Natasha's Dance (142 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

Tags: #Non Fiction

BOOK: Natasha's Dance
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The Georgian film director Otar loseliani recalls a conversation with the veteran fi
The Georgian film director Otar loseliani recalls a conversation with the veteran fi
He asked me: ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘A director’… ‘Soviet’, he corrected, ‘you must always
He asked me: ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘A director’… ‘Soviet’, he corrected, ‘you must always
He asked me: ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘A director’… ‘Soviet’, he corrected, ‘you must always
205
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From beneath such ruins I speak,
From beneath such ruins I speak,
From beneath such ruins I speak,
From beneath such an avalanche I cry,
From beneath such an avalanche I cry,
From beneath such an avalanche I cry,
As if under the vault of a fetid cellar
As if under the vault of a fetid cellar
As if under the vault of a fetid cellar
I were burning in quicklime.
I were burning in quicklime.
I were burning in quicklime.
I will pretend to be soundless this winter
I will pretend to be soundless this winter
I will pretend to be soundless this winter
And I will slam the eternal doors forever,
And I will slam the eternal doors forever,
And I will slam the eternal doors forever,
And even so, they will recognize my voice,
And even so, they will recognize my voice,
And even so, they will recognize my voice,
And even so they will believe in it once more.210
And even so they will believe in it once more.210
And even so they will believe in it once more.210
210
Anna Akhmatova was one of the great survivors. Her poetic voice was irrepressible. In th
Anna Akhmatova was one of the great survivors. Her poetic voice was irrepressible. In th
Anna Akhmatova was one of the great survivors. Her poetic voice was irrepressible. In th
In 1963 she wrote the last additions to her masterpiece, Poem without a Hero, which she h
In 1963 she wrote the last additions to her masterpiece, Poem without a Hero, which she h
In 1963 she wrote the last additions to her masterpiece, Poem without a Hero, which she h
Poem without a Hero,
211
… and because I don’t have enough paper, I am writing on your first draft.212*
… and because I don’t have enough paper, I am writing on your first draft.212*
… and because I don’t have enough paper, I am writing on your first draft.212*
212
* Akhmatova informed several friends that the first dedication was to Mandelstam. When
* Akhmatova informed several friends that the first dedication was to Mandelstam. When
* Akhmatova informed several friends that the first dedication was to Mandelstam. When
Hope Abandoned,
The poem is full of literary references, over which countless scholars have puzzled, but
The poem is full of literary references, over which countless scholars have puzzled, but
The poem is full of literary references, over which countless scholars have puzzled, but
We shall meet again in Petersburg
We shall meet again in Petersburg
We shall meet again in Petersburg
as though we had interred the sun in it
as though we had interred the sun in it
as though we had interred the sun in it
and shall pronounce for the first time
and shall pronounce for the first time
and shall pronounce for the first time
that blessed, senseless word.
that blessed, senseless word.
that blessed, senseless word.
In the black velvet of the Soviet night,
In the black velvet of the Soviet night,
In the black velvet of the Soviet night,
in the velvet of the universal void
in the velvet of the universal void
in the velvet of the universal void
the familiar eyes of blessed women sing
the familiar eyes of blessed women sing
the familiar eyes of blessed women sing
and still the deathless flowers bloom.213
and still the deathless flowers bloom.213
and still the deathless flowers bloom.213
213
Akhmatova’s Poem is a requiem for those who died in Leningrad. That remembrance is a sac
Akhmatova’s Poem is a requiem for those who died in Leningrad. That remembrance is a sac
Akhmatova’s Poem is a requiem for those who died in Leningrad. That remembrance is a sac
Poem
Akhmatova died peacefully in a convalescent home in Moscow on 5 March 1966. Her body was ta
Akhmatova died peacefully in a convalescent home in Moscow on 5 March 1966. Her body was ta
Akhmatova died peacefully in a convalescent home in Moscow on 5 March 1966. Her body was ta
‘Deus conservat omnia’.
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overleaf:
overleaf:
overleaf:
Igor and Vera Stravinsky arriving at Sheremetevo Airport in Moscow,
Igor and Vera Stravinsky arriving at Sheremetevo Airport in Moscow,
Igor and Vera Stravinsky arriving at Sheremetevo Airport in Moscow,
Igor and Vera
Stravinsky arriving at Sheremetevo Airport in Moscow,
21 September 1962
21 September 1962
21 September 1962
21 September 1962
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Homesickness! that long Exposed weariness! It’s all the same to me now Where I am altogethe
Homesickness! that long Exposed weariness! It’s all the same to me now Where I am altogethe
Homesickness! that long Exposed weariness! It’s all the same to me now Where I am altogethe
Or what stones I wander over Home with a shopping bag to A house that is no more mine Than a
Or what stones I wander over Home with a shopping bag to A house that is no more mine Than a
Or what stones I wander over Home with a shopping bag to A house that is no more mine Than a
It’s all the same to me, a captive Lion - what faces I move through Bristling, or what huma
It’s all the same to me, a captive Lion - what faces I move through Bristling, or what huma
It’s all the same to me, a captive Lion - what faces I move through Bristling, or what huma
Into myself, into my separate internal World, a Kamchatka bear without ice. Where I fai
Into myself, into my separate internal World, a Kamchatka bear without ice. Where I fai
Into myself, into my separate internal World, a Kamchatka bear without ice. Where I fai
And I won’t be seduced by the thought of My native language, its milky call. How can it matt
And I won’t be seduced by the thought of My native language, its milky call. How can it matt
And I won’t be seduced by the thought of My native language, its milky call. How can it matt
(Or by what readers, swallowing Newsprint, squeezing for gossip?) They all belong to the twe
(Or by what readers, swallowing Newsprint, squeezing for gossip?) They all belong to the twe
(Or by what readers, swallowing Newsprint, squeezing for gossip?) They all belong to the twe
Stunned, like a log left
Stunned, like a log left
Stunned, like a log left
Behind from an avenue of trees.
Behind from an avenue of trees.
Behind from an avenue of trees.
People are all the same to me, everything
People are all the same to me, everything
People are all the same to me, everything
Is the same, and it may be that the most
Is the same, and it may be that the most
Is the same, and it may be that the most
Indifferent of all are those
Indifferent of all are those
Indifferent of all are those
Signs and tokens which once were
Signs and tokens which once were
Signs and tokens which once were
Native but the dates have been
Native but the dates have been
Native but the dates have been
Rubbed out: the soul was born somewhere,
Rubbed out: the soul was born somewhere,
Rubbed out: the soul was born somewhere,
But my country has taken so little care Of me that even the sharpest spy could Go over my who
But my country has taken so little care Of me that even the sharpest spy could Go over my who
But my country has taken so little care Of me that even the sharpest spy could Go over my who
Houses are alien, churches are empty Everything is the same: But if by the side of the path a B
Houses are alien, churches are empty Everything is the same: But if by the side of the path a B
Houses are alien, churches are empty Everything is the same: But if by the side of the path a B
a rowanberry…’
a rowanberry…’
a rowanberry…’
The rowanberry tree stirred up painful memories for the exiled poet Marina Tsvetaeva.
The rowanberry tree stirred up painful memories for the exiled poet Marina Tsvetaeva.
The rowanberry tree stirred up painful memories for the exiled poet Marina Tsvetaeva.
The red mound of a rowanberry kindled, Its leaves fell, and I was born.2
The red mound of a rowanberry kindled, Its leaves fell, and I was born.2
The red mound of a rowanberry kindled, Its leaves fell, and I was born.2
2
From such associations the homesick exile constitutes a homeland in his mind. Nostalgi
From such associations the homesick exile constitutes a homeland in his mind. Nostalgi
From such associations the homesick exile constitutes a homeland in his mind. Nostalgi
of her father’s Moscow house at Three Ponds Lane. The house was stripped apart for firewood
of her father’s Moscow house at Three Ponds Lane. The house was stripped apart for firewood
of her father’s Moscow house at Three Ponds Lane. The house was stripped apart for firewood
3
Of the many factors that lay behind Tsvetaeva’s return to Stalin’s Russia, the most importa
Of the many factors that lay behind Tsvetaeva’s return to Stalin’s Russia, the most importa
Of the many factors that lay behind Tsvetaeva’s return to Stalin’s Russia, the most importa
4
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All I possess are eight slim volumes, And they contain my native land.6
All I possess are eight slim volumes, And they contain my native land.6
All I possess are eight slim volumes, And they contain my native land.6
6
The other Russia was the land itself - the place that still contained memories of home. Fo
The other Russia was the land itself - the place that still contained memories of home. Fo
The other Russia was the land itself - the place that still contained memories of home. Fo
Three million Russians fled their native land between 1917 and 1929. They made up a shado
Three million Russians fled their native land between 1917 and 1929. They made up a shado
Three million Russians fled their native land between 1917 and 1929. They made up a shado
mistakes of the White Army leader, General Denikin. Large families, like the Sheremete
mistakes of the White Army leader, General Denikin. Large families, like the Sheremete
mistakes of the White Army leader, General Denikin. Large families, like the Sheremete
Berlin was the first major centre of the emigration. It was a natural crossroads between
Berlin was the first major centre of the emigration. It was a natural crossroads between
Berlin was the first major centre of the emigration. It was a natural crossroads between
7
Berlin was the undisputed cultural capital of the Russian emigre community. Its musica
Berlin was the undisputed cultural capital of the Russian emigre community. Its musica
Berlin was the undisputed cultural capital of the Russian emigre community. Its musica
8
Berlin was also a halfway house between Soviet Russia and the West for writers such as Gork
Berlin was also a halfway house between Soviet Russia and the West for writers such as Gork
Berlin was also a halfway house between Soviet Russia and the West for writers such as Gork
Ehrenburg, who were yet to make up their minds where they wanted to be based. It became a me
Ehrenburg, who were yet to make up their minds where they wanted to be based. It became a me
Ehrenburg, who were yet to make up their minds where they wanted to be based. It became a me
Smena vekh
Nakanune (On the Eve)
During the middle of the 1920s the German mark was stabilized, the economy began to recover
During the middle of the 1920s the German mark was stabilized, the economy began to recover
During the middle of the 1920s the German mark was stabilized, the economy began to recover
* As nationalists fighting for independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the 35,0
* As nationalists fighting for independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the 35,0
* As nationalists fighting for independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the 35,0
an independent Czechoslovakia that year, the government in Prague gave grants to Russi

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