Natasha's Dance (111 page)
Moscow’s mythic self-image was all about its ‘Russian character’.
Moscow’s mythic self-image was all about its ‘Russian character’.
Moscow’s mythic self-image was all about its ‘Russian character’.
The Moscow way of life was more provincial, it was closer to the habits of the Russian pe
The Moscow way of life was more provincial, it was closer to the habits of the Russian pe
The Moscow way of life was more provincial, it was closer to the habits of the Russian pe
The mansion is built around a big courtyard which is full of litter and firewood; behind
The mansion is built around a big courtyard which is full of litter and firewood; behind
The mansion is built around a big courtyard which is full of litter and firewood; behind
kvas.
14
The interior of the Moscow palace was arranged for private comfort rather than public d
The interior of the Moscow palace was arranged for private comfort rather than public d
The interior of the Moscow palace was arranged for private comfort rather than public d
15
* The ground floor of the Volkonsky (Beloselsky) house was later taken over by the Eliseev
* The ground floor of the Volkonsky (Beloselsky) house was later taken over by the Eliseev
* The ground floor of the Volkonsky (Beloselsky) house was later taken over by the Eliseev
merit and furnishing of private noble space.16 The Moscow mansion of the Sheremetev clan
merit and furnishing of private noble space.16 The Moscow mansion of the Sheremetev clan
merit and furnishing of private noble space.16 The Moscow mansion of the Sheremetev clan
16
17
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Sergei’s feeling was a common one. Many Russians felt that Moscow was a place where they cou
Sergei’s feeling was a common one. Many Russians felt that Moscow was a place where they cou
Sergei’s feeling was a common one. Many Russians felt that Moscow was a place where they cou
Petersburg is an accurate, punctual kind of person, a perfect German, and he looks at every
Petersburg is an accurate, punctual kind of person, a perfect German, and he looks at every
Petersburg is an accurate, punctual kind of person, a perfect German, and he looks at every
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2
2
2
2
2
The idea of Moscow as a ‘Russian’ city developed from the notion of St Petersburg as a fo
The idea of Moscow as a ‘Russian’ city developed from the notion of St Petersburg as a fo
The idea of Moscow as a ‘Russian’ city developed from the notion of St Petersburg as a fo
character of Petersburg had always been a part of its popular mythology. From the moment it
character of Petersburg had always been a part of its popular mythology. From the moment it
character of Petersburg had always been a part of its popular mythology. From the moment it
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Pushkin’s Bronze Horseman - subtitled a ‘Tale of Petersburg’ - was the founding text of th
Pushkin’s Bronze Horseman - subtitled a ‘Tale of Petersburg’ - was the founding text of th
Pushkin’s Bronze Horseman - subtitled a ‘Tale of Petersburg’ - was the founding text of th
Bronze Horseman
genus loci.
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In 1909 a technical commission inspected the statue. Engineers bored holes into the br
In 1909 a technical commission inspected the statue. Engineers bored holes into the br
In 1909 a technical commission inspected the statue. Engineers bored holes into the br
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10. Etienne-Maurice Falconet: The Bronze Horseman. Monument to Peter the Great, 1782
10. Etienne-Maurice Falconet: The Bronze Horseman. Monument to Peter the Great, 1782
10. Etienne-Maurice Falconet: The Bronze Horseman. Monument to Peter the Great, 1782
Etienne-Maurice Falconet:
Monument to Peter the Great, 1782
such flood. The Bronze Horseman tells the story of the flood and a sad clerk called Eugene, w
such flood. The Bronze Horseman tells the story of the flood and a sad clerk called Eugene, w
such flood. The Bronze Horseman tells the story of the flood and a sad clerk called Eugene, w
The Bronze Horseman
Proud charger, whither art thou ridden? Where leapest thou? and where, on whom Wilt plant thy
Proud charger, whither art thou ridden? Where leapest thou? and where, on whom Wilt plant thy
Proud charger, whither art thou ridden? Where leapest thou? and where, on whom Wilt plant thy
23
For the Slavophiles, Peter’s city was a symbol of the catastrophic rupture with Holy Rus’;
For the Slavophiles, Peter’s city was a symbol of the catastrophic rupture with Holy Rus’;
For the Slavophiles, Peter’s city was a symbol of the catastrophic rupture with Holy Rus’;
More than anyone, it was Gogol who fixed the city’s image as an alienating place. As a youn
More than anyone, it was Gogol who fixed the city’s image as an alienating place. As a youn
More than anyone, it was Gogol who fixed the city’s image as an alienating place. As a youn
alter egos
Tales of Petersburg
The Bronze Horseman.
Tales of Petersburg.
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Tales,
a tragic figure crushed by a cold and uncaring society. But Akaky’s ghost walks the streets
a tragic figure crushed by a cold and uncaring society. But Akaky’s ghost walks the streets
a tragic figure crushed by a cold and uncaring society. But Akaky’s ghost walks the streets
Dostoevsky said that the whole of Russian literature ‘came out from underneath Gogol’s
Dostoevsky said that the whole of Russian literature ‘came out from underneath Gogol’s
Dostoevsky said that the whole of Russian literature ‘came out from underneath Gogol’s
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The Double
Crime and Punishment
26
I remember once on a wintry January evening I was hurrying home from the Vyborg side… When I
I remember once on a wintry January evening I was hurrying home from the Vyborg side… When I
I remember once on a wintry January evening I was hurrying home from the Vyborg side… When I
dream which in its turn would vanish and pass away like vapour in the dark blue sky.27
dream which in its turn would vanish and pass away like vapour in the dark blue sky.27
dream which in its turn would vanish and pass away like vapour in the dark blue sky.27
27
3
3
3
3
3
Moscow, by contrast, was a place of down-to-earth pursuits. With the rise of Petersburg in th
Moscow, by contrast, was a place of down-to-earth pursuits. With the rise of Petersburg in th
Moscow, by contrast, was a place of down-to-earth pursuits. With the rise of Petersburg in th
28
29
30
Moscow was the food capital of Russia. No other city could boast such a range of restauran
Moscow was the food capital of Russia. No other city could boast such a range of restauran
Moscow was the food capital of Russia. No other city could boast such a range of restauran
Anna Karenina;
(karchevnye)
French a thing or two. When Napoleon’s soldiers came to Moscow, they needed to eat fast. ‘Bi
French a thing or two. When Napoleon’s soldiers came to Moscow, they needed to eat fast. ‘Bi
French a thing or two. When Napoleon’s soldiers came to Moscow, they needed to eat fast. ‘Bi
‘Bistro!’
Moscow was a city of gourmands. It had a rich folklore of the fabulously fat, upon which its
Moscow was a city of gourmands. It had a rich folklore of the fabulously fat, upon which its
Moscow was a city of gourmands. It had a rich folklore of the fabulously fat, upon which its
banya
32
Moscow banquets were more notable for their fantastic size than for the refinement of t
Moscow banquets were more notable for their fantastic size than for the refinement of t
Moscow banquets were more notable for their fantastic size than for the refinement of t
33
34
were regarded by their masters as the equals of artists, and no expense was spared to have
were regarded by their masters as the equals of artists, and no expense was spared to have
were regarded by their masters as the equals of artists, and no expense was spared to have
35
It was not only courtiers who ate so well. Provincial families were just as prone to the
It was not only courtiers who ate so well. Provincial families were just as prone to the
It was not only courtiers who ate so well. Provincial families were just as prone to the
zakuski
zakuski,
36
Sumptuous eating of this sort was a relatively new phenomenon. The food of seventeenth-cen
Sumptuous eating of this sort was a relatively new phenomenon. The food of seventeenth-cen
Sumptuous eating of this sort was a relatively new phenomenon. The food of seventeenth-cen
kvas.37
37
zakuski
zakuski’.
invented until the early nineteenth century. The same was true of Russian cooking as a who
invented until the early nineteenth century. The same was true of Russian cooking as a who
invented until the early nineteenth century. The same was true of Russian cooking as a who
kulebeika
38
borshcbt
shchi
(bliny)
Not just nourishment, foodstuffs had an iconic part to play in Russian popular culture.
Not just nourishment, foodstuffs had an iconic part to play in Russian popular culture.
Not just nourishment, foodstuffs had an iconic part to play in Russian popular culture.
(khleb)
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acquaintance but had found him not at home). Wildfowl was also a common gift. The poet Derzha
acquaintance but had found him not at home). Wildfowl was also a common gift. The poet Derzha
acquaintance but had found him not at home). Wildfowl was also a common gift. The poet Derzha
40
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Food also featured as a symbol in nineteenth-century literature. Memories of food we
Food also featured as a symbol in nineteenth-century literature. Memories of food we
Food also featured as a symbol in nineteenth-century literature. Memories of food we
Evenings on a Farm
The Cherry Orchard
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Three Sisters
The other day at the office, a contractor was telling me about some business men who were
The other day at the office, a contractor was telling me about some business men who were
The other day at the office, a contractor was telling me about some business men who were
43
Bingeing of this sort was often represented as a symbol of the Russian character. Gogol, in
Bingeing of this sort was often represented as a symbol of the Russian character. Gogol, in
Bingeing of this sort was often represented as a symbol of the Russian character. Gogol, in
means ‘potato’ in Ukrainian), is the incarnation of this appetite for life. He welcom
means ‘potato’ in Ukrainian), is the incarnation of this appetite for life. He welcom
means ‘potato’ in Ukrainian), is the incarnation of this appetite for life. He welcom
We don’t want doughnuts, honey buns, poppy cakes and other dainties; bring us a whole shee
We don’t want doughnuts, honey buns, poppy cakes and other dainties; bring us a whole shee
We don’t want doughnuts, honey buns, poppy cakes and other dainties; bring us a whole shee
44
It was the test of a ‘true Russian’ to be able to drink vodka by the bucketful. Since the six
It was the test of a ‘true Russian’ to be able to drink vodka by the bucketful. Since the six
It was the test of a ‘true Russian’ to be able to drink vodka by the bucketful. Since the six
Deaths from drinking claimed a thousand people every year in Russia between 1841 and 1859.4
Deaths from drinking claimed a thousand people every year in Russia between 1841 and 1859.4
Deaths from drinking claimed a thousand people every year in Russia between 1841 and 1859.4
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* Until the second half of the eighteenth century the annual consumption of spirits was a
* Until the second half of the eighteenth century the annual consumption of spirits was a
* Until the second half of the eighteenth century the annual consumption of spirits was a
Bread and Salt: A Social and Economic History of Food and Drink in Russia
drinking pattern had been set in a context where alcohol was scarce -a rare commodity that
drinking pattern had been set in a context where alcohol was scarce -a rare commodity that
drinking pattern had been set in a context where alcohol was scarce -a rare commodity that
’The difference between Moscow and St Petersburg is this. In Moscow, if you have not seen
’The difference between Moscow and St Petersburg is this. In Moscow, if you have not seen
’The difference between Moscow and St Petersburg is this. In Moscow, if you have not seen
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holidays, or when someone had arrived from the country or abroad, houses were all come and
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