Lev Vygotsky: letters to Emma

Background. The current publication presents the text of three previously unknown letters from L. S. Vygotsky to E.I. Heifetz, which were written by him in 1918, 1920 and 1921. A psychological analysis of the letters was carried out in the context of the author’s life at the time of their writing. Objectives. The goal is to disclose previously unknown aspects regarding the personal and professional development of L.S. Vygotsky. Methods. Analysis of archival documents in comparison with biographical materials from the period of Vygotsky’s life under study. Results. The letters represent a unique source for understanding the experiences and moral and ethical views of the young Vygotsky: in them he provides reflections on his “Life’s Work”, the personal choices and social “sacrifices” required for its realisation and talks about the mystery of personal feelings. The analysis shows how these feelings and Vygotsky’s life views changed over time. Conclusions. The analysed letters, along with characteristics of relationships within the family and in the microsocial environment, reveal the uniqueness of Vygotsky’s self-perception and personal self-determination in his youth.