Vienna was an intermediate point, the penultimate stop on the road to America. And if for some, being in Vienna was a moment of painful thought about what decision to make, where to go, to what part of the world, then for Dovlatov there was no hesitation. He was on his way to “reunite.” These letters are personal. There are no special “talks about literature” in them. But they explain the state of a person who finds himself in new, completely new living conditions. At this moment, creative plans and personal relationships are equally important. It is important for a creative person to live with the feeling that he is protected at least from the rear. (Elena Dovlatova)