Natasha's Dance (196 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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33
Among the Parisian emigres Bunin was revered as the heir to this literary heritage, a l
Among the Parisian emigres Bunin was revered as the heir to this literary heritage, a l
Among the Parisian emigres Bunin was revered as the heir to this literary heritage, a l
the highest class: his prose style was heavy and conventional compared to the favoured wri
the highest class: his prose style was heavy and conventional compared to the favoured wri
the highest class: his prose style was heavy and conventional compared to the favoured wri
34
35
The Russia Bunin re-creates in his stories is a dreamland. In ‘The Mowers’ (1923) and ‘Unhur
The Russia Bunin re-creates in his stories is a dreamland. In ‘The Mowers’ (1923) and ‘Unhur
The Russia Bunin re-creates in his stories is a dreamland. In ‘The Mowers’ (1923) and ‘Unhur
The Village,
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inspiration from the experience of exile. But for Bunin it must have been particularly di
inspiration from the experience of exile. But for Bunin it must have been particularly di
inspiration from the experience of exile. But for Bunin it must have been particularly di
Emigration tends to breed conservatives in art. Retrospection and nostalgia are its mood
Emigration tends to breed conservatives in art. Retrospection and nostalgia are its mood
Emigration tends to breed conservatives in art. Retrospection and nostalgia are its mood
The Rite of Spring,
Sergei Rachmaninov had learned composition at the Moscow Conservatory at a time when T
Sergei Rachmaninov had learned composition at the Moscow Conservatory at a time when T
Sergei Rachmaninov had learned composition at the Moscow Conservatory at a time when T
The Musical Courier
I felt like a ghost wandering in a world grown alien. I cannot cast out the old way of writing
I felt like a ghost wandering in a world grown alien. I cannot cast out the old way of writing
I felt like a ghost wandering in a world grown alien. I cannot cast out the old way of writing
7
In his last major interview, in 1941, Rachmaninov revealed the spiritual connection
In his last major interview, in 1941, Rachmaninov revealed the spiritual connection
In his last major interview, in 1941, Rachmaninov revealed the spiritual connection
I am a Russian composer, and the land of my birth has influenced my temperament and outlo
I am a Russian composer, and the land of my birth has influenced my temperament and outlo
I am a Russian composer, and the land of my birth has influenced my temperament and outlo
Russian music. I never consciously attempt to write Russian music, or any other kind of m
Russian music. I never consciously attempt to write Russian music, or any other kind of m
Russian music. I never consciously attempt to write Russian music, or any other kind of m
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The ‘Russianness’ of Rachmaninov’s music, a kind of lyrical nostalgia, became the emoti
The ‘Russianness’ of Rachmaninov’s music, a kind of lyrical nostalgia, became the emoti
The ‘Russianness’ of Rachmaninov’s music, a kind of lyrical nostalgia, became the emoti
Being out of step had always been a part of his persona. Born in 1873 to an ancient noble fa
Being out of step had always been a part of his persona. Born in 1873 to an ancient noble fa
Being out of step had always been a part of his persona. Born in 1873 to an ancient noble fa
Aleko
Vespers
The Bells
The other source of Rachmaninov’s nostalgia was his longing for the Russian land. He yea
The other source of Rachmaninov’s nostalgia was his longing for the Russian land. He yea
The other source of Rachmaninov’s nostalgia was his longing for the Russian land. He yea
contained his childhood and romantic memories. In 1910, the estate became his own throug
contained his childhood and romantic memories. In 1910, the estate became his own throug
contained his childhood and romantic memories. In 1910, the estate became his own throug
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40
41
Financial hardship forced Rachmaninov, at the age of forty-five, to start a new career as a
Financial hardship forced Rachmaninov, at the age of forty-five, to start a new career as a
Financial hardship forced Rachmaninov, at the age of forty-five, to start a new career as a
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In America, where they bought their first home in 1921, and then in France and Switzerland
In America, where they bought their first home in 1921, and then in France and Switzerland
In America, where they bought their first home in 1921, and then in France and Switzerland
samovar
Russian atmosphere the couple re-created there was described by their American friends,
Russian atmosphere the couple re-created there was described by their American friends,
Russian atmosphere the couple re-created there was described by their American friends,
The chateau-like house, Le Pavilion, protected from the street by a solid wrought fence
The chateau-like house, Le Pavilion, protected from the street by a solid wrought fence
The chateau-like house, Le Pavilion, protected from the street by a solid wrought fence
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Gradually, as the old routines of Ivanovka were resumed, Rachmaninov returned to compo
Gradually, as the old routines of Ivanovka were resumed, Rachmaninov returned to compo
Gradually, as the old routines of Ivanovka were resumed, Rachmaninov returned to compo
dwell
Three Russian Songs
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3
3
3
3
3
’Our tragedy’, wrote Nina Berberova of the younger exiled writers in the 1920s, was ‘our i
’Our tragedy’, wrote Nina Berberova of the younger exiled writers in the 1920s, was ‘our i
’Our tragedy’, wrote Nina Berberova of the younger exiled writers in the 1920s, was ‘our i
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hence, in some ways, abandoning Russia? The problem mainly affected the younger generat
hence, in some ways, abandoning Russia? The problem mainly affected the younger generat
hence, in some ways, abandoning Russia? The problem mainly affected the younger generat
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Scattered in bookshops, greyed by dust and time, Unseen, unsought, unopened, and unsold,
Scattered in bookshops, greyed by dust and time, Unseen, unsought, unopened, and unsold,
Scattered in bookshops, greyed by dust and time, Unseen, unsought, unopened, and unsold,
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Even Miliukov, former statesman, historian and editor of the Parisian journal Posled
Even Miliukov, former statesman, historian and editor of the Parisian journal Posled
Even Miliukov, former statesman, historian and editor of the Parisian journal Posled
Poslednie novosti,
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Nabokov was the first major writer to complete this literary metamorphosis. According t
Nabokov was the first major writer to complete this literary metamorphosis. According t
Nabokov was the first major writer to complete this literary metamorphosis. According t
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publication of his first great novel, The Luzhin Defence, in 1930, ‘a great Russian writer
publication of his first great novel, The Luzhin Defence, in 1930, ‘a great Russian writer
publication of his first great novel, The Luzhin Defence, in 1930, ‘a great Russian writer
The Luzhin Defence,
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Exile was Nabokov’s omnipresent theme, though he discovered the ‘sorrows and delights of
Exile was Nabokov’s omnipresent theme, though he discovered the ‘sorrows and delights of
Exile was Nabokov’s omnipresent theme, though he discovered the ‘sorrows and delights of
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Rul’
The Nabokov family was strongly Anglophile. Its mansion in St Petersburg was filled with
The Nabokov family was strongly Anglophile. Its mansion in St Petersburg was filled with
The Nabokov family was strongly Anglophile. Its mansion in St Petersburg was filled with
Speak, Memory:
Pears’ soap, tar-black when dry, topaz-like when held to the light between wet fingers, took
Pears’ soap, tar-black when dry, topaz-like when held to the light between wet fingers, took
Pears’ soap, tar-black when dry, topaz-like when held to the light between wet fingers, took
cream, so we improved the tube,’ said the English toothpaste. At breakfast, Golden Syrup
cream, so we improved the tube,’ said the English toothpaste. At breakfast, Golden Syrup
cream, so we improved the tube,’ said the English toothpaste. At breakfast, Golden Syrup
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Nabokov was taught to read English before he could read his native tongue. He and his brot
Nabokov was taught to read English before he could read his native tongue. He and his brot
Nabokov was taught to read English before he could read his native tongue. He and his brot
Little Lord Fauntleroy;
Les Malbeurs de Sophie, Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-vingts Jours
Le Comte de Monte Cristo.
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The Empyrean Path
From the Crimea the family sailed to England, where Nabokov completed his education at T
From the Crimea the family sailed to England, where Nabokov completed his education at T
From the Crimea the family sailed to England, where Nabokov completed his education at T
Speak, Memory
* Nabokov later identified R. A. (‘Rab’) Butler, the future Tory Deputy Prime Minister
* Nabokov later identified R. A. (‘Rab’) Butler, the future Tory Deputy Prime Minister
* Nabokov later identified R. A. (‘Rab’) Butler, the future Tory Deputy Prime Minister
Speak, Memory
Nabokov: The Russian Years
a Russian writer’, he recalled. ‘I had the feeling that Cambridge and all its famed featu
a Russian writer’, he recalled. ‘I had the feeling that Cambridge and all its famed featu
a Russian writer’, he recalled. ‘I had the feeling that Cambridge and all its famed featu
54
The focus of Nabokov’s longing for Russia was the family estate at Vyra, near St Petersbu
The focus of Nabokov’s longing for Russia was the family estate at Vyra, near St Petersbu
The focus of Nabokov’s longing for Russia was the family estate at Vyra, near St Petersbu
Speak, Memory
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Speak, Memory
The following passage is not for the general reader, but for the particular idiot who, be
The following passage is not for the general reader, but for the particular idiot who, be
The following passage is not for the general reader, but for the particular idiot who, be
My old (since 1917) quarrel with the Soviet dictatorship is wholly unrelated to any ques
My old (since 1917) quarrel with the Soviet dictatorship is wholly unrelated to any ques
My old (since 1917) quarrel with the Soviet dictatorship is wholly unrelated to any ques
And finally: I reserve for myself the right to yearn after an ecological niche:
And finally: I reserve for myself the right to yearn after an ecological niche:
And finally: I reserve for myself the right to yearn after an ecological niche:
… Beneath the sky Of my America to sigh For one locality in Russia.
… Beneath the sky Of my America to sigh For one locality in Russia.
… Beneath the sky Of my America to sigh For one locality in Russia.
one
The general reader may now resume.56
The general reader may now resume.56
The general reader may now resume.56
56
From the gloom of Cambridge - where the porridge at breakfast in Trinity College was ‘as
From the gloom of Cambridge - where the porridge at breakfast in Trinity College was ‘as
From the gloom of Cambridge - where the porridge at breakfast in Trinity College was ‘as
Mother, dear, yesterday I woke up in the middle of the night and asked someone - I don’t kno
Mother, dear, yesterday I woke up in the middle of the night and asked someone - I don’t kno
Mother, dear, yesterday I woke up in the middle of the night and asked someone - I don’t kno
-
divine park at Vyra - but no one can understand this. How little we valued our paradise! - w
divine park at Vyra - but no one can understand this. How little we valued our paradise! - w
divine park at Vyra - but no one can understand this. How little we valued our paradise! - w
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This nostalgia for Vyra was the inspiration for Speak, Memory, in which he lovingly descri
This nostalgia for Vyra was the inspiration for Speak, Memory, in which he lovingly descri
This nostalgia for Vyra was the inspiration for Speak, Memory, in which he lovingly descri
Speak, Memory,
Exile is a leitmotif throughout Nabokov’s works. Mary, his first novel, published in Ber
Exile is a leitmotif throughout Nabokov’s works. Mary, his first novel, published in Ber
Exile is a leitmotif throughout Nabokov’s works. Mary, his first novel, published in Ber
Mary,
Glory
The Gift
58
The Gift
Glory

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