source studies

The review is devoted to the first large-scale publication of sources on the culture of the Samara province during the First World War. The book was prepared by the staff of the Samara Regional Universal Scientific Library, among whom experienced historians which included experienced historians and was assisted by specialists from other cultural institutions. It meets modern criteria for the selection and publication of documentary materials. A contribution has been made to the study of the cultural life in a difficult era.

A review of the book by S. A. Mezin and the publication of an interesting historical source written in 1757 by Chevalier d’Eon, a diplomat and adventurer is presented. The manuscript “Secret Anecdotes about the Court of the All-Russian Empress” is published for the first time both in French and in Russian. In the peer-reviewed book the source characteristic and the analysis of the manuscript, scientific comments, the detailed essay on French studies of Russia in 1725–1762 were qualitatively made.