Natasha's Dance (161 page)
At the age of six or seven the noble child was transferred from the
care of a nanny to the supervision of a French or German tutor and then sent off to school. T
care of a nanny to the supervision of a French or German tutor and then sent off to school. T
care of a nanny to the supervision of a French or German tutor and then sent off to school. T
145
Because Fevronia Stepanovna had always spoiled me endlessly, I became a cry-baby, and a p
Because Fevronia Stepanovna had always spoiled me endlessly, I became a cry-baby, and a p
Because Fevronia Stepanovna had always spoiled me endlessly, I became a cry-baby, and a p
would come back home with medals on my chest. I went to sleep peacefully that night, imagin
would come back home with medals on my chest. I went to sleep peacefully that night, imagin
would come back home with medals on my chest. I went to sleep peacefully that night, imagin
146
It was not at all unusual for grown men and women to remain in frequent contact with their
It was not at all unusual for grown men and women to remain in frequent contact with their
It was not at all unusual for grown men and women to remain in frequent contact with their
147
My friend in days devoid of good, My ageing and decrepit dove! Abandoned in a far-off woo
My friend in days devoid of good, My ageing and decrepit dove! Abandoned in a far-off woo
My friend in days devoid of good, My ageing and decrepit dove! Abandoned in a far-off woo
148
Diaghilev, as well, was famously attached to his nanny. He had never known his mother, who had
Diaghilev, as well, was famously attached to his nanny. He had never known his mother, who had
Diaghilev, as well, was famously attached to his nanny. He had never known his mother, who had
the dowry to his father’s family in Perm. When Diaghilev moved as a student to St Petersbur
the dowry to his father’s family in Perm. When Diaghilev moved as a student to St Petersbur
the dowry to his father’s family in Perm. When Diaghilev moved as a student to St Petersbur
(Mir iskusstva)
samovar.
149
The nanny was an almost sacred figure in that cult of childhood which the Russian gentry ma
The nanny was an almost sacred figure in that cult of childhood which the Russian gentry ma
The nanny was an almost sacred figure in that cult of childhood which the Russian gentry ma
Childhood, Boyhood, Youth
Childhood Years
Past and Thoughts
Speak, Memory
Happy, happy, irrecoverable days of childhood! How can one fail to love and cherish its me
Happy, happy, irrecoverable days of childhood! How can one fail to love and cherish its me
Happy, happy, irrecoverable days of childhood! How can one fail to love and cherish its me
150
The way these Russians wrote about their childhood was extraordi-nary, too. They all sum
The way these Russians wrote about their childhood was extraordi-nary, too. They all sum
The way these Russians wrote about their childhood was extraordi-nary, too. They all sum
of my boyhood’ can be felt in Benois and Stravinsky’s Petrusbka (1911). This ballet expres
of my boyhood’ can be felt in Benois and Stravinsky’s Petrusbka (1911). This ballet expres
of my boyhood’ can be felt in Benois and Stravinsky’s Petrusbka (1911). This ballet expres
Petrusbka
The Ugly Duckling
Peter and the Wolf
6
6
6
6
6
’Oh please, Nurse, tell me again how the French came to Moscow.’ Thus Herzen starts his subli
’Oh please, Nurse, tell me again how the French came to Moscow.’ Thus Herzen starts his subli
’Oh please, Nurse, tell me again how the French came to Moscow.’ Thus Herzen starts his subli
My Past and Thoughts,
151
152
153
History of the Russian State
been arcane chronicles of monasteries and saints, patriotic propaganda, or heavy tom
been arcane chronicles of monasteries and saints, patriotic propaganda, or heavy tom
been arcane chronicles of monasteries and saints, patriotic propaganda, or heavy tom
History
History
The first eight volumes of Karamzin’s History were published in 1818. ‘Three thousand copi
The first eight volumes of Karamzin’s History were published in 1818. ‘Three thousand copi
The first eight volumes of Karamzin’s History were published in 1818. ‘Three thousand copi
History
154
155
This was the question posed by Pyotr Chaadaev, the Guards officer and foppish friend of P
This was the question posed by Pyotr Chaadaev, the Guards officer and foppish friend of P
This was the question posed by Pyotr Chaadaev, the Guards officer and foppish friend of P
First Philosophical Letter
at Borodino, before resigning from the army, at the height of his career in 1821, to spend
at Borodino, before resigning from the army, at the height of his career in 1821, to spend
at Borodino, before resigning from the army, at the height of his career in 1821, to spend
Letter
156
First Letter
157
To the reader in the modern world - where self-lacerating national declarations are mad
To the reader in the modern world - where self-lacerating national declarations are mad
To the reader in the modern world - where self-lacerating national declarations are mad
First Letter
158
raison d’etre
as she manifests herself at the present time.’159 The literary critic Nadezhdin (who publ
as she manifests herself at the present time.’159 The literary critic Nadezhdin (who publ
as she manifests herself at the present time.’159 The literary critic Nadezhdin (who publ
159
First Letter
Telescope)
160
The Slavophiles had an opposite response to the crisis posed by Chaadaev. They first eme
The Slavophiles had an opposite response to the crisis posed by Chaadaev. They first eme
The Slavophiles had an opposite response to the crisis posed by Chaadaev. They first eme
Nest of Gentlefolk
The free-thinker began to go to church and to order prayers to be said for him; the European
The free-thinker began to go to church and to order prayers to be said for him; the European
The free-thinker began to go to church and to order prayers to be said for him; the European
161
The Slavophiles looked first to the virtues they discerned in the patriarchal customs of
The Slavophiles looked first to the virtues they discerned in the patriarchal customs of
The Slavophiles looked first to the virtues they discerned in the patriarchal customs of
162
(narod)
narodnost’).
community (sobornost’) in which, they imagined, the squire and his serfs were bound togethe
community (sobornost’) in which, they imagined, the squire and his serfs were bound togethe
community (sobornost’) in which, they imagined, the squire and his serfs were bound togethe
(sobornost’)
Karamzin’s History was the opening statement in a long debate on Russia’s past and future t
Karamzin’s History was the opening statement in a long debate on Russia’s past and future t
Karamzin’s History was the opening statement in a long debate on Russia’s past and future t
History
History
(‘narod bezmolvstvuet’),
Boris Godunov.
The History of Pugachev
In contrast to these views was the democratic trend of Russian history advanced by the De
In contrast to these views was the democratic trend of Russian history advanced by the De
In contrast to these views was the democratic trend of Russian history advanced by the De
* Dostoevsky shared this view. The Russians, he wrote in 1876, were ‘a people devoted to
* Dostoevsky shared this view. The Russians, he wrote in 1876, were ‘a people devoted to
* Dostoevsky shared this view. The Russians, he wrote in 1876, were ‘a people devoted to
A Writer’s Diary,
the rebellious and freedom-loving spirit of the Russian people and idealized the medi
the rebellious and freedom-loving spirit of the Russian people and idealized the medi
the rebellious and freedom-loving spirit of the Russian people and idealized the medi
163
The origins of Russia was a major battlefield in this war between historians. Monarchi
The origins of Russia was a major battlefield in this war between historians. Monarchi
The origins of Russia was a major battlefield in this war between historians. Monarchi
Primary Chronicle
164
Another battlefield was medieval Novgorod - the greatest monument to Russian liberty an
Another battlefield was medieval Novgorod - the greatest monument to Russian liberty an
Another battlefield was medieval Novgorod - the greatest monument to Russian liberty an
veche,
artel’
veche
veche
165
Novgorod
Novgorod
Answer great city:
Answer great city:
Answer great city:
Where are your glorious days of liberty,
Where are your glorious days of liberty,
Where are your glorious days of liberty,
When your voice, the scourge of kings,
When your voice, the scourge of kings,
When your voice, the scourge of kings,
Rang true like the bells at your noisy assembly?
Rang true like the bells at your noisy assembly?
Rang true like the bells at your noisy assembly?
Say, where are those times?
Say, where are those times?
Say, where are those times?
They are so far away, oh, so far away!166
They are so far away, oh, so far away!166
They are so far away, oh, so far away!166
166
The monarchist perception of medieval Novgorod formed a stark contrast. According to Ka
The monarchist perception of medieval Novgorod formed a stark contrast. According to Ka
The monarchist perception of medieval Novgorod formed a stark contrast. According to Ka
themselves from their own internal squabbles, which had played into the hands of the city’s b
themselves from their own internal squabbles, which had played into the hands of the city’s b
themselves from their own internal squabbles, which had played into the hands of the city’s b
boyars,
History
The war of 1812 was itself a battlefield for these competing myths of Russian history. Thi
The war of 1812 was itself a battlefield for these competing myths of Russian history. Thi
The war of 1812 was itself a battlefield for these competing myths of Russian history. Thi
The regime’s image of itself was set in stone with the Alexandrine Column, built, ironic
The regime’s image of itself was set in stone with the Alexandrine Column, built, ironic
The regime’s image of itself was set in stone with the Alexandrine Column, built, ironic
167
Throughout the nineteenth century these two images of 1812 - as
Throughout the nineteenth century these two images of 1812 - as
Throughout the nineteenth century these two images of 1812 - as
8. Monument to the millennium of Russia in the square in front of St Sophia’s Cathedral, N
8. Monument to the millennium of Russia in the square in front of St Sophia’s Cathedral, N
8. Monument to the millennium of Russia in the square in front of St Sophia’s Cathedral, N
Monument to the millennium of Russia in the square in front of St Sophia’s Cathedral, Nov
a national liberation or imperial salvation - continued to compete for the public
a national liberation or imperial salvation - continued to compete for the public
a national liberation or imperial salvation - continued to compete for the public
War and Peace,
Overture of 1812.
when there were high hopes for national unity in the wake of the emancipation of the serfs
when there were high hopes for national unity in the wake of the emancipation of the serfs
when there were high hopes for national unity in the wake of the emancipation of the serfs
168
7
7
7
7
7
7
’He is an enthusiast, a mystic and a Christian, with high ideals for the new Russia,’ Tolsto
’He is an enthusiast, a mystic and a Christian, with high ideals for the new Russia,’ Tolsto
’He is an enthusiast, a mystic and a Christian, with high ideals for the new Russia,’ Tolsto
169
War and Peace
170
In 1859 Tolstoy started a school for peasant children at Yasnaya Polyana, the old Volkonsk
In 1859 Tolstoy started a school for peasant children at Yasnaya Polyana, the old Volkonsk
In 1859 Tolstoy started a school for peasant children at Yasnaya Polyana, the old Volkonsk
171
172
It is generally supposed that Conservatives are old people, and that those in favour o
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