“Only in You I Found a Response to the interests, which have completely captivated me”: taken from correspondence between V. M. Peretts and P. H. Zhytetskyi

The aim of the research is to analyse the correspondence between V. M. Peretts (Ukrainian and Russian philologist, researcher of Ancient Ukrainian literature, academician of St. Petersburg and All-Ukrainian Academies of Sciences) and P. H. Zhytetskyi (exemplary Ukrainian literature historian, linguist, ethnographer, lexicographer, teacher, and corresponding member of St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences). The correspondence is preserved at the Institute of Manuscript of V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine. The methodology of the research presupposes the implementation of biographical, histori cal-systematic, social-psychological, prosopographical, and comparative methods. The aforementioned methodological approach allows the analysis of the correspondence between V. M. Peretts and P. H. Zhytetskyi to uncover their scientific collaboration. The scientific novelty of the research can be found in the introduction of the correspondence into scientific circulation. The correspondence is preserved in fond I «Combined fond “Literary materials”. Collection of literary works and documents from the begining of the 12th to 20th centuries» in the Institute of Manuscript of V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine. These unique epistolary documents give information about the life, activities and works of both scientists. Conclusions. V. M. Peretts’ correspondence with P. H. Zhytetskyi constitutes a valuable source, which illustrates Peretts’ formation as a scientists and his research of the history of Old Ukrainian literature. Moreover, this correspondence has longly remained beyond the scope of attention among researches. The analysis of epistolary documents leads to a conclusion regarding considerable influence of P. H. Zhytetskyi on the formation of scientific interests of V. M. Peretts and the development of his scientific activity. Comprehensive support of Zhytetskyi’s part regarding Peretts’ scientific-organizational activity contributed the establishment of the latter within Ukrainian scientific community. The correspondence unveils a long-standing productive collaboration and genuine friendship, based on love and affection towards Ukrainian literature and science, between the renowned scholars.