Abstract
V. Svatoň became a Russian literary studies scholar and a comparatist, but he approached Russian literary studies not only in the narrow scope of Slavic studies, but in a wider context of the world literature.
He rarely, and only later in his life, commented on the conception of Slavic studies and the possibilities of research in Slavic literatures. All of his comments betray a critical attitude toward the traditionally oriented Slavic studies, which have been pervaded by the romantic spirit of the National Revival.
Among the leading figures of Czech Slavic literary studies Svatoň respected Karel Krejčí, and some of Frank Wollman's ideas took his attention. The paper notes also some excerpts from Svatoň's correspondence, in which the author reflects on the subject of the Slavic studies and on some issues of the comparative studies in Slavic literatures.