n e v e r b ee n too m an y su ch tem p les in Baku. M o reo v e r, also o th e r m ino r d e tails c o n c e r -n i-ng th a t to w -n ' w e re -n o t a lw a y s p re c is e ly d e sc rib ed b u t for us m ore im p o rta n t is th e p ro b lem of com p lex n atio n a lity , so cial an d p o litic al re la tio n s in Baku, w h ich w e re m e n tio n e d by Ż ero m sk i in Przed wiośnie.
T he ac tio n of Prze d w io śn i e tak es p lac e in B ak u a t th e b e g in n in g of 20th ce n tu r y , an d m o re sp ec ifica lly in 1917 a n d 1918. A z e r b a ija n h a d b een w itn e ssin g v e r y sig n ifica n t eco n o m ic a n d so cial ch a n g e s sin ce th e se v e n tie s of 19th ce n tu ry . In A z e r b a ija n v illag es, m o re or less th e a re a of the th en B aku an d Je liz a w ie tp o l G u b e rn iy a s (Je liza w ietp o l, fo rm e r G y a n d ija , to d ay K iro v a ba d ), m a jo r tra n sf o r m a tio n s in th e a g r a r ia n s tr u c t u r e w e re ta k in g place, fe u d al re la tio n s w e r e d isa p p e ar in g , an d n ew re la tio n s re sem b lin g , to a g ro w in g ex te n t, c a p ita lis t r e la tio n s w e re b eco m ing in c re a sin g ly m o re com n on®. P re v io u sly u se d a g r ic u ltu r a l
3 W . K u b a c k i , M a l w y n a K a u k a z i e , W a r s z a w a 1Э59, p. 81. 4 S, Ż e r o m s k i , P r z e d w i o ś n i e , ch ap . 1, W a r s z a w a 1967. 5 N . M . F i l i p p o v , O p i s a n i e B ak u i e g o b u c h t y , „ M o rs k ij S b o rn ik " 1856, v o l . 24, p. 1 4 6 - 1 6 4 ; V . M . S y s o j o v, K r a l k i j p u t e v o d i l e J p o d r e v n o s t j a m g o r o d a B ak u i e g o r a j o n o v , B ak u 1925, p. 5— 10; J. P. S ć a b 1 у к i n, K r a t k i j o c e r k i s t o r i i d v o r c a i i r v a n è a c h o v v B ak u , B ak u 1939, p. 7 -43; S. B. A £ u r b e j 1 i, O c e r k i s t o r i i ' • r e d n e v e k o v o g o B a k u I V II — n a c a l o X I X v v j , B ak u 1964, p . 70—-344. 8 V. K. A s t u n i, К v o p r o s u о p u t j a c h r a z v i t i j a k a p i t a l i z m a w s e l s k o m c h o - z j a j s t v e v Z a k a v k a z e , „ I z v e s ti ja A k a d e m ii N a u k A r m ja n :k o j SS R " 1947, S e rija o b ś ć e s l v e n n y c h n a u k , N o . 5, p. 3—26; A . S. S u m b d ' t - z a d e , К v o p r o s u о c n a - r a k t e r e t o v a r n o g o p r o i z v e d e n i l à v % e h k o m c h o z j a j s t v e A z e r b a j d S a n a v o v t o r o j p o- l o v i n e X I X v e k a , „ I z v e s t ija A k a d e m ii N a u k A z e-r b a jd äa n sk oj S SR " 1954, N o . 3. p. 117—130; G. P. A g a j л n, K r e s t j a n s k a j a r e f o r m a v A z e r b a j d i a n e v /8 70 g o d u , B ak u 1956; p. 97- -38 3, A . S. S u m b a t - z a d c , E k s p l o a t a c i i a t o r g o v o - r o s t o v s c i - ć e s k i m k a p i i a l o m t r u d o v e g o k r e s t j a n s t v a A z e r b a j d z a n a v o v t o r o j p o l o v i n e X I X v e k a . „ U ć e n y e z a p is k i A z e r b a jd ź a n s ik ó g o U m v e r s it e ta " 1957, N o . 2, p. 124—130; A . S. S u m - b a t - z a d e , R o s t t o r g o v o g o a e m l e d e l i j a v A z e r b a j d i a n e v o v t o r o j p o l o v i n e X I X v e k a , „ V o p r o s y I stor ii" 1958, N o . 4, p. 114—126; M. A . I s m a i l o v , О r e l o r m a c h z c m e l n o j s o b s t v e n n o s ti i z e m l e p o l z o v a n i j u v A z e r b a j d i a n e v k o ń c e X I X — n a ć a l e X X w . , „T r u d y In s ti tu t e I s tor ii A k a d e m ii N a u k A z e r b a jd ż a n s k o j SSR" 1958, N o . 13, p. 139- 200; V . D. M o è a l o v , K r e s t j a n s k o e c h o z j a j s t v o v Z a k a v k a z e u k o n c a X I X v. , M o s k v a 1958, p. 81— 121; M. A . I s m a i l o v , P r i m e n e n i j a n a j e m n o g o
too ls w e re d is a p p e a r in g 7 r e p la c e d by n ew ones. It w a s a c co m p an ie d by c h an g es in th e e n tir e so cial a n d p o litic a l s t r u c t u r e of th e c o u n tr y 8.
Baku w a s a big in d u str ia l ce n tr e. A p a rt from its oil in d u strie s (e x tra ctio n an d p ro ce ssin g ), o th e r in d u strie s w e re d e v e lo p in g th e r e as w ell su ch as te x tile , e n g in e e rin g , fo o d -p ro cessin g , e tc .9 T h e n u m b e r of w o r k e rs e m p lo y e d in this to w n w as a lso in cre a sin g . F o r th e ir m ost p art, th ey w e re A z er b a ija n s, m o u n ta in e e r s from th e N o r th e r n C a u c a -su s and D a ge stan , A rm e n ia n s, G eo rg ian s, a s w e ll as R ussia ns, U k ra in iains, a in d so m etim es e v e in P oles. R e v o lu tio in a ry slo g ain s w e re s p r e a -ding am on g this m u lti-n a tio n a l p r o le ta ria t. V e ry stro n g re v o lu tio n a r y p ro p a g an d a w a s c o n d u c te d in B aku a lr e a d y in th e y e a r s 1905— 1907, an d p ro tes ts of th e p r o l e ta r ia t of B aku w e r e also tak in g p lace . A fter
t r u d a v o v l a d e l l e s k i r k c h o z j a j ' t v a c h A z e r b a j d ź a n a v k o n c e X l X - n a c a l e X X v . , „ I z v e - stijri A k a d e m ii N u u k A z o r b a jd ź a n s k o j S SR " 1959, S r r ijii o b s C e s tv o n n y c h n a n k , N o . 2, p. 53— 64; M. A . I s m a i l o v , N a j e m n y j t r u d v s e l s k o m c h o z j a j s l v e A z e r b a j d ź a n a v k o n c e X l X - n a ć a l e X X v . , „ l s to r i ja S SS R " 1960, N o 4, p. 138— 142; V . D. M o - f a 1 о v , S e i s k a j a o b s é i n a v Z a k a v k a z e v p o r e l o r m e n n y j p e r i o d , „ I s to r ić e s k i e Z a -p isk i" 1960, N o . 67, -p. 145— 186; M . A . I s m a i l o v , K a p i t a l i z m v s e l s k o m c h o- z j a j s t v e A z e r b a j d ź a n a л а i s c h o d e X l X - n a c a l e X X v „ B ak u 1964; L. G. A l i e v a , O p r i m e n e n i i ź e n s k o g o i d i e l s k o g o t r u d a v s e l s k o m c h o z j a j s t v e A z e r b a j d é a n a v o v t o r o j p o l o v i n e X I X v e k a , „ I z v e s t ija A k a d e m ii N a u k A z o r b a jd ź a n s k o j SSR" 1965, S e r i ja o b s c u s t v c n n y c h n a u k , N o . 4, p. 44— 53. 7 G. D. D z a v a d o v , O n a r o d n v c h s p o s o b a c h o b r a b o t k i p o c v y v s e v e r o - v o s t o c n y c l i r a.j on ach d o r e v o l u c i o n n o g o A z e r b a j d ź a n a , [in :] M a t e r i a ł y p e r v o j n a u ë n o j k o n l e r e n c i i a s p i r a n t o v I n s t i l u l a l s t o r i i A k a d e m i i N a u k A z e r b a j d î a n s k o j S SR , B ak u 1965; G. D. D z a v d d o v , N e k o t o r y e z e m l e d e l ć e s k i e o r u d i j a s e v e r o - v o s l o c n o g o A z e r b a j d ź a n a , „ lz v o s ti ja A k a d e m ii N a u k A z o r b a jd ź a n s k o j SSR " 1966, S e r i ja is to r ii, tilo z o f i' i p r a v a , N o . 2; G. D. D ż a v a d o v , N e k o t o r y e l i t e r a t u r n y e m a t e r i a ł y o p a c h o t n y c h o r u d i j a c h A z e r b a j d ź a n a v X I X v . , [in:] A z e r b a j d ź a n s k i j e l n o g r a h - c e s k i j s b o r n i k , N o . 2, Baku 1967,- G. D. D z a v a d o v , Z e m l e d e l ć e s k i e o r u d i j a A z e r b a j d ź a n a v X l X - n a è a l e X X w . ( E t n o g r a f i ć e s k i e i s s l e d o v a n i j a p o m a t e r i a ł o m b e v e r o - v o s t o c n y c h r a j o n o v ) , B aku 1967, p. 3— 26. 8 A . S. M i 1 m J n, P o l i t i ć e s k i j s t r ó j A z e r b a j d ź a n a v X l X - n a ć a l e X X v e k o v , B .ik u 1968. 9 A . S. S i i m b a t - z a d e , S o l k o l k a c k i e z a v e d e n i j a A z e r b a j d ź a n a v X I X v e k e , „ I z v o s li ja A k a d e m ii N a u k A z o r b a jd ź a n s k o j SSR " 1958, S e r ija o b l ć e s t v e n n y c h n au k . N o . 6, p. 17 25; G. G. T e r - O v a n e s o v, N e k o t o r y e o s o b e n n o s t i r a z v i t i j a r y b a o j p r o m y ś i e n n o s l i A z e r b a j d ź a n a v X I X i n a c a l e X X v e k a , „ T r u d y I n s ti tu t a E k o -n om ii A k a d e m ii N a u k A z o r b a jd ź a -n s k o j SSR" 1958, N o . 4, p. 87— 129; G. L. J o f e, ź o l k o v o d s ! v o i p e r e r o b k a s o l k a v Z a k a v k a z e к 9 0- m g o d a m X I X v e k a , „ T a ś k e n ts k ij
Ii k s til n y j I n s titu t. S b o r n ik N a u c n y c h R a b ot" 1964, N o . 16, p. 165— 180; M . D. I b r a -g i m o v , К v o p r o s u о v l i j a n i p e r v o j m i r o v o j v o j n y n a n e l t j a n n o e p r o i z v o d s t v o b a k i n s k o g o r a j o n a (1914 1917 g o d y ) , „ A z e r b a j d ż a a s k ij U n iv e r s it e t . U c ë n y e Z d p is k i" 1968, S e r ij a i: to r ii i l i lo z o l i i, N o . 1, p. 62 -69; L. M . A l i e v a , R a b o ć e - t e k s t i l ś ć i k i
a sh o rt p er io d of calm , th e class stru g g le w as in ten sifie d a g a in b e tw e en 1910 a n d 191410. T h e h ar d tim es of th e F ir st W o r ld W a r w e r e to fo llo w 11. T h e e v e n ts of P io tr o g ra d in 1970 e c h o e d str o n g ly in Baku. T h e n ew s a b o u t th e F e b r u a ry R ev o lu tio n an d a b o litio n of tsa r ism w e re w elc o m ed w ith a co m m o n jo y in Baku. S p o n ta n e o u s d e m o n stra tio n s w e r e o r g a n i-zed in th e s tr e e ts of B aku a n d o n p re m ises of d if fe re n t in d u stria l p la n ts in the fir st d a y s of M arch.
A t the b eg inn in g , th e p o w e r in th e C au c a su s w a s assu m e d b y c o m -m ittee s co -m p o sed fo r th e ir -m o st p a r t of -m o d er a te g ro u p s, th e so -c alled ca d ets, so cia l r e v o lu tio n a r ie s, M e n sh e v ik s an d r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s of th e G e o rg ian , A rm e n ia n a n d A z e r b a ija n b o u r g e o isie . S im u ltan e o u sly , h o -w e v e r, in m an y to -w n s of th e T ra n sc a u c a su s, an d e sp e c ia lly in Baku, B olshe viks in te n sifie d th e ir a c tiv ity .
T h e n ew s ab o u t th e O c to b e r e v e n ts in P io tr o g ra d fo u n d th e ir r e p e r -cu ssio n s in Baku. O n 27th O c to b e r (9th N o v em b er) 1917, a n e n la r g e d co u n cil of w o rk e r s' r e p re se n ta tiv e s, w ith p a r tic ip a tio n of a b o u t fou r
10 Z. I. A . I b r a g i m o v , R e v o l j u c i j a 1905— 1907 gg. v A z e r b a j d ź a n e , B ak u
19.54, p. 188— 264; A . A . A b d u r r a c h m a n o v , P e r v y j b a k i n s k i j s o v e t r a b o ć i c h d e p u l a t o v 1 1 90 5 —1906 g g. ) , „ T r u d y In stiitu ta I s tor ii P a r tii p ri C K KP A z e r b a jd ź a n a "
1955, N o . 12, p. 122— 147; N . K. S a г к i s о v, R a b o ć y e d v i i e n i e v B a ku v p e r i o d o b ś ć e r o s s i j s k o j o k t j a b r s k o j p o l i t i ć e s k o j f t a c k i 1905 д ., „ U ć e n y o Z a p is k i A z e r b a j- d ia n s k o g o G o s u d a r s t v e n n o g o U n i v e r s itc ta " 1955, N o . 10, p. 35— 43; I. V . S t r i g u -II о v, l z i s t o r i i l o r m i r o v a n i j a b a k i n s k o g o p r o l e t a r i a t a 170— 90 g o d y X I X v. ), B aku 1960, p. 77— 271; G. S. K a s i m o v , B or h a b a k i n s k i c h r a b o ć i c h p o d r u k o v o d s t v o m h o l S e v i t s k o j o r g a n i z a c i i z a k o l ' e k t i v n y j d o g o v o r i e g o o s u S c e s l v l e n i j e (1904— 1907 gg. ), B ak u 1961, p. 7— 30; 1. V . S t r i g u n o v , Za r a b o t n a j a p l a t a b a k i n s k i c h r a b o ć i c h v k o n c e X I X v . , „T r u d y I n s t itu te I s tor ii A k a d e m ii N a u k A z o r b a jd ź a n s k o j SSR " 1961, N o . 15, p. 60— 121; N . A . S a с h r i m a n o v a , V s e o b s é a j a z a b a s t o v k a m o r j a k o v K a s p i j s k o g o t o r g o v o g o t l o t a 1907 д ., „ I z v o s lij a A k a d e m ii N a u k A z o r b a j d ź a n s k o j SSR" 1961, N o . 12, p. 3— 17,- N . K. S a r k i s o v , B o r b a b a k i n s k o g o p r o l e t a r i a t a v p e r i o d p e r v o j r u s s k o j r e v o l j u c i i , B aku 1965, p. 45— 184; I. M . G a s a n o v , C a- r i z m d u s i t i e l k r e s t j a n s k o g o d v i i e n i j a , „ I z v e s ti ja A k a d e m ii N a u k A z e r b a jd ż a n s k o j SSR " 1968, S o r ija is to r i i, fi lo z o f ii i p r a va , N o . 1, p. 23— 29; B. J. S t e 1 n i k, Ba- k i n s k i j p r o l e t a r i a t v g o d y r e a k c u (1907 — 1910), B ak u 1969, p. 98— 189; M . I. P a- s a e v , R é v o l u e j o n n o e d v i z e n i e i e l e z n o d o r o ź n y c h r a b o ć i c h A z e r b a j d ź a n a v 1905 —• — 1907 gg. , B ak u 1970, p. 7— 23. 11 G. D a 11 а к j a n, Iz i s t o r i i k l a s s o w o j b o r b y b a k i n s k o g o p r o l e t a r i a t a , „ l z v e - s t i ja A k a d e m ii N a u k A r m ja n s k o j SSR " 1956, O b s ë e s t v e n n y j o n a u k i, N o . 6, p. 3— 16; N . A . S а с h r a m a n о v a, V l i j a n i e p e r v o j m i r o v o j v o j n y n a e k o n o m i k y A z e r b a j d i a - n a , „ A z e r b a jd ż a n s k i j U n iv e r s ite t . U ć e n y o Z a p is k i" 1964, N o . 7, p. 37— 46 ; D ż. C h. G u s o i n o v, P o ł o ż e n i e i k l a s s o v a j a b o r b a k r e s t j a n A z e r b a j d ź a n a v p e r i o d p e r v o ) m i r o v o j v o j n y , B ak u 1967, p. 7— 27; S. I. В a s i 1 a j a, Za k a v k a z e v g o d y p e r v o i m i r o v o j v o j n y , S u c h u m i 1968, p. 88 -344; G. S. A 1 i j a s о v , l n i e r n a c i o n a l n y j s o - s t a v i e d i n s l v o p r o l e t a r i a t a A z e r b a j d ź a n a ( k a n u n i p e r i o d I m i r o v o j v o j n y ) , „ U c e n y o
Z a p is k i A z o r b a jd ż a n s k o g o U n iv e r s i te ta " 1973, S er ija is to r iC e s k ic h i lilo s o fiC e s k i c h n a u k , N o . 6, p. 105— 114.
h u n d re d p e rs o n s, m e t th er e . R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s of m o d e ra te so c ialist g ro u p s o r e v e n of p e tty b o u rg e o isie sittin g o n th is co u n c il a tte m p te d to sto p B o lshe viks fro m seiz in g th e p o w e r. D esp ite th is, u n d e r a stro n g p r e ss u r e of w o rk in g m a sses a n d so ld ie rs from a lo cal g a r r i s o n s u p p o r -tin g th e r e v o lu tio n , th e co u n cil e s ta b lis h e d th e S o v ie t a u t h o r i tie s in B aku on 31st O c to b e r (13th N o v e m b e r )12.
B aku w a s a to w n, in w h ic h th r e e p o p u la tio n g ro u p s p re d o m in a te d : A z e rb a ijan s (the so -ca lle d T ra n sc a u c a s ia n T a r ta r s, c alled T a r ta r s in
P rzedw iośnie), A rm e n ia n s a n d R u ssian s. F o r a lo n g tim e, th e re h a d
e x is te d a co n flict b e tw e e n th e M o slem A z e r b a ija n p o p u la tio n a n d th e C h ristia n A rm e n ia n p o p u la tio n . T h ese a n ta g o n ism s w e r e a d d itio n a lly e x c ite d b y th e ts a r i s t g e n d a r m e rie , a n d still in th e y e a r s 1905— 1907 th e y h ad b e e n c a u sin g m u tu al c o n flicts a ssu m in g a fo r m of t r u e p o g -rom s a t tim es. In 1907 a n d e a r l y 1908, th e s e m u tu a l A z e rb aijan - A rm e - n ian a n ta g o n ism s c o n tin u e d to o cc u r w ith a n in ten sifie d fo rce. I t w a s a t th a t tim e th a t p o g ro m s w o u ld o c cu r in w h ic h m a n y p e rs o n s o n b o th sid es lo st th e ir liv es.
Ż ero m sk i's in fo rm an ts g av e him q u ite a g o o d in sig h t in to th e a tm o s -p h e r e -p r e v a ilin g in B ak u a t th a t m o m ent. It is w o rt h q u o tin g h e r e th e w o r d s of a l a t e r w r it e r S ta n isła w S tr u m p h W o jtk ie w icz , w h o w a s co m p le tin g his g ra m m a r sch o o l in B aku then. M a n y y e a r s la te r, h e r e c o lle c -ted th e h o p es se t ,,by th e P o lish y o u th o n th e R u ssia n r e v o lu t io n " 1*. T h is c a n b e re fe rr e d , a n y w ay , to a p r e d o m in a n t p a r t of y o u n g p e o p le liv in g in th a t re g io n . In fact, th e ro le of y o u n g p e o p le in th e r e v o lu -ti o n a r y e v e n ts in th e T ra n sc a u c a su s in 1917 a n d 1918 w a s w e r y b ig 14. S h o rt in f o rm a tio n c a n b e also f o u n d in P r ze d w io śn ie a b o u t m u tu a l co n flicts b e tw e e n A z e r b a ija n s a n d A r m e n ia n s ta k in g p la c e in th o se m o nth s. A n y w a y , it is v e r y d iffic u lt to fin d o u t w h e th e r Ż e ro m sk i w r o te ab o u t th o se e v e n ts in a tru th f u l w a y o r w h e th e r h e te n d e d to m ag n ify them . O n th e o th e r h a n d , h e m ad e a c e r ta in se e m in g ly sm all m istak e, hardily n o tic e a b le fo r t h e m o d e rn P o lis h r e a d e r , w h ich c a u se d , h o w e v er , th a t th e S o v iet p u b lic o p in io n a c c e p te d w ith a big d o se of d isg u st th e d e sc r ip tio n of th e e v e n ts in B aku a s p r e s e n te d b y th e P olish n o v elist. T h e p o in t is th a t Ż e ro m sk i claim s th a t S h au m ian w as
»* S. B i e l e n k i j , A . M a v i e 1 о v , R e v o l j u v i j a 1917 g o d a v A z e r b a j d i a n e ,
B aku 1927, p. 9— 243; S. E f e n d i e v a , S e n t j a b r s k i e z a b a s t o v k i b a k i n s k o g o p r o l e -t a r i a l a v 1917 g o d u , „ T r u d y A z e r b a j d ź a n s k o g o G o s u d a r s -tv e n n o g o P e d a g o g ić e s k o g o
I n s titu td im. V . I. L e n in a" 1953, N o . 6, p. 137— 138; N . N . K o l e s n i k o v a , I z i s t o r i i b o r b y z a s o v e t s k u j u v l a s t v B a k u , B ak u 1954, p . 5 — 117.
13 S t r u m p h - W o j t k i e w i c z , op. ci t. , p. 86.
14 G. A v e t i s j a n, O k t j a b r s k a j a r e v o l j u c i j a i m o l o d e i ' Z a k a v k a z j a , „K om m u
a le ad in g r e p re s e n ta tiv e of th e A rm e n ia n n a tio n a lis ts, w h o w a s su p -p o se d to b e c o lla b o r a tin g w ith th e B ritish in te r v e n e r s in B ak u ,r .
In th is p lace, it is n e c e ss a r y to m en tio n , a t le ast, b rief ly a b o u t S tie p a n S h au m ia n 's a c ti v i tie s 16. H e w a s u n d e o u b te d ly o n e of th e g r e a t e st h e r o e s of th e r e v o lu tio n a r y m o v em en t in th e C a u c asu s. A n A rm e -n ia -n b y b irth , he w as fa r from a -n y -n a tio -n a listic p re ju d ic e s. Both i-n B aku a n d in o th er T r a n sc a u c a sia n re g io n s, h e fo u g h t w ith all h is e n e r -g y for th e p r o le t a r ia t's ri-g h ts. B etra y e d b y c o u n te r - re v o lu tio n is ts an d h a n d e d o v e r to th e B ritish in te r v e n ti o n is t tro o p s to g e th e r w ith a g ro u p of th e so -c a lle d B aku c o m m issa rs in clu d in g A z e rb aija n s, O rm ian s, R u s-sia n s a n d o th e r s h e w as m u rd e re d b y th em in T u rk m en ia , w h e r e th ey h a d b ee n rem o v e d . T h e m em o ry of h e r o ic d ee d s of S h a u m ia n as a co m m issar c o n tin u e s to be v e r y v iv id in th e e n ti r e T ra n sc a u c a su s. S e v e ra l to w n s h a v e b ee n c a lle d a f te r th is firs t n a m e or su r n a m e (e.g. th e c ap ita l of th e so -called U p p e r-K ar ab a h s k iy a u to n o m o u s re g io n in A z e r b a ija n — S tie p a n a k e r t c a r r ie s h is fir st nam e). A lm o st in e v e r y to w n of th e T r a n s ca u c a su s, o n e ca n find a s tr e e t o r a s q u a r e n am ed a fte r him , an d m o n u m e n ts of S h au m ia n h a v e b e e n e r e c te d in n u m e -ro u s to w n s b e lo n g in g to th at reg io n . H is m em o ry is su r r o u n d e d w ith a re m a r k a b le r e v e r e n c e an d resp e ct.
15 „In M arc h 1918, o n e p art of th e in h a b i ta n ts i.e. A r m e n ia n s le d b y S h a u m ia n tz m a n a g e d to c o n v in c e th e c o m m a n d e r of th e E n glis h tr o o p s th at h e s h o u ld l o c a te h is a r til le r y , in fa n tr y an d c a v a l r y in t h e c e n tr e of a s t r a tc h e d o u t s e tt le m e n t of B ak u [...] O n t h e s t r e n g th of a tr e a ty c o n c l u d e d b y th e c o m m a n d e r S h a u m ia n tz w ith th e E n g lis h , t h e t o w n o f B:iku was- to r a is e s o m e th in g l ik e t r o o p s or l e v y in m as s" . S e e : Ż e r o m s k i , op . ci t ., c h a p . 6. 16 A . K a r i n j a n , S a u m j a n i n a c i o n a l i s t i c e s k i e l e c e n i e na K a v k a z e , B i k u 1928, p. 7 — 41; G. G u s e i n o v , O b o d n o j l i l o s o l s k o j r a b o t i e S t e p a n a S a u m j a n a , ,, Do- k la d y A k a d e m ii N a u k A z e r b a j d ż a n s k o j SSR" 1948, N o . 1, p. 32— 34; A . L. D y in -s i с, S. G. S a u m j a n о l i t e r a t u r e , „ U ć e n y e Z a p is k i L e n in g r a d s k o g o G o s u d a r s tv c n n o - g o P e d a g o g i ć e s k o g o I n s titu te im . A . I. G e r c e n a ’' 1955, N d . 107, p. 361— 369; C h . A. B a r s e g j a n , S t e p a n S a u m j a n . O é e r k i u r n a l i s t s k o - p u b l i c i s t i ë e s k o j d e j a ' e l n o s t i , E r e v a n 1955, p. 48— 204; G. S. A g a d z a n j a n, N c k o t o r y e p r o b l e m y t e o r i i i s t o r i - c e s k o g o m a l e r i a l i z m a v t r u d a c h S t e p a n a S an m i a n a , „ U ć e n y e Z a p is k i E r e va n stc og o
R tis s k o g o P e d a g o g i ć e a k o g o I n s t i t u a im. A., A . Z d a n o v a ” 1958, N o . 6, p. 65- -97; G. S. А к о n j a n, P e r e p i s k a V . I, L e n i n a i S. G. S a u m j a n a p o n a c i o n a l n o m v o - p r o su , „ V o p r o s y I stor ii" 1956, N o . 8, p. 3 — 14; Ja . I. С h a ć i к j a n, B or ba S. G. S a u m ja n a za m a r k s i s t o s k o - l e n i n s k o j e p p n i m a n e r ol i n a r o d n y c h m a s s v i s t o r i i , E r e v an 1956, p. 33— 141; S. T. К a l t a c h ê j a n , B j r b a S. G. S a u m j a n a z a t e o r i j u i t a k t i k u l e n i n i z m a , M o s k v a 1956, p. 9 9 --2 0 3 ; G. S . A g a n d i a n j a n, V o ' i t o v f m a r k s n t o - - l e n i n s k o j t e o r i i v t r u d a c h S t e p a n a S a u m j a n a , E r e v a n 1958, p. 57— 214; A . V o s - k o r ć j a n , S t e p a n S a u m j a n i v o p r o s y l i t e r a t u r y , M o s k v a 1959, p. 4 5 --2 0 7 ; C h. A. B a r s e g j a n , S t e p a n S a u m j a n . O ć e r k t i r n a l i s l s k o - p u b l i c i s t i ć e s k j j d e j a t e l n o s 1 i, z v e s t n y e r a o o t y S. G. S a u m j a n a , „ I z v e s tij a A k a d e m ii N a u k A r m ja n s k o j SSR " '9 62 S e r ija o b ś ć f',s tv e n n y c h n .iu k , N o . 10, p, 51— 60,
It ca n b e su p p o se d th a t Ż ero m sk i h a d n o in te n tio n to p r e s e n t th e p er so n of S h au m ian in a fa lse w ay . H e sim p ly re lie d o n n o t to o p r e -cise r e la tio n s of h is in fo rm a n ts, w ho h a d m ista k e n S h a u m ia n w ith so m e o th e r le a d e r of A r m e n ia n n a tio n a lists, a n d w ith o u t v e r if y in g th e ir r e li a -b ility , w 'hich h e co u ld h a v e d o n e w it h o u t a n y -b ig g e r e f f o r t in W a r s a w lib r a rie s in th o se y ea rs, th e P o lish w r ite r in c lu d ed in to his n o v el su ch in fo rm a tio n ir r ita t in g th e T r a n sc a u c a si a n p u b lic o p in ion . A s a r e su lt, th is b oo k w h ic h m ig ht h a v e a r o u s e d m o st c e r ta in l y th e in t e r e s t of S o-v ie t r e a d e rs , a n d e sp e c ia lly th o se from th e T r a n sc a u c a su s , a f te r its sh o r t-te rm su c c e ss e s 17 h a s re m a in e d alm o st co m p le tely u n k n o w n for them . M ea n w h ile , th e r e is a c e r ta in p iq u a n t d etail, w h ic h co u ld be m en tio n ed h e re . It a p p e a rs th a t som e A z e r b a ija n n a tio n a lis ts, v e r y h o stile to w a r d s all A rm e n ia n s, re c o lle c t w ith fond m em o ries S tefan Ż ero m sk i — a P o lish a u th o r v e r y little k n o w n to th em , w h o a c c o r d in g to th em „ p r o p e rly " e v a lu a t e d S hau m ian.
Ż e ro m sk i w r o te w ith h is g r e a t e s t p a ssio n th e se fra g m en ts of Przed
-w io śn ie -w h ich c o n c e r n g ru e so m e m a s sa c re s co m m itte d b y th e T u rk is h
tro o p s in B aku w ith in th e la s t few w ee k s of th e F ir st W o r ld W a r . A s it is k n o w n still in a u tu m n 1914 u n d e r a stro n g p r e s s u r e of th e G e r -m an d ip lo -m a tic se rv ic e , T u rk e y co -m -m en c ed w a r o p e r a tio n s a g a in st R u ssia. A lre ad y on 29th an d 30th of O c to b e r, th e G e rm a n w a rs h ip s on th e B lack Sea, a ssisted b y th e T u rk ish n av y , sta rte d sh ellin g R u ssian p o rts on th e B lack Sea. A d a y la te r, su b sta n tia l T u rk is h fo rces, co m -p o se d of th e b es t arm e d an d tr a i n e d d iv isio n s, c ro sse d th e R u ssia n b o rd e r s an d e n t e r e d G e o rg ia an d A rm e n ia . A t t h e sa m e tim e, T u rk is h s e c re t ag e n ts b e g a n th eir d iv e r s io n a r y a c tiv itie s on a r e a s in h a b ite d b y M u slim p o p u la tio n , in clu d in g A z e r b a ija n . C h a ir i Efendi, a d ig n ita r y of th e M u slim c le rg y in T u rk e y , p ro cla im e d a „h o ly w a r ” of Islam a g a in s t „in fid els" on 11th N o v e m b e r 1914. A nd, sim u lta n e o u s ly , th e ch ief co m m a n d er of th e T u r k ish tro o p s on th e C a u c a sia n f ro n t E n v er p ash a in h is p ro c la m a tio n to so ld ie rs p ro m ised th em h u g e tro p h ies in th e C au ca su s a n d e n c o u r a g e d th em r a th e r e x p lic itly to ro b b e r ie s and v io la tio n s on C h r is tia n p o p u la tio n 18.
17 I n itia l s u c c e s s e s of P r z e d w i o ś n i e in th e S o v i e t U n io n w e r e t r e m e n d o u s (W . B r o n i e w s k i , C o m y ś l ą b o l s z e w i c y o l i t e r a t u r z e p o l s k i e j ? , „ W ia d o m o ś c i L ite r a c k ie " 1925, N o . 39, p. 2). H o w e v e r , in l a t e r y e a r s th e S o v i e t p u b lic o p in io n b e g a n to a s s u m e an i n c r e a s in g ly m o r e c r it ic a l a ttit u d e to t h i s b o o k (E. Z. С y - b e n k o , T v o r c e s t v o Z e r o m s k o g o v R o s s i i i S o v e t s k o m S o j u z e , [in :] l z i s t o r i i p o l s k o - - r u s s k i c h l i t e r a t u r n y c h s v j a z e j X I X — X X v „ M o s k v a 1978, p. 213— 236; E Z. С y - b e n k o , P o l s k a j a l i l i e r a t u r a r u b i e i a X I X i X X v e k o v v R o s s i i , [in :] R u s s k a j a i p o l -s k a j a l i ' e r a t u r a k o n c a X l X - n a c a l a X X v e k a , M o -s k v a 1981, p. 237— 263). 18 E. K. S a r k i s j a n , E k s p a n s i o n i s t s k a j a p o l i t i k a o s m a n s k o j i m p e r i i v Z a k a v - k a z e n a k a n u n e i v g o d y p e r v o j m i r o v o j v o j n y , E r e v a n 1962, p. 124— 459.
T h e first w e e k s of fig h tin g see m ed to b e a u g e r in g sig n ifica n t s u c -ce sses for th e O tto m a n ar m y , w h ic h to o k o v e r c o n tro l. T h e T u r k s a tta c k e d n o t o n ly in G e o rg ia an d A r m e n ia , b u t th e y also v io la te d n e u t ra lity of Ir an an d m ov ed in to th is c o u n tr y in o rd e r to g e t into A z e rb a ija n an d c a p tu r e su ch a n im p o r tan t ec o n o m ic an d str ate g ic c e n tr e a s Baku. H o w e v e r, e x t r e m e ly to u g h b attle s fo u g h t on th e Rus- sia n -T u rk ish fr o n t from th e b e g in n in g of D ece m b er 1914 till e a r ly J a n u a r y 1915 c a u se d th a t th e T u rk ish o ffen siv e w a s c h e c k e d an d th e in itia tiv e p a s se d to th e R u ssia n tro o p s. T he O tto m a n tro o p s w e re p u sh e d o u t of Iran , a n d in th e T u rk ish A rm e n ia , th e R u ssia n fo r ces c a p tu r e d a n u m b er of v e r y im p o r ta n t s tra te g ic p oin ts.
D isin te g r atio n of th e R u ssia n a rm y o n th e C a u c a sia n fro nt, w h ich to o k p la c e in th e late 1917 a n d e a r ly 1918, a llo w e d th e T u rk s to assu m e in itia tiv e ag ain . In G e o rg ia, th e T u rk is h tro o p s c a p tu r e d B atu m and s e v e ra l o th er r e g io n s s itu a t e d to th e n o r th an d e a s t of th is to w n. S im u l-tan e o u sly , th e O tto m an tr o o p s p ro c e e d e d d ee p in sid e A rm en ia an d s ta r te d ap p r o a c h in g A z e rb a ija n 's b o rd e rs. A t th e in v ita tio n of M en sh e -v ik G e o r g ia n a u th o ritie s , th e C au ca su s w as e n te re d from th e N o rth - -W e st b y q u ite sm all G e rm an tro o p s, w h ich m oved, h o w e v er , in to th e m o st im p o rta n t to w n s in G eo rg ia. In Baku, th e B ritish a g e n ts su c c e e -d e-d in a sse m b in g a jo in t f ro n t of c o u n te r -r e v o lu tio n a r y fo rc es in J u ly 1918 co m p o sed of b o th so cia l r e v o lu tio n a r ie s a n d R u ssia n M e n sh e v ik s a n d A z er b a ija n an d A rm e n ia n n a tio n a lists. O n 31st J u ly 1918, th e S o v ie t a u th o ritie s in B aku w e re o v e rth r o w n . S e v e r al d a y s late r, an d n a m e ly o n 4th A u g u st, th e B ritish lan d in g tr o o p s19, w h ich h ad left th e Ir a n ia n p o rt — Enzeli on th e C asp ia n S ea o cc u p ie d b y G r e a t B ri-tain , lan d e d in B aku 20.
It is p e r h a p s w o r th a d d in g h e r e on e p iq u a n t d etail. N a m e ly , in th is lan d in g o p e r a tio n a le ad in g ro le w a s p la y e d b y a fo r m er R u ssia n b a t-tlesh ip n am ed ,,P riezid e n t H rju g ie r " in h o n o u r of th e h e ro ic p r e sid e n t of T ra n sw a a l fam ed for h is stu b b o r n d ef en c e of a tin y S o u th -A fric an s ta te a g a in st th e B ritish a g g re sso r s, w ith K rü g e r 's p o r tr a it d isp la y e d p ro m in e n tly in sid e th e ship.
T he B ritish forces, w h ic h lan d e d in B aku w e r e n o t too n u m er o u s. T h ey c o n sisted of se v e r a l h u n d re d so ld ie rs at th e b e g in n in g , an d la te r on of a th o u sa n d and a few h u n d r e d so lid iers. T h e ir o p e r atio n s b e g u n w ith d e p o rtin g to T u rk m e n and m u r d er in g th e r e 26 S o v iet co m m issars w ith fo rem o st of them b ein g S h au m ian.
19 I. V . G a d 2 i с V, A n ' i * o v c $ l k a j a i n ' e r v o n c i t a A n g l i i nn K a v k n c (101C— 1920 gg. ),
M a c h a ć k a la 1958, p. fi -7.
» L. I. M i г с ś ii i к о v, A i i g l i j s k a j a e k s p a n s i j a v f r a n c (1914 1920), МопЦул 1961, p. 57— 217.
M ea nw hile , b e n e f i t in g fro m a g e n e ra l ch ao s, r e la t iv e ly sm all T u r -k ish forces u n e x p e c ted ly a p p r o a c h e d B a-ku21. A t first, th e y w e r e d r i-ven. b ac k , b u t in th e f irs t h alf of S ep tem b er , th e T u r k s m a n ag e d in g a th e r in g m u ch b ig g er ar m e d tro o p s n e a r th e tow n. T h e B ritish p e r -tu rb ed b y th e se d e v elo p m en ts e m b a rk e d o n 14th S ep tem b er 1918 an d saile d off to E nzeli le a v in g th e ir y e s te r d a y 's a llie s to th em se lv es. T h e d e a th sc e n e of e ig h t h u n d re d B ritish ers k ille d b y th e T u rk s d esc rib e d in P rzed w io śn ie w as la r g e ly e x a g g e r a te d b y Ż ero m sk i as acc o rd in g to th e d ata of th e B ritish com m a nd in g staff, th e to tal B ritish lo sses in th e c o u rse of fig hts in B aku r e a ch e d o n ly 180 p e r s o n s22.
O n 15th S ep tem b er 1918, th e T u rk s c a p tu r e d B ak u 23, w h ic h m a rk e d a b e g in n in g of o n e of th e m ost tr a g ic e v e n ts of th o se tim es. W ith in a few d ay s, th e T u r k s p e r fo r m e d a te r r ib le m a s sa c r e of th e C h ri stia n p o p u latio n an d, fir st of all, of A rm e n ia n s. T h e in fo rm a tio n p r e s e n te d in P rze d w io śn i e say in g th a t „d u rin g fo u r d a y s [...] th e r e w e r e m u r d e r e d s e v e n ty th o u s a n d A r m e n ia n s, R u ssia n s a n d all o th e rs, w h o h a p p e n e d to be n e a r b y an d w e r e su s p e c te d of sy m p ath iz in g w ith A rm e -n i a -n s" 24 is a little e x a g g e r a te d . By c o m p ariso -n , th e p re s e -n t S o v ie t h isto r io g r a p h y e s tim a te s th e n u m b er of v ic tim s k ille d in th e S ep tem -b er m a ss ac re a t ca. 30— 35 th o u sa n d p e r s o n s 2f. N o n e th e le ss , in so m e d istric ts in h a b ited b y th e A rm e n ia n p o p u la tio n o n ly a few p e r so n s m a n ag e d to s a v e th e ir liv es.
It sh o u ld b e a d m itte d th a t a lth o u g h Ż e ro m sk i did n o t w itn e ss th e s e g ru e so m e sce n es him self, h e m an a g e d to g ra sp g u ite fa ith fu lly th e s itu a tio n in B ak u a t th a t tim e. A n y w a y , it is h a r d to d e te r m in e w h e -th er a c r e d it fo r -th is sh o u ld go to -th e g r e a t P o lish n o v e lis t o r -th e la d ies w ho in fo rm ed him a b o u t it. H o w e v er , w h e n w e r e a d th e sc en e s from P r zed w io śn i e w r itt e n so su g g e stiv e ly a n d c o m p ar e th em w ith r e -latio n s of e y e w itn e s se s o r la te r h i st o r ia n s a n a ly z in g th o se e v e n ts, w e c a n n o t find a n y in a cc u rac ie s. In c id e n ta lly , it co u ld b e ad d ed th a t in th e seco n d p a r t of S e p te m -b er a n d in O c to -b e r 1918, th e T u rk s m a n a g e d to w in co n tro l n o t o n ly и А . В. К a d i 5 e v , I n t e r v e n c i j a i g r a i d a n s k a j a v o j n a v Z a k a v k a z e , M o s k w a 1960, p. 131. 52 G e n e r a l m a j o r D e n l e r v i l ' . B r i l a n s k i j i m p e r i a l i z m v B a k u i P e r s i i 1917— 1918. V o s p o m i n a n l j a , T if lis 1925, p. 270— 278. и D. E n u k i d z e , K r a c h i m p e r i a l i s l i c e s k o j i n t e r v e n c i i v Z a k a v k a z e , T b ili s i 1954, p. 85. “ Ż e r o m s k i , o p. c i t ., ch ap . 6. 13 E. A . T o k a r ż o w s k i j , l z i s t o r i i i n o s t r a n n o j I n t e r v e n c i i i g r a i d a n s k o j v o j n y v A z e r b a j d ź a n e , B ak u 1957, p. 100; L. M . L i f ś i c, G e r o i ć e s k i j p o d w i g b a k i n s k i c h b o l à e v i k o v ( l z i s t o r i i b o r b y z a p o b i e d u s o c i a l i s t i è e s k o j r e v o l u c i i v A z e r b a j d i a n e v 1917— 1918 g g. ), B ak u 1964, p. 255.
o v e r a big p a r t of A z e r b a ija n b u t also m an y im p o rta n t c e n tre s in D a gestan . T h e y w e r e e v e n g e ttin g r e a d y to sen d th eir fo r ces to T u r -k estan . H o w ev er, in th e first d a y s of N o v em b e r 1918, th e T u r-k s w e re fo rced to w ith d ra w from th e T r a n sc a u c a s u s b y th e E n ten te. It could b e m e n tio n e d h e r e th a t co m p le te ly d e m o ra liz ed O tto m an tro o p s l e a -v in g A z e rb a ijan a n d A rm e n ia co m m itted m an y r o b e rie s an d m u rders,
th e v ic tim s of w h ich w e r e n o t o n ly A rm e n ia n s b u t a lso R u ssia n s o r e v e n M uslim in h a b itan ts of th e T ra n sc a u c a su s. T h e B ritish la n d ed in B aku d es e rte d b y th e T u rk s on 17th N o v e m b e r 19 1 826.
F in ally , e v a lu a tin g all fra g m en ts of P rzed w io śn ie lo c a te d in Baku b y Ż erom sk i, it m u st b e a d m itte d t h a t th e y g e n e r a lly co n fo rm to th e h isto ric al tru th . A n d it w as o n ly th e v e r y u n p le a sa n t b lu n d e r c o n c e r-n ir-n g S tiep ar-n S h au m iar-n — a p e r so r-n so g r e a t ly r e sp e c te d ir-n the tr a d i-tio n of th e T ra n sc a u c a su s — w h ic h c a u se d th a t th is n o v e l a fte r its
b rie f su c c e ss in th e S o v ie t U n io n fell in to o b liv io n . M ea n w h ile , in th e T ra n sc au c a su s, th e r e h a s b e e n c o n so lid ate d a v ie w th a t it is a n o vel g iv in g a n u n f air a n d f a lse d e sc r ip tio n of th e e v e n ts from th e y e a r s
1917— 1918, w h ich to o k p la c e in Baku. I n t e r c o l le g i a te I n s t it u te of H is t o r y , U n iv e r s i ty of Ł ód ź K r z y s z t o l B a r a n o w s k i B A K U Z P R Z E D W I O Ś N I A S T E F A N A Ż E R O M S K IE G O Z a j e d n o z n a jw i ę k s z y c h a r c y d z i e ł li te r a t u r y p o ls k i e j u w a ż a s ię p o w ie ś ć S t e -fa n a Ż e r o m s k ie g o P r z e d w i o ś n i e . N a j b a r d z i e j s u g e s t y w n ie s ą n a p is a n e z p e w n o ś c ią p ie r w s z e r o z d z ia ły te j p o w ie ś c i , k tó r y c h a k c ja z o s ta ła u m i e js c o w i o n a w B ak u , l e ż ą -c y m w A z e r b e jd ż a n i e , w o k r e s i e r e w o l u -c j i, a m ia n o w i -c ie w 191? i 1918 r. Ż e ro m s k i n ig d y n ie b y ł w B ak u i n ie z n a ł t e r e n ó w K au k a zu . P r a w d o p o d o b n i e j e g o in fo rm a- to r k a m i b y ł y d w i e p a n ie z e ś r o d o w is k a p o l s k i e j k o l o n i i w ty m m ie ś c i e , k tó r e g o i n f o r m o w a ły o w y d a r z e n i a c h m a ją c y c h m i e js c e n a z a c h o d n ic h w y b r z e ż a c h M or z a K a s p ijs k ie g o . Ż e r o m s k i w n a jz u p e łn ie j w ie r n y s p o s ó b p r z e d s ta w i ł r o z w ó j g o s p o d a r c z y t a m t e g o m ia s ta , j e g o z ło ż o n ą s tr u k tu r ę n a r o d o w o ś c io w ą , r e w o l u c y j n e t e n d e n c je p r o le ta r i a tu i m ło d z i e ż y t e g o m i a s ta w 1917 i 1918 r. W s p o s ó b n i e w z b u d z a ją c y p o -w a ż n i e j s z y c h z a s t r z e ż e ń Ż e r o m s k i p r z e d s t a -w i ł -w y d a r z e n i a p o l it y c z n e , j a k ie m ia ły m i e j s c e w t y m m ie ś c i e , a s z c z e g ó l n i e w k r o c z e n ie d o B ak u w e w r z e ś n i u 1918 r. 2e T o k a r ź e v s k i j , o p . c i t. , p. 181.
w o j s k tu r e c k ic h i d o k o n a n ą tura rz e ź lu d n o ś c i a r m e ń s k ie j . Z p e w n o ś c ią je d n a k d a n e li c z b o w e z o s t a ły t r o c h ę p r z e s a d z o n e (Ż e r om s k i p is a ł, ż e T u r c y w y m o r d o w a l i s i e d e m -d z i e s ią t k i l k i t y s i ę c y o s ó b , n o w s z e b a -d a n ia h is t o r y c z n e s z a c u ją li c z b ę n a 30— 35 t y s i ę c y ). Ż e r o m s k i p o p e łn i! je d n a k p o z o r n ie d r o b n y b łą d , k tó r y s p o w o d o w a ł , ż o j e g o k siążlk a s p o t k a ł a s ię z n e g a t y w n ą o c e n ą c z y t e l n i k ó w z te r e n ó w Z a k a u k a z ia . O tó ż b o h a te r e m d z i a ła ń r w o l u c y j n y c h n a t e r e n i e B ak u b y ł z n a n y d z i a ła c z b o ls z e w i c k i , a r m e ń s k ie g o p o c h o d z e n ia , S te fa n S za u m ia n r o z s tr z e la n y p ó ź n i e j, w r a z z in n y m i d z ia ła c z a m i r e w o lu c y j n y m i z B ak u , z p o le c e n i a a n g ie l s k i c h o k u p a n tó w n a t e r e n ie T u r k -m en ii. O tó ż ź le p o in fo r m o w a n y Ż e ro m s k i p is a ł o S z a u m i a n i e ja k o o p r z y w ó d c y n a c j o n a li s t ó w a r m e ń s k ic h , k tó r y s p r o w a d z ił A n g li k ó w d o B ak u . Z ty c h te ż p r z y c z y n n a te r e n ie Z a k a u k a z i a u tar ł s ię p o g lą d , żo p o w i e ś ć Ż e r o m s k ie g o p o d a je w f a ł s z y w y s p o s ó b o p is w y d a r z e ń z la t 1917— 1918 n a te r e n i e B ak u .
