Natasha's Dance (162 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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It is generally supposed that Conservatives are old people, and that those in favour o
It is generally supposed that Conservatives are old people, and that those in favour o
173
Nikolai Volkonsky was brought back to life as Andrei’s father Nikolai Bolkonsky in War and P
Nikolai Volkonsky was brought back to life as Andrei’s father Nikolai Bolkonsky in War and P
Nikolai Volkonsky was brought back to life as Andrei’s father Nikolai Bolkonsky in War and P
War and Peace
War and Peace was originally conceived as a ‘Decembrist novel’, loosely based on the lif
War and Peace was originally conceived as a ‘Decembrist novel’, loosely based on the lif
War and Peace was originally conceived as a ‘Decembrist novel’, loosely based on the lif
War and Peace
writer researched into the Decembrists, the more he realized that their intellectual r
writer researched into the Decembrists, the more he realized that their intellectual r
writer researched into the Decembrists, the more he realized that their intellectual r
(The Decembrist)
Falsehood. This is the sickness of the Russian state. Falsehood and its sisters, hypocrisy
Falsehood. This is the sickness of the Russian state. Falsehood and its sisters, hypocrisy
Falsehood. This is the sickness of the Russian state. Falsehood and its sisters, hypocrisy
174
To live in truth, or, more importantly, to live in truth in Russia - these were the questi
To live in truth, or, more importantly, to live in truth in Russia - these were the questi
To live in truth, or, more importantly, to live in truth in Russia - these were the questi
War and Peace.
Volkonsky’s release from exile was one of the first acts of the new Tsar. Of the 121 Decembrist
Volkonsky’s release from exile was one of the first acts of the new Tsar. Of the 121 Decembrist
Volkonsky’s release from exile was one of the first acts of the new Tsar. Of the 121 Decembrist
175
176
9. Maria Volkonsky and her son Misha. Daguerreotype, 1862. Maria was suffering from a kid
9. Maria Volkonsky and her son Misha. Daguerreotype, 1862. Maria was suffering from a kid
9. Maria Volkonsky and her son Misha. Daguerreotype, 1862. Maria was suffering from a kid
Maria Volkonsky and her son Misha. Daguerreotype, 1862. Maria was suffering from a kidne
know from experience,’ he wrote to his son Misha (now serving in the army in the Amur regio
know from experience,’ he wrote to his son Misha (now serving in the army in the Amur regio
know from experience,’ he wrote to his son Misha (now serving in the army in the Amur regio
that I have never tried to persuade you of my own political convictions -they belong to
that I have never tried to persuade you of my own political convictions -they belong to
that I have never tried to persuade you of my own political convictions -they belong to
without lordly airs when dealing with your comrades from a different class. You made your ow
without lordly airs when dealing with your comrades from a different class. You made your ow
without lordly airs when dealing with your comrades from a different class. You made your ow
177
Volkonsky’s notion of the Fatherland was intimately linked with his idea of the Tsar: he saw
Volkonsky’s notion of the Fatherland was intimately linked with his idea of the Tsar: he saw
Volkonsky’s notion of the Fatherland was intimately linked with his idea of the Tsar: he saw
178
Volkonsky’s trust in the Russian monarchy was not returned. The former exile was kept under
Volkonsky’s trust in the Russian monarchy was not returned. The former exile was kept under
Volkonsky’s trust in the Russian monarchy was not returned. The former exile was kept under
* Eventually, after several years of petitioning, the Tsar returned them in 1864. But ot
* Eventually, after several years of petitioning, the Tsar returned them in 1864. But ot
* Eventually, after several years of petitioning, the Tsar returned them in 1864. But ot
dekabristakh: po semeinum vospominaniiam
dissuaded him. He saw the war as a return to the spirit of 1812, and he was convinced that Russ
dissuaded him. He saw the war as a return to the spirit of 1812, and he was convinced that Russ
dissuaded him. He saw the war as a return to the spirit of 1812, and he was convinced that Russ
179
It was not. Yet Russia’s defeat made more likely Volkonsky’s second hope: the emancipati
It was not. Yet Russia’s defeat made more likely Volkonsky’s second hope: the emancipati
It was not. Yet Russia’s defeat made more likely Volkonsky’s second hope: the emancipati
But there was more than money to the arguments. The Tsar believed that the emancipation w
But there was more than money to the arguments. The Tsar believed that the emancipation w
But there was more than money to the arguments. The Tsar believed that the emancipation w
180
* Under the terms of emancipation the peasants were obliged to pay redemption dues on t
* Under the terms of emancipation the peasants were obliged to pay redemption dues on t
* Under the terms of emancipation the peasants were obliged to pay redemption dues on t
tion of justice… a moral and a Christian obligation, for every citizen who loves his Fat
tion of justice… a moral and a Christian obligation, for every citizen who loves his Fat
tion of justice… a moral and a Christian obligation, for every citizen who loves his Fat
181
182
In 1858 the Tsar appointed a special commission to formulate proposals for the emanci
In 1858 the Tsar appointed a special commission to formulate proposals for the emanci
In 1858 the Tsar appointed a special commission to formulate proposals for the emanci
183
184
In the end the diehard gentry was defeated and the moderate reformists got their way, thank
In the end the diehard gentry was defeated and the moderate reformists got their way, thank
In the end the diehard gentry was defeated and the moderate reformists got their way, thank
that nearly all the land was transferred to the peasants, there remained a shortage of agr
that nearly all the land was transferred to the peasants, there remained a shortage of agr
that nearly all the land was transferred to the peasants, there remained a shortage of agr
185
Prince Volkonsky was in Nice when he heard the news of the decree. That evening he attended a
Prince Volkonsky was in Nice when he heard the news of the decree. That evening he attended a
Prince Volkonsky was in Nice when he heard the news of the decree. That evening he attended a
186
Volkonsky died in 1865 - two years after Maria. His health, weakened in exile, was broken b
Volkonsky died in 1865 - two years after Maria. His health, weakened in exile, was broken b
Volkonsky died in 1865 - two years after Maria. His health, weakened in exile, was broken b
Towards the end of his memoirs Volkonsky wrote a sentence which the censors cut from the firs
Towards the end of his memoirs Volkonsky wrote a sentence which the censors cut from the firs
Towards the end of his memoirs Volkonsky wrote a sentence which the censors cut from the firs
187
3
3
3
3
3
overleaf:
overleaf:
overleaf:
St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow,
St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow,
St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow,
St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow,
during the late nineteenth century
during the late nineteenth century
during the late nineteenth century
during the late nineteenth century
1
1
1
1
’There it is at last, this famous town,’ Napoleon remarked as he surveyed Moscow from the
’There it is at last, this famous town,’ Napoleon remarked as he surveyed Moscow from the
’There it is at last, this famous town,’ Napoleon remarked as he surveyed Moscow from the
1
The French found Moscow empty, like a ‘dying queenless hive’.2 The mass exodus had begun in
The French found Moscow empty, like a ‘dying queenless hive’.2 The mass exodus had begun in
The French found Moscow empty, like a ‘dying queenless hive’.2 The mass exodus had begun in
2
War and Peace)
3
As Napoleon took up residence in the Kremlin palace, incendiaries set fire to the tra
As Napoleon took up residence in the Kremlin palace, incendiaries set fire to the tra
As Napoleon took up residence in the Kremlin palace, incendiaries set fire to the tra
4
This stricken giant, scorched and blackened, exhaled a horrible stench. Heaps of ashes an
This stricken giant, scorched and blackened, exhaled a horrible stench. Heaps of ashes an
This stricken giant, scorched and blackened, exhaled a horrible stench. Heaps of ashes an
the existence of streets. In the poorer quarters scattered groups of men and women, their
the existence of streets. In the poorer quarters scattered groups of men and women, their
the existence of streets. In the poorer quarters scattered groups of men and women, their
5
All the city’s churches and palaces were looted, if not already burned. Libraries and ot
All the city’s churches and palaces were looted, if not already burned. Libraries and ot
All the city’s churches and palaces were looted, if not already burned. Libraries and ot
Tolstoy wrote in War and Peace that every Russian felt Moscow to be a mother. There was a sen
Tolstoy wrote in War and Peace that every Russian felt Moscow to be a mother. There was a sen
Tolstoy wrote in War and Peace that every Russian felt Moscow to be a mother. There was a sen
War and Peace
To mark that final victory Ivan IV (‘the Terrible’) ordered the construction of a new cath
To mark that final victory Ivan IV (‘the Terrible’) ordered the construction of a new cath
To mark that final victory Ivan IV (‘the Terrible’) ordered the construction of a new cath
religious crusade against the Tatar nomads of the steppe. This Imperial mission was set o
religious crusade against the Tatar nomads of the steppe. This Imperial mission was set o
religious crusade against the Tatar nomads of the steppe. This Imperial mission was set o
By razing the medieval city to the ground, the fires carried out what Russia’s eighteenth-
By razing the medieval city to the ground, the fires carried out what Russia’s eighteenth-
By razing the medieval city to the ground, the fires carried out what Russia’s eighteenth-
vation from the outside world, they lived in tightly knit patriarchal communities which, l
vation from the outside world, they lived in tightly knit patriarchal communities which, l
vation from the outside world, they lived in tightly knit patriarchal communities which, l
With the building of St Petersburg, Moscow’s fortunes had declined rapidly. Its populat
With the building of St Petersburg, Moscow’s fortunes had declined rapidly. Its populat
With the building of St Petersburg, Moscow’s fortunes had declined rapidly. Its populat
6
After 1812 the centre of the city was finally rebuilt in the European style. The fire had cl
After 1812 the centre of the city was finally rebuilt in the European style. The fire had cl
After 1812 the centre of the city was finally rebuilt in the European style. The fire had cl
Woe from Wit,
7
boulevards. The first of several planned ensembles, Theatre Square, with the Bolshoi Theat
boulevards. The first of several planned ensembles, Theatre Square, with the Bolshoi Theat
boulevards. The first of several planned ensembles, Theatre Square, with the Bolshoi Theat
8
9
Yet in all this frenzy of construction there was never slavish imitation of the West. Mosc
Yet in all this frenzy of construction there was never slavish imitation of the West. Mosc
Yet in all this frenzy of construction there was never slavish imitation of the West. Mosc
But oriental customs and colours and motifs were also to be seen on Moscow’s streets. The
But oriental customs and colours and motifs were also to be seen on Moscow’s streets. The
But oriental customs and colours and motifs were also to be seen on Moscow’s streets. The
enlightenment’, which led him to the disturbing conclusion that Peter had ‘accomplished a gr
enlightenment’, which led him to the disturbing conclusion that Peter had ‘accomplished a gr
enlightenment’, which led him to the disturbing conclusion that Peter had ‘accomplished a gr
10
11
12
13
Moscow’s semi-oriental nature was given full expression in the so-called neo-Byzantine s
Moscow’s semi-oriental nature was given full expression in the so-called neo-Byzantine s
Moscow’s semi-oriental nature was given full expression in the so-called neo-Byzantine s

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