Natasha's Dance (107 page)

Read Natasha's Dance Online

Authors: Orlando Figes

Tags: #Non Fiction

BOOK: Natasha's Dance
6.19Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
Shishkov’s stock began to rocket after 1812. Renowned as a card player, he was a frequent gu
Shishkov’s stock began to rocket after 1812. Renowned as a card player, he was a frequent gu
Shishkov’s stock began to rocket after 1812. Renowned as a card player, he was a frequent gu
vingt-et-un
92
* These disputes over language involved a broader conflict about ‘Russia’ and what it sho
* These disputes over language involved a broader conflict about ‘Russia’ and what it sho
* These disputes over language involved a broader conflict about ‘Russia’ and what it sho
Trudy po russkoi i slavianskoi filologii,
Uchenye zapiski tartuskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta,
for the sons of noblemen to learn to read and write their native tongue. Dmitry Sheremet
for the sons of noblemen to learn to read and write their native tongue. Dmitry Sheremet
for the sons of noblemen to learn to read and write their native tongue. Dmitry Sheremet
93
94
95
In the eighteenth century the use of French and Russian had demarcated two entirely sepa
In the eighteenth century the use of French and Russian had demarcated two entirely sepa
In the eighteenth century the use of French and Russian had demarcated two entirely sepa
96
Tolstoy played on these differences in War and Peace to highlight the social and cultural
Tolstoy played on these differences in War and Peace to highlight the social and cultural
Tolstoy played on these differences in War and Peace to highlight the social and cultural
War and Peace
97
Of course, no novel is a direct window on to life and, however much it might approach that
Of course, no novel is a direct window on to life and, however much it might approach that
Of course, no novel is a direct window on to life and, however much it might approach that
War and Peace,
War and Peace
politesses;
‘diligence’, ‘duplicite’
‘discretion’
98
In its customs and its daily habits the aristocracy was struggling to
In its customs and its daily habits the aristocracy was struggling to
In its customs and its daily habits the aristocracy was struggling to
become more ‘Russian’, too. The men of 1812 gave up feasts of haute cuisine for spartan Rus
become more ‘Russian’, too. The men of 1812 gave up feasts of haute cuisine for spartan Rus
become more ‘Russian’, too. The men of 1812 gave up feasts of haute cuisine for spartan Rus
haute cuisine
100
101
Recreations were going Russian, too. At balls in Petersburg, where European dances had al
Recreations were going Russian, too. At balls in Petersburg, where European dances had al
Recreations were going Russian, too. At balls in Petersburg, where European dances had al
pliaska
102
pliaska
pliaska.
103
Rural recreations were another indication of this newfound Russian-ness. It was at this
Rural recreations were another indication of this newfound Russian-ness. It was at this
Rural recreations were another indication of this newfound Russian-ness. It was at this
dacha
century (Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard was famously cut down for dacha building land). The high ar
century (Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard was famously cut down for dacha building land). The high ar
century (Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard was famously cut down for dacha building land). The high ar
Cherry Orchard
dacha
dachas
dacha
In contrast to the formal classicism of the urban palace, the dacha was constructed in a s
In contrast to the formal classicism of the urban palace, the dacha was constructed in a s
In contrast to the formal classicism of the urban palace, the dacha was constructed in a s
dacha
dachas
dacha
samovar,
khalat.
haute cuisine,
kvas (okroshka),
dacha
104
Of all the countryside pursuits, hunting was the one that came the closest to a national i
Of all the countryside pursuits, hunting was the one that came the closest to a national i
Of all the countryside pursuits, hunting was the one that came the closest to a national i
War and Peace
’Why don’t you enter the service, Uncle?’
’Why don’t you enter the service, Uncle?’
’Why don’t you enter the service, Uncle?’
’I did once, but gave it up. I am not fit for it…I can’t make head or tail of it. That’s for yo
’I did once, but gave it up. I am not fit for it…I can’t make head or tail of it. That’s for yo
’I did once, but gave it up. I am not fit for it…I can’t make head or tail of it. That’s for yo
There were two kinds of hunting in Russia - the formal chase with hounds, which was very grand
There were two kinds of hunting in Russia - the formal chase with hounds, which was very grand
There were two kinds of hunting in Russia - the formal chase with hounds, which was very grand
Sketches from a Hunter’s Album
106
107
By contrast, Turgenev’s type of hunting was relatively egalitarian -and it was so in a di
By contrast, Turgenev’s type of hunting was relatively egalitarian -and it was so in a di
By contrast, Turgenev’s type of hunting was relatively egalitarian -and it was so in a di
Sketches,
108
Sketches,
And a summer morning in July! Has anyone save a hunter ever experienced the delight of wa
And a summer morning in July! Has anyone save a hunter ever experienced the delight of wa
And a summer morning in July! Has anyone save a hunter ever experienced the delight of wa
109
Russian forms of dress became the height of fashion after 1812. At balls and receptions in
Russian forms of dress became the height of fashion after 1812. At balls and receptions in
Russian forms of dress became the height of fashion after 1812. At balls and receptions in
sarafan
kokoshnik
110
(kapot),
haute couture
kaftan
khalat
podyovka,
kaftan
111
Tropinin painted Pushkin wearing a khalat (plate 22), he was portraying him as a gentleman
Tropinin painted Pushkin wearing a khalat (plate 22), he was portraying him as a gentleman
Tropinin painted Pushkin wearing a khalat (plate 22), he was portraying him as a gentleman
khalat
A fashion for the ‘natural’ look took hold of noblewomen in the 1820s. The new ideal of be
A fashion for the ‘natural’ look took hold of noblewomen in the 1820s. The new ideal of be
A fashion for the ‘natural’ look took hold of noblewomen in the 1820s. The new ideal of be
112
113
Eugene Onegin
114
’To me, Onegin, all these splendours, This weary tinselled life of mine,
’To me, Onegin, all these splendours, This weary tinselled life of mine,
’To me, Onegin, all these splendours, This weary tinselled life of mine,
* The Emperor Alexander began taking a daily promenade along the Palace Embankment and
* The Emperor Alexander began taking a daily promenade along the Palace Embankment and
* The Emperor Alexander began taking a daily promenade along the Palace Embankment and
Zapiski,
faire le
tour imperial
This homage that the great world tenders,
This homage that the great world tenders,
This homage that the great world tenders,
My stylish house where princes dine -
My stylish house where princes dine -
My stylish house where princes dine -
Are empty… I’d as soon be trading
Are empty… I’d as soon be trading
Are empty… I’d as soon be trading
This tattered life of masquerading,
This tattered life of masquerading,
This tattered life of masquerading,
This world of glitter, fumes, and noise,
This world of glitter, fumes, and noise,
This world of glitter, fumes, and noise,
For just my books, the simple joys
For just my books, the simple joys
For just my books, the simple joys
Of our old home, its walks and flowers,
Of our old home, its walks and flowers,
Of our old home, its walks and flowers,
For all those haunts that I once knew…
For all those haunts that I once knew…
For all those haunts that I once knew…
Where first, Onegin, I saw you;
Where first, Onegin, I saw you;
Where first, Onegin, I saw you;
For that small churchyard’s shaded bowers,
For that small churchyard’s shaded bowers,
For that small churchyard’s shaded bowers,
Where over my poor nanny now
Where over my poor nanny now
Where over my poor nanny now
There stands a cross beneath a bough.’115
There stands a cross beneath a bough.’115
There stands a cross beneath a bough.’115
115
Pushkin’s masterpiece is, among many other things, a subtle exploration of the complex Rus
Pushkin’s masterpiece is, among many other things, a subtle exploration of the complex Rus
Pushkin’s masterpiece is, among many other things, a subtle exploration of the complex Rus
Eugene Onegin
116
tells Tatiana how she was married off at the age of just thirteen to an even younger boy who
tells Tatiana how she was married off at the age of just thirteen to an even younger boy who
tells Tatiana how she was married off at the age of just thirteen to an even younger boy who
I got so scared… my tears kept falling; And weeping, they undid my plait, Then sang me to the
I got so scared… my tears kept falling; And weeping, they undid my plait, Then sang me to the
I got so scared… my tears kept falling; And weeping, they undid my plait, Then sang me to the
117
This encounter between the two cultures represents Tatiana’s own predicament: whether
This encounter between the two cultures represents Tatiana’s own predicament: whether
This encounter between the two cultures represents Tatiana’s own predicament: whether
A Muscovite in Harold’s cloak, Compendium of affectation, A lexicon of words in vogue
A Muscovite in Harold’s cloak, Compendium of affectation, A lexicon of words in vogue
A Muscovite in Harold’s cloak, Compendium of affectation, A lexicon of words in vogue
118
Yet even here, when Tatiana tells Onegin,
Yet even here, when Tatiana tells Onegin,
Yet even here, when Tatiana tells Onegin,
I love you (why should I dissemble?); But I am now another’s wife, And I’ll be faithful all
I love you (why should I dissemble?); But I am now another’s wife, And I’ll be faithful all
I love you (why should I dissemble?); But I am now another’s wife, And I’ll be faithful all
119
we see in her the dense weave of cultural influences. These lines are adapted from a song
we see in her the dense weave of cultural influences. These lines are adapted from a song
we see in her the dense weave of cultural influences. These lines are adapted from a song
Mercure de France.
120
Pushkin himself was a connoisseur of Russian songs and tales. Chulkov’s ABC of Russian Su
Pushkin himself was a connoisseur of Russian songs and tales. Chulkov’s ABC of Russian Su
Pushkin himself was a connoisseur of Russian songs and tales. Chulkov’s ABC of Russian Su
ABC of Russian Superstitions
Russian Tales
121
Ruslan and Liudmila
Tsar Sultan
The Golden Cockerel
Legend of the Arabian Astrologer
The Legends of the Alhambra
* Akhmatova was denounced by the Soviet literary authorities for suggesting, quite
* Akhmatova was denounced by the Soviet literary authorities for suggesting, quite
* Akhmatova was denounced by the Soviet literary authorities for suggesting, quite
The Thousand and One Nights.
By Pushkin’s death, in 1837, the literary use of folk tales had become commonplace, almos
By Pushkin’s death, in 1837, the literary use of folk tales had become commonplace, almos
By Pushkin’s death, in 1837, the literary use of folk tales had become commonplace, almos
Gogol was in fact a Ukrainian, and, were it not for Pushkin, who was his mentor and gave him
Gogol was in fact a Ukrainian, and, were it not for Pushkin, who was his mentor and gave him
Gogol was in fact a Ukrainian, and, were it not for Pushkin, who was his mentor and gave him
The Government Inspector
Dead Souls
Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka
Kochubei,
Haidamaki
Cossack Hat
Evenings on a Farm.
Soroch-intsy Fair
St John’s Night on Bald Mountain
May Night
understood by Everyman. During the proof stage of Evenings on a Farm Gogol paid a visit to t

Other books

Night's Surrender by Amanda Ashley
Are You My Mother? by Voss, Louise
Alaskan Sweethearts by Janet Tronstad
Lyre by Helen Harper