Natasha's Dance (126 page)
lowers and the main religious sects about organizing a united movement under Tolstoy’s
lowers and the main religious sects about organizing a united movement under Tolstoy’s
lowers and the main religious sects about organizing a united movement under Tolstoy’s
112
113
If Tolstoy’s Christian anarchism was motivated by the yearning to belong to a free commu
If Tolstoy’s Christian anarchism was motivated by the yearning to belong to a free commu
If Tolstoy’s Christian anarchism was motivated by the yearning to belong to a free commu
Anna Karenina.
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In 1897 Tolstoy paid a visit to Chekhov. The playwright was gravely ill. His long illness fro
In 1897 Tolstoy paid a visit to Chekhov. The playwright was gravely ill. His long illness fro
In 1897 Tolstoy paid a visit to Chekhov. The playwright was gravely ill. His long illness fro
Chekhov, who had hitherto ignored his condition, was finally obliged to call for the doc
Chekhov, who had hitherto ignored his condition, was finally obliged to call for the doc
Chekhov, who had hitherto ignored his condition, was finally obliged to call for the doc
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It was not that Chekhov was an atheist - although in the last years of his life he claimed t
It was not that Chekhov was an atheist - although in the last years of his life he claimed t
It was not that Chekhov was an atheist - although in the last years of his life he claimed t
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120
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monk himself.122 Chekhov saw the Church as an ally of the artist, and the artist’s mission as
monk himself.122 Chekhov saw the Church as an ally of the artist, and the artist’s mission as
monk himself.122 Chekhov saw the Church as an ally of the artist, and the artist’s mission as
122
123
Chekhov’s literary works are filled with religious characters and themes. No other Russi
Chekhov’s literary works are filled with religious characters and themes. No other Russi
Chekhov’s literary works are filled with religious characters and themes. No other Russi
124
Three Sisters,
125
126
man.127
man.127
man.127
127
In his early story ‘On the Road’ (1886) Chekhov discusses this Russian need for faith. The s
In his early story ‘On the Road’ (1886) Chekhov discusses this Russian need for faith. The s
In his early story ‘On the Road’ (1886) Chekhov discusses this Russian need for faith. The s
’As far as I can judge, speaking for myself, and from all that I have seen, this talent is pre
’As far as I can judge, speaking for myself, and from all that I have seen, this talent is pre
’As far as I can judge, speaking for myself, and from all that I have seen, this talent is pre
128
This was close to Chekhov’s view - and he himself was very Russian in this sense. Chekhov mi
This was close to Chekhov’s view - and he himself was very Russian in this sense. Chekhov mi
This was close to Chekhov’s view - and he himself was very Russian in this sense. Chekhov mi
The need to believe was as central to his art as it was to the Russian way of life. Chekhov’
The need to believe was as central to his art as it was to the Russian way of life. Chekhov’
The need to believe was as central to his art as it was to the Russian way of life. Chekhov’
Uncle Vanya,
Three Sisters,
The Cherry Orchard)
Uncle Vanya:
129
Modern culture is but the beginning of a work for a great future, a work which will go on, pe
Modern culture is but the beginning of a work for a great future, a work which will go on, pe
Modern culture is but the beginning of a work for a great future, a work which will go on, pe
130
Death is felt in all of Chekhov’s works, and in many of his later stories the approach of dea
Death is felt in all of Chekhov’s works, and in many of his later stories the approach of dea
Death is felt in all of Chekhov’s works, and in many of his later stories the approach of dea
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doctor and told him loudly, ‘Ich sterbe’ (‘I am dying’). The doctor tried to calm him and went a
doctor and told him loudly, ‘Ich sterbe’ (‘I am dying’). The doctor tried to calm him and went a
doctor and told him loudly, ‘Ich sterbe’ (‘I am dying’). The doctor tried to calm him and went a
Ich sterbe’
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For Tolstoy, death was no such easy thing. Terrified of his own mortality, he attached his
For Tolstoy, death was no such easy thing. Terrified of his own mortality, he attached his
For Tolstoy, death was no such easy thing. Terrified of his own mortality, he attached his
War and Peace
133
The Death of Ivan Ilich (1886)
reduced by those about him to the level of a fortuitous, disagreeable and rather indec
reduced by those about him to the level of a fortuitous, disagreeable and rather indec
reduced by those about him to the level of a fortuitous, disagreeable and rather indec
them, and simply felt sorry for the sick, expiring master. On one occasion when Ivan Ilich was
them, and simply felt sorry for the sick, expiring master. On one occasion when Ivan Ilich was
them, and simply felt sorry for the sick, expiring master. On one occasion when Ivan Ilich was
’We shall all of us die, so what’s a little trouble?’ meaning by this that he did not mind the e
’We shall all of us die, so what’s a little trouble?’ meaning by this that he did not mind the e
’We shall all of us die, so what’s a little trouble?’ meaning by this that he did not mind the e
134
A simple peasant has given to this judge a moral lesson about truth and compassion. He has
A simple peasant has given to this judge a moral lesson about truth and compassion. He has
A simple peasant has given to this judge a moral lesson about truth and compassion. He has
The Death of Ivan Ilich was based upon the death of Tolstoy’s friend, Ivan Ilich Mechnikov, a
The Death of Ivan Ilich was based upon the death of Tolstoy’s friend, Ivan Ilich Mechnikov, a
The Death of Ivan Ilich was based upon the death of Tolstoy’s friend, Ivan Ilich Mechnikov, a
The Death of Ivan Ilich
135
136
Sketches from a Hunter’s Album.
137
’Where to? It’s obvious where to - home, if things are that bad. If things are like that, the
’Where to? It’s obvious where to - home, if things are that bad. If things are like that, the
’Where to? It’s obvious where to - home, if things are that bad. If things are like that, the
’But you’ll do yourself real harm, Vasily Dmitrich. I’m surprised that you even got here at
’But you’ll do yourself real harm, Vasily Dmitrich. I’m surprised that you even got here at
’But you’ll do yourself real harm, Vasily Dmitrich. I’m surprised that you even got here at
’No, Brother Kapiton Timofeich, if I’m going to die, I’ll die at home. If I died here, God
’No, Brother Kapiton Timofeich, if I’m going to die, I’ll die at home. If I died here, God
’No, Brother Kapiton Timofeich, if I’m going to die, I’ll die at home. If I died here, God
138
The same peasant attitudes were noted by Tolstoy in Three Deaths (1856), by Leskov in The
The same peasant attitudes were noted by Tolstoy in Three Deaths (1856), by Leskov in The
The same peasant attitudes were noted by Tolstoy in Three Deaths (1856), by Leskov in The
Three Deaths
The Enchanted Pilgrim
Old Days in Poshekhonie
Cancer Ward
They didn’t puff themselves up or fight against it or brag that they were going to die - they t
They didn’t puff themselves up or fight against it or brag that they were going to die - they t
They didn’t puff themselves up or fight against it or brag that they were going to die - they t
139
But attitudes like this were not just literary invention. They were documented in the
But attitudes like this were not just literary invention. They were documented in the
But attitudes like this were not just literary invention. They were documented in the
140
141
Sketches,
God for taking it away.142 There were peasant proverbs to advance the view that ‘It’s a goo
God for taking it away.142 There were peasant proverbs to advance the view that ‘It’s a goo
God for taking it away.142 There were peasant proverbs to advance the view that ‘It’s a goo
142
143
144
The desperate peasant woman in The Brothers Karamazov who has lost her boy is told by Zosi
The desperate peasant woman in The Brothers Karamazov who has lost her boy is told by Zosi
The desperate peasant woman in The Brothers Karamazov who has lost her boy is told by Zosi
The Brothers Karamazov
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146
During a severe harvest failure it was even known for the peasants to exhume the corpses of
During a severe harvest failure it was even known for the peasants to exhume the corpses of
During a severe harvest failure it was even known for the peasants to exhume the corpses of
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148
At set times of the year, but especially at Easter and Pentecost, it was important for th
At set times of the year, but especially at Easter and Pentecost, it was important for th
At set times of the year, but especially at Easter and Pentecost, it was important for th
149
The Brothers Karamazov
150
One of the last utterances Tolstoy made, as he lay dying in the stationmaster’s little ho
One of the last utterances Tolstoy made, as he lay dying in the stationmaster’s little ho
One of the last utterances Tolstoy made, as he lay dying in the stationmaster’s little ho
151
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153
But if the Church refused to say a mass for the dead man, the people said one for him in anot
But if the Church refused to say a mass for the dead man, the people said one for him in anot
But if the Church refused to say a mass for the dead man, the people said one for him in anot
death of any Tsar, Tolstoy was buried in his favourite childhood spot. It was a place in th
death of any Tsar, Tolstoy was buried in his favourite childhood spot. It was a place in th
death of any Tsar, Tolstoy was buried in his favourite childhood spot. It was a place in th
154
overleaf: Scythian figures: late nineteenth-century archaeological engraving
overleaf: Scythian figures: late nineteenth-century archaeological engraving
overleaf: Scythian figures: late nineteenth-century archaeological engraving
Scythian figures: late nineteenth-century archaeological engraving
1
1
1
1
1
Before he turned to art Kandinsky thought he might become an anthropologist. As a student
Before he turned to art Kandinsky thought he might become an anthropologist. As a student
Before he turned to art Kandinsky thought he might become an anthropologist. As a student
1
2
3
Kandinsky’s journey east was a journey back in time. He was looking for the remnants of the p
Kandinsky’s journey east was a journey back in time. He was looking for the remnants of the p
Kandinsky’s journey east was a journey back in time. He was looking for the remnants of the p
Ust-Sysolsk, the region’s capital, where Kandinsky lived for three summer months in 1889, lo
Ust-Sysolsk, the region’s capital, where Kandinsky lived for three summer months in 1889, lo
Ust-Sysolsk, the region’s capital, where Kandinsky lived for three summer months in 1889, lo
21. Group of Komi people in typical clothing, c. 1912
21. Group of Komi people in typical clothing, c. 1912
21. Group of Komi people in typical clothing, c. 1912
Group of Komi people in typical clothing,
and looking for motifs of shamanistic cults in their folk art, he soon found traces of this
and looking for motifs of shamanistic cults in their folk art, he soon found traces of this
and looking for motifs of shamanistic cults in their folk art, he soon found traces of this
people believed in a forest monster called ‘Vorsa’. They had a ‘living soul’ they called an
people believed in a forest monster called ‘Vorsa’. They had a ‘living soul’ they called an
people believed in a forest monster called ‘Vorsa’. They had a ‘living soul’ they called an
Vorsa’.
‘ort’,
4
Scratching the surface of Komi life Kandinsky had revealed its Asian origins. For centuri
Scratching the surface of Komi life Kandinsky had revealed its Asian origins. For centuri
Scratching the surface of Komi life Kandinsky had revealed its Asian origins. For centuri
5
6
Kalevala,
7
kantele
Kalevala
kantele,
gusli,
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