1908

First half of February.

Lenin begins work on the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism", becomes a full member of the Geneva Reading Society (Société de Lecture), in whose library he reads philosophical literature.

January, 26 (February, 7).

Lenin reports in a letter to A. M. Gorky that he is carefully reading the works of Bogdanov, Bazarov, Lunacharsky and other Machists, and is convinced of the erroneousness of their philosophical views. "I am for materialism, against 'empirio-' and so on," Lenin wrote.

January, 31 (February, 13).

Lenin disputes his views on questions of philosophy in a letter to A. M. Gorky; defends the materialism of K. Marx and F. Engels.

February, 11 (24).

February, earlier than 12 (26).

Lenin writes to his relatives in St. Petersburg, asking them to find and send his philosophical manuscript of 1906, directed against the empiriomonism of Bogdanov, which Lenin intended to publish under the title "Notes of a Rank-and-File Marxist on Philosophy."

February, 12 (25).

Lenin writes to A. M. Gorky about the need for an irreconcilable struggle against Machism and Russian Machists (Bogdanov and others); outlines the history of disagreements among the Bolsheviks on questions of philosophy, which intensified in connection with the publication of the Machists' book "Essays on the Philosophy of Marxism."

March, 11 (24).

Lenin gives a sharply negative assessment of the Machists' book "Essays on the Philosophy of Marxism" in a letter to A. M. Gorky, emphasizing the inevitability of a struggle with the Machists on philosophical questions.

Second half of March – no later than April 3 (16).

No earlier than March – no later than October 14 (27).

Lenin reads the book J. Dietzgen. "Kleinere philosophische Schriften. Eine Auswahl". Stuttgart, Dietz, 1903 (J. Dietzgen. "Smaller Philosophical Works. Selections". Stuttgart, Dietz, 1903) and makes notes on it. Lenin widely uses this book in the work "Materialism and Empirio-criticism."

April, 3 (16).

Lenin informs A. M. Gorky in a letter about the "formal declaration of war" on the Machists, referring to his article "Marxism and Revisionism."

Lenin writes to A. V. Lunacharsky that his paths have diverged from the preachers of "combining scientific socialism with religion" and with all the Machists.

Between April 10 and 17 (23 and 30).

Lenin visits A. M. Gorky on the island of Capri at his invitation. Lenin declares to A. Bogdanov, V. Bazarov and A. V. Lunacharsky his unconditional disagreement with them on questions of philosophy.

April.

Lenin reads F. Engels' article "Über historischen Materialismus" ("On Historical Materialism"), published in the journal "Die Neue Zeit", Nr. 1, XI Jahrgang, 1. Band, 1892/93, and makes notes on it. Lenin uses Engels' article in the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism."

May.

Lenin works in the library of the British Museum in London on philosophical and natural scientific literature that was not available in the Geneva libraries. This literature was necessary for writing the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism."

Lenin writes "Ten Questions for the Speaker," which he sends from London as theses for the speech of I. F. Dubrovinsky (Innokenty) at A. Bogdanov's lecture "Adventures of a Philosophical School," which took place in Geneva on May 15 (28), 1908.

End of May – beginning of June.

Lenin, upon returning from London to Geneva, at a meeting of the editorial board of "Proletary," together with I. F. Dubrovinsky, rejects A. Bogdanov's draft resolution, which asserted that the preaching of empirio-criticism "does not contradict" the interests of the Bolshevik faction, and proposed condemning the speech of I. F. Dubrovinsky at A. Bogdanov's lecture.

No earlier than May.

Lenin reads G. V. Plekhanov's book "Fundamental Questions of Marxism" (St. Petersburg, 1908) and makes notes on it.

June, 7 (20).

Lenin expresses regret in a letter to M. A. Ulyanova in connection with the refusal of the "Moscow philosopher-publisher" – P. G. Dauge to publish the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" and asks to find another publisher.

June, 18 (July, 1).

Lenin writes to V. V. Vorovsky in Odessa about the exacerbation of disagreements with A. Bogdanov and G. A. Aleksinsky and the inevitability of a break with them; asks about the possibility of publishing his philosophical book.

June, 30 (July, 13).

Lenin informs M. I. Ulyanova in a letter about his work on the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" and asks to send two books by G. I. Chelpanov: "Avenarius and his School" and "Immanent Philosophy."

August.

Lenin, on behalf of the editorial board of "Proletary," demands from A. Bogdanov an open exposition of his philosophical and political views in the press.

September.

Lenin gives the manuscript of his book to V. F. Gorin (Galkin) to read.

October, 14 (27).

Lenin reports in a letter to A. I. Ulyanova-Elizarova that he has finished work on the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism," asks to give a reliable address for sending the manuscript and, if possible, to conclude a contract for the publication of the book.

October, 26 (November, 8).

October, 28 (November, 10).

Lenin rejects the proposal of cooperation in the literary and philosophical collections planned for publication in a letter to the Menshevik-Machist P. S. Yushkevich in St. Petersburg.

November, earlier than 4 (17).

Lenin sends the manuscript of the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" to V. A. Levitsky in Podolsk.

November, 13 (26).

November, 27 (December, 10).

Lenin agrees in a telegram to A. I. Ulyanova-Elizarova to accept the terms of the Moscow publishing house "Zveno" for the publication of the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism."

Between November 29 and December 1 (December 12 and 14), Lenin and N. K. Krupskaya move from Geneva to Paris, where the publication of the newspaper "Proletary" is transferred.

December, 6 (19).

Lenin expresses agreement in a letter to A. I. Ulyanova-Elizarova to soften the tone towards Bazarov and Bogdanov and objects to softening the expressions towards Yushkevich and Valentinov in the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism"; reports that he agrees to replace the words "popovshchina" [priestism], "invented a god" and others only if the publisher makes an ultimatum demand for censorship reasons.

December, 11 (24).

Lenin asks A. I. Ulyanova-Elizarova in a letter to send him a copy of the uncorrected proof, and then the printed sheets of the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism," in order to be able to make the most important corrections, gives instructions on the font for the titles of paragraphs, and reports on two letters sent earlier with an addition about E. Becher's book and separate corrections to the text.

December, 30 (January 12, 1909).

Lenin asks (in French) the Director of the National Library in Paris to issue a card entitling him to use the library.

1908 year.

Lenin reads the book Ludwig Feuerbach. Sämtliche Werte. Zweiter Band. Leipzig, 1846 (Ludwig Feuerbach. Collected Works. Volume Two, Leipzig, 1846) and makes notes on it. Lenin uses this book in the work "Materialism and Empirio-criticism."

No earlier than 1908.

Lenin reads V. Shulyatikov's book "Justification of Capitalism in Western European Philosophy. From Descartes to E. Mach" (M., 1908), makes notes on it, and gives an assessment of the book in conclusion.

Later than 1908.

Lenin reads the book A. Rey. "La philosophie moderne". Paris, 1908 (A. Rey. "Modern Philosophy". Paris, 1908) and makes notes on it.

1909

Beginning of the year.

Lenin lectures on philosophy in a Bolshevik circle in Paris.

January – June.

Lenin works in the National Library and the Sorbonne Library of the University of Paris on literature on questions of philosophy and natural science.

January, 24 (February, 6).

Lenin reports in a letter to A. I. Ulyanova-Elizarova about receiving the first sheets of proof of the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism."

January – April.

Lenin works on the proof of the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism."

February, 1 (14).

Lenin demands at a meeting of the editorial board of "Proletary" that the editorial board make an open statement against A. V. Lunacharsky's "god-building." The editorial article against "god-building" ("Not on the Way") was printed on February 12 (25), 1909 in "Proletary" No. 42.

February, 4 or 5 (17 or 18).

In a letter to A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova, Lenin sends corrections to the next sheets of the book's proofs, reports that 27 pages of the manuscript were missed in the proofs, and urgently asks to make sure that there is no omission when printing the book.

February, 10 (23).

In a letter to A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova, Lenin reports receiving the 8th and 9th sheets of proofs, notes that there are no omissions, that the proofs of these sheets are well proofread; sends corrections to them.

February, 24 (March, 9).

Lenin sends A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova a letter with corrections to the 10th and 11th sheets. Lenin reports a break with A. Bogdanov and A.V. Lunacharsky and asks not to soften the formulations against them when reading the book's proofs and to speed up the release of the book; thanks I.I. Skvortsov-Stepanov for his help in publishing the book.

February, 27 (March, 12).

In a letter to A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova, Lenin sends a list of misprints for the 6th–9th and 13th printed sheets and again asks to speed up the publication of the book. In a postscript, Lenin again insists on not softening anything from the passages against Bogdanov, Lunacharsky, and other Machists.

March, 8–9 (21–22).

In a letter to A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova, Lenin again asks not to soften the passages against Bogdanov, Lunacharsky, and others in any way and sends a list of misprints for the 1st–5th printed sheets of the book.

March, 10 or 11 (23 or 24).

Lenin sends to Moscow A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova an addition: "From what side did N. G. Chernyshevsky approach the critique of Kantianism" to the 1st paragraph of Chapter IV of the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism."

March, 13 (26).

Lenin sends A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova a list of misprints for the 15th–18th proof sheets and asks to be informed when the book is expected to be released.

March, 23 (April, 5).

Lenin sends A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova a list of misprints for the 14th sheet of proofs and asks to correct the place about V.I. Vernadsky in the proofs: "thinker-materialist" to "thinker-naturalist," or stipulate it in the misprints.

March, 24 (April, 6).

In a letter to A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova, Lenin reports receiving the 10th–12th printed sheets of the book and the 21st sheet of proofs, and sends a list of misprints for them.

March, 26 (April, 8); In a letter to A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova, Lenin reports receiving the 22nd sheet of proofs and sending corrections to it; asks to do everything possible to ensure that the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" is published in the first half of April. "I have, – Lenin wrote, – not only literary, but also serious political obligations connected with its publication."

April, 21 (May, 4).

In a letter to I.F. Dubrovinsky, Lenin reports that he has received notification of the publication of the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism," which they promise to send to him in Paris by April 25–26 (May 8–9).

Between April 29 and May 4 (May 12 and 17).

In Moscow, the "Zveno" publishing house publishes Lenin's book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism. Critical Notes on a Reactionary Philosophy."

May, 4 (17).

Lenin sends Rosa Luxemburg his book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" and asks her to note the book's release in the journal "Die Neue Zeit," which was done (see "Die Neue Zeit," 1. Band, N 2, October 8, 1909, p. 64).

May, 8 (21).

In a letter to M.A. Ulyanova, Lenin reports receiving the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" and speaks positively about the book's publication.

May, earlier than 12 (25).

Lenin presents a copy of the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" to V.F. Gorin (Galkin).

May, 13 (26).

In a letter to A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova, Lenin reports receiving the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism," gives a positive assessment of its publication, and writes about the upcoming split with the recallists and ultimatumists.

May – September.

Reviews by bourgeois and Menshevik authors of V.I. Lenin's book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" are published in the journals "Vozrozhdenie" Nos. 7–8, "Sovremenny Mir" No. 7, "Kriticheskoe Obozrenie," issue V, and in the newspaper "Russkie Vedomosti" (No. 222).

June, 5 (18).

The newspaper "Odesskoe Obozrenie" (No. 439) contains a note by V.V. Vorovsky about V.I. Lenin's book; due to censorship conditions, the note was devoted to Max Verworn's book "Natural Science and Worldview. The Problem of Life." M., 1909.

Beginning of summer.

Lenin sends a copy of the book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism" to I.I. Skvortsov-Stepanov.

Summer.

Lenin visits Paul Lafargue, talks with him about philosophical issues and about his book "Materialism and Empirio-criticism."