Historical and artistic elements in the images of A. Baitursynuly and Zh. Zhanibekov (based on the work of S. Seifullin "The Thorny Path")

Abstract

This article offers a comprehensive analysis of Akhmet Baitursynuly’s literary portrait based on Saken Seifullin’s memoir‑chronicle novel The Thorny Path (Tar zhol, taighaq keshu), elucidating the historical‑aesthetic facets and ideological content of the image. The object of the study is the figure of A. Baitursynuly and the public activity of Zhanuzak Zhanibekov in the context of the socio‑political transformations of early‑twentieth‑century Kazakh society. It aims to determine the authorial concept, map the intersection of historical truth and spiritual values, and reveal the role of these two actors in shaping national consciousness. Methodologically, the research employs historical‑literary, comparative and documentary analysis, complemented by textual‑comparative procedures to identify narrative strategies and techniques of character construction. Primary sources include the newspaper Kazakh, archival documents and contemporaneous periodicals. The findings show that Seifullin expresses respect for Baitursynuly and provides veiled positive evaluations in his writing; the editorial work of Z. Zhanibekov at Kazakh significantly contributed to consolidating national ideas. The study substantiates the historic role and public impact of the newspaper as a shared ideological platform linking the two figures. Overall, the article proposes a model for integrated analysis of a historical personality in literature and expands the methodological toolkit for examining the literary portrait and authorial concept.