The article deals with the features of the use of precedent names in private letters of V.P. Astafiev. The variety of precedent onyms used by the writer is described. The author determines the language means that implement the figurative meaning of the onym, as the result the name has the features of a precedent unit. The specifics of the use of precedent names in epistolary texts are found out.

The article represents the methods of finding out the evolution of the concept “letter” in the letters of classical writers in Russian literature of the XIX-XX centuries. The author determines the context of the key word which verbalizes the concept, as well as the typical situations implemented by means of this word. The differences in implementation of some typical situations in letters are found out; they refer to various periods of time, which shows the evolution of the concept.

There is considered the specificity of archaisms functioning in the letters of Russian authors of the XIX-XX centuries. There are revealed the stylistc functions of archaisms, contexts that favour the ironic or pathetic tonality of speech. There are stated the peculiarities of authors’ epistolary style regarding archaisms use, as well as the tendencies of changes in the use of archaisms during the two centuries.

There are analyzed the functioning peculiarities of metaphors and comparisons in the epistolary style of the XIX-XX centuries. There are revealed the usage regularities of these tropes that are similar to their use in colloquial speech. There is given the thematic classification of the analyzed metaphors and comparisons. There are shown the author’s preferences in tropes choice relating to this or that thematic group that characterize the epistolary idiostyle of the writer.

There are analyzed the peculiarities of precedent texts in personal letters of the Russian classical authors: sources, methods of inclusion of a precedent text into the letter and functions realized by the means of these methods. There are found out similar characteristics and differences in the use of precedent units in epistolary texts of different authors.