Alisa Konen: "My element is great internal excitement." Diaries. 1904-1950

The published diaries of Alice Coonen (1887–1974), the great actress, the wife of director A. Ya. Tairov, cover almost half a century and contain valuable facts of the history of the existence of three theaters: Moscow art, free and chamber. Together with the author of the diaries, the reader will go from the ardent of the graduation gymnasium student to the illustrious actress, who had lost his theater and her husband-director. A considerable part of the diaries disappeared - most likely, it was destroyed by the author. Nevertheless, despite the gaps, the preserved records clearly tell about the relationship of the actress with outstanding personalities - V. I. Kachalov, K. S. Stanislavsky, Vl. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko, O. L. Knipper-Chekhova, M.P. Lilina, L. N. Andreev, Yu. K. Baltrusitis, E. G. Craig, A. N. Skryabin and others.

The diaries of Alice Coonen are emotional and frank, focused on the inner world of the actress, are full of impulses and passions and are not at all like her restrained memoirs written at the end of life. The publication is accompanied by detailed comments based on archival materials.