Natasha's Dance (135 page)

Read Natasha's Dance Online

Authors: Orlando Figes

Tags: #Non Fiction

BOOK: Natasha's Dance
8.9Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
Like a prisoner, like someone ill.
Like a prisoner, like someone ill.
Like a prisoner, like someone ill.
Dark is your road, wanderer,
Dark is your road, wanderer,
Dark is your road, wanderer,
Like wormwood smells the bread of strangers.
Like wormwood smells the bread of strangers.
Like wormwood smells the bread of strangers.
But here, in the blinding smoke of the conflagration Destroying what’s left of youth, We h
But here, in the blinding smoke of the conflagration Destroying what’s left of youth, We h
But here, in the blinding smoke of the conflagration Destroying what’s left of youth, We h
And we know that in the final accounting, Each hour will be justified… But there is no peo
And we know that in the final accounting, Each hour will be justified… But there is no peo
And we know that in the final accounting, Each hour will be justified… But there is no peo
11
Like all of Russia’s greatest poets, Akhmatova felt the moral obligation to be her count
Like all of Russia’s greatest poets, Akhmatova felt the moral obligation to be her count
Like all of Russia’s greatest poets, Akhmatova felt the moral obligation to be her count
12
13
Give me bitter years of sickness,
Give me bitter years of sickness,
Give me bitter years of sickness,
Suffocation, insomnia, fever,
Suffocation, insomnia, fever,
Suffocation, insomnia, fever,
Take my child and my lover,
Take my child and my lover,
Take my child and my lover,
And my mysterious gift of song -
And my mysterious gift of song -
And my mysterious gift of song -
This I pray at your liturgy
This I pray at your liturgy
This I pray at your liturgy
After so many tormented days,
After so many tormented days,
After so many tormented days,
So that the stormcloud over darkened Russia
So that the stormcloud over darkened Russia
So that the stormcloud over darkened Russia
Might become a cloud of glorious rays.14
Might become a cloud of glorious rays.14
Might become a cloud of glorious rays.14
14
The fountain House had a special place in Akhmatova’s universe. She saw it as a blessed
The fountain House had a special place in Akhmatova’s universe. She saw it as a blessed
The fountain House had a special place in Akhmatova’s universe. She saw it as a blessed
15
tain House was another world enclosed by water. Its inner sanctum
tain House was another world enclosed by water. Its inner sanctum
tain House was another world enclosed by water. Its inner sanctum
represented the European civilization, the vanished universal culture for which Akhma
represented the European civilization, the vanished universal culture for which Akhma
represented the European civilization, the vanished universal culture for which Akhma
16
persona non grata,
What are you muttering, midnight?
What are you muttering, midnight?
What are you muttering, midnight?
In any case, Parasha is dead,
In any case, Parasha is dead,
In any case, Parasha is dead,
The young mistress of the palace.17
The young mistress of the palace.17
The young mistress of the palace.17
17
The cultural history of the palace was a true inspiration to Akhmatova. She sensed the
The cultural history of the palace was a true inspiration to Akhmatova. She sensed the
The cultural history of the palace was a true inspiration to Akhmatova. She sensed the
* During his famous meeting with the poet at the Fountain House in 1945, the philosopher
* During his famous meeting with the poet at the Fountain House in 1945, the philosopher
* During his famous meeting with the poet at the Fountain House in 1945, the philosopher
Personal Impressions
Anna Akhmatova i fontanny dom
27. Akhmatova and Punin in the courtyard of the Fountain House, 1927
27. Akhmatova and Punin in the courtyard of the Fountain House, 1927
27. Akhmatova and Punin in the courtyard of the Fountain House, 1927
Akhmatova and Punin in the courtyard of the Fountain House, 1927
fellow poet, she could draw attention to the way he had defied the authorities by writin
fellow poet, she could draw attention to the way he had defied the authorities by writin
fellow poet, she could draw attention to the way he had defied the authorities by writin
Akhmatova and Shileiko were divorced in 1926. He had been a jealous husband, jealous not
Akhmatova and Shileiko were divorced in 1926. He had been a jealous husband, jealous not
Akhmatova and Shileiko were divorced in 1926. He had been a jealous husband, jealous not
new lover, Nikolai Punin, and his wife (from whom he was separated) in their apartment in
new lover, Nikolai Punin, and his wife (from whom he was separated) in their apartment in
new lover, Nikolai Punin, and his wife (from whom he was separated) in their apartment in
Pravda
18
19
Despite his commitment to the Futurist group of left-wing artists, Punin’s apartment in the
Despite his commitment to the Futurist group of left-wing artists, Punin’s apartment in the
Despite his commitment to the Futurist group of left-wing artists, Punin’s apartment in the
20
21
I climbed the tricky back staircase that belonged to another century, each step as deep as
I climbed the tricky back staircase that belonged to another century, each step as deep as
I climbed the tricky back staircase that belonged to another century, each step as deep as
* Trotsky’s two articles were published just a fortnight after the expulsion from the cou
* Trotsky’s two articles were published just a fortnight after the expulsion from the cou
* Trotsky’s two articles were published just a fortnight after the expulsion from the cou
of peeling wallpaper, were somehow quite unexpected. The woman walked ahead of me. The k
of peeling wallpaper, were somehow quite unexpected. The woman walked ahead of me. The k
of peeling wallpaper, were somehow quite unexpected. The woman walked ahead of me. The k
22
2
2
2
2
2
The Fountain House was only one of many former palaces to be converted into communal apa
The Fountain House was only one of many former palaces to be converted into communal apa
The Fountain House was only one of many former palaces to be converted into communal apa
How the Steel Was Tempered
23
24
Nothing better illustrates the everyday reality of the Revolution than this transformat
Nothing better illustrates the everyday reality of the Revolution than this transformat
Nothing better illustrates the everyday reality of the Revolution than this transformat
In the first years of the Revolution the plan entailed the socialization
In the first years of the Revolution the plan entailed the socialization
In the first years of the Revolution the plan entailed the socialization
of the existing housing stock: families were assigned to a single room, and sometimes e
of the existing housing stock: families were assigned to a single room, and sometimes e
of the existing housing stock: families were assigned to a single room, and sometimes e
(dom kommuny)
25
Few houses of this sort were ever built, although they loomed large in the Utopian imagin
Few houses of this sort were ever built, although they loomed large in the Utopian imagin
Few houses of this sort were ever built, although they loomed large in the Utopian imagin
26
27
It had always been the aim of the Bolsheviks to create a new type of human being. As Marxist
It had always been the aim of the Bolsheviks to create a new type of human being. As Marxist
It had always been the aim of the Bolsheviks to create a new type of human being. As Marxist
stimuli. Sechenov’s materialism was the starting point for I. P. Pavlov’s research on the
stimuli. Sechenov’s materialism was the starting point for I. P. Pavlov’s research on the
stimuli. Sechenov’s materialism was the starting point for I. P. Pavlov’s research on the
28
What is man? He is by no means a finished or harmonious being. No, he is still a highly awk
What is man? He is by no means a finished or harmonious being. No, he is still a highly awk
What is man? He is by no means a finished or harmonious being. No, he is still a highly awk
homo sapiens,
29
The artist also had a central role to play in the construction of Soviet man. It was Stali
The artist also had a central role to play in the construction of Soviet man. It was Stali
The artist also had a central role to play in the construction of Soviet man. It was Stali
in the theatre, industrial art, etc.). Since they believed that consciousness was shape
in the theatre, industrial art, etc.). Since they believed that consciousness was shape
in the theatre, industrial art, etc.). Since they believed that consciousness was shape
The Constructivists were in the forefront of this movement to bring art into union with li
The Constructivists were in the forefront of this movement to bring art into union with li
The Constructivists were in the forefront of this movement to bring art into union with li
30
31
32
The Proletkult (Proletarian Culture) movement was equally committed to the idea of the
The Proletkult (Proletarian Culture) movement was equally committed to the idea of the
The Proletkult (Proletarian Culture) movement was equally committed to the idea of the
33
had set up schools in Italy for workers smuggled out of Russia. The object was to educate a t
had set up schools in Italy for workers smuggled out of Russia. The object was to educate a t
had set up schools in Italy for workers smuggled out of Russia. The object was to educate a t
Socialist Encyclopaedia,
Encyclopedic
34
rasstreliat’
In the name of our tomorrow we will burn Raphael, Destroy the museum, and trample over Art.
In the name of our tomorrow we will burn Raphael, Destroy the museum, and trample over Art.
In the name of our tomorrow we will burn Raphael, Destroy the museum, and trample over Art.
35
Yet there was also the Utopian faith that a new culture would be built on the rubble of th
Yet there was also the Utopian faith that a new culture would be built on the rubble of th
Yet there was also the Utopian faith that a new culture would be built on the rubble of th
But was it possible to construct a new culture without learning from the old? How could on
But was it possible to construct a new culture without learning from the old? How could on
But was it possible to construct a new culture without learning from the old? How could on
Lenin, a conservative in artistic matters, had always been appalled by the cultural ni
Lenin, a conservative in artistic matters, had always been appalled by the cultural ni
Lenin, a conservative in artistic matters, had always been appalled by the cultural ni
as a starting point, even if it is “old”. Why must we turn away from the truly beautiful just b
as a starting point, even if it is “old”. Why must we turn away from the truly beautiful just b
as a starting point, even if it is “old”. Why must we turn away from the truly beautiful just b
36
But pressure on the Proletkult came from below as well as above. Most of the workers who vi
But pressure on the Proletkult came from below as well as above. Most of the workers who vi
But pressure on the Proletkult came from below as well as above. Most of the workers who vi
‘kul’turny’
37
38
39
40
41
3
3
3
3
3
’For us the most important of all the arts is cinema,’ Lenin is reported to have said.42 He
’For us the most important of all the arts is cinema,’ Lenin is reported to have said.42 He
’For us the most important of all the arts is cinema,’ Lenin is reported to have said.42 He
42
43
cinemas were established in requisitioned churches and village halls. Trotsky said the c
cinemas were established in requisitioned churches and village halls. Trotsky said the c
cinemas were established in requisitioned churches and village halls. Trotsky said the c
44
45
’The theatre is a game. The cinema is life’, wrote one Soviet critic in 1927.46 It was the
’The theatre is a game. The cinema is life’, wrote one Soviet critic in 1927.46 It was the
’The theatre is a game. The cinema is life’, wrote one Soviet critic in 1927.46 It was the

Other books

Leaving at Noon by Jess Dee
Amandine by Adele Griffin
Overrun: Project Hideaway by Rusch, Michael
Ark by K.B. Kofoed
Unscrewed by Lois Greiman