Natasha's Dance (103 page)
In November 1779 the Hermitage court theatre in St Petersburg staged the premiere of Kn
Misfortune from a Carriage.
of a pair of peasant lovers, Lukian and Anyuta, who are prevented from getting married b
of a pair of peasant lovers, Lukian and Anyuta, who are prevented from getting married b
of a pair of peasant lovers, Lukian and Anyuta, who are prevented from getting married b
113
Kniazhnin’s satire was one of several to equate the foreign pretensions of Petersburg wi
Kniazhnin’s satire was one of several to equate the foreign pretensions of Petersburg wi
Kniazhnin’s satire was one of several to equate the foreign pretensions of Petersburg wi
Poor Lesson
The Brigadier
The Detester,
Misfortune from a Carriage,
114
At the heart of all these satires was the notion of the West as a negation of Russian pri
At the heart of all these satires was the notion of the West as a negation of Russian pri
At the heart of all these satires was the notion of the West as a negation of Russian pri
The nobleman who worships France - and thus despises Russia -was a stock character in all t
The nobleman who worships France - and thus despises Russia -was a stock character in all t
The nobleman who worships France - and thus despises Russia -was a stock character in all t
The Monsters
115
The Brigadier,
116
This literary type continued as a mainstay of the nineteenth-century stage. Alexander
This literary type continued as a mainstay of the nineteenth-century stage. Alexander
This literary type continued as a mainstay of the nineteenth-century stage. Alexander
Woe
from Wit
Eugene Onegin,
Hero of Our Times
Rudin
There were many Chatskys in real life. Dostoevsky encountered some of them in the Russia
There were many Chatskys in real life. Dostoevsky encountered some of them in the Russia
There were many Chatskys in real life. Dostoevsky encountered some of them in the Russia
[T]here have been all sorts of people [who have emigrated] but the vast majority, if not al
[T]here have been all sorts of people [who have emigrated] but the vast majority, if not al
[T]here have been all sorts of people [who have emigrated] but the vast majority, if not al
117
But it was not just the emigres - or the almost permanent encampment of wealthy Russians in
But it was not just the emigres - or the almost permanent encampment of wealthy Russians in
But it was not just the emigres - or the almost permanent encampment of wealthy Russians in
Anna Karenina
Strange as it may seem, Levin was in love with the whole family - especially the feminin
Strange as it may seem, Levin was in love with the whole family - especially the feminin
Strange as it may seem, Levin was in love with the whole family - especially the feminin
118
Yet this sense of being part of Europe also made for divided souls. ‘We Russians have two
Yet this sense of being part of Europe also made for divided souls. ‘We Russians have two
Yet this sense of being part of Europe also made for divided souls. ‘We Russians have two
119
They were so immersed in foreign languages that many found it challenging to speak or wri
They were so immersed in foreign languages that many found it challenging to speak or wri
They were so immersed in foreign languages that many found it challenging to speak or wri
120
had learnt from the servants as children.121 Here was the European culture of Tolstoy’s Wa
had learnt from the servants as children.121 Here was the European culture of Tolstoy’s Wa
had learnt from the servants as children.121 Here was the European culture of Tolstoy’s Wa
121
War and Peace
122
This neglect of the Russian language was most pronounced and persistent in the highest ec
This neglect of the Russian language was most pronounced and persistent in the highest ec
This neglect of the Russian language was most pronounced and persistent in the highest ec
123
124
125
Anna Karenina,
’You are very, very absurd!’ Dolly repeated, tenderly looking into his face.
’You are very, very absurd!’ Dolly repeated, tenderly looking into his face.
’You are very, very absurd!’ Dolly repeated, tenderly looking into his face.
’Very well, then, let it be as though we had not spoken a word about it. What
’Very well, then, let it be as though we had not spoken a word about it. What
’Very well, then, let it be as though we had not spoken a word about it. What
is it, Tanya?’ she said in French to the little girl who had come in. ‘Where’s my spade, Mama
is it, Tanya?’ she said in French to the little girl who had come in. ‘Where’s my spade, Mama
is it, Tanya?’ she said in French to the little girl who had come in. ‘Where’s my spade, Mama
’I am speaking French, and you must answer in French.’ The little girl tried to, but she could
’I am speaking French, and you must answer in French.’ The little girl tried to, but she could
’I am speaking French, and you must answer in French.’ The little girl tried to, but she could
her mother prompted her, and then told her in French where to look. All this
her mother prompted her, and then told her in French where to look. All this
her mother prompted her, and then told her in French where to look. All this
made a disagreeable impression on levin.
made a disagreeable impression on levin.
made a disagreeable impression on levin.
Everything in Dolly’s house and children struck him now as by no means so charming as before.
Everything in Dolly’s house and children struck him now as by no means so charming as before.
Everything in Dolly’s house and children struck him now as by no means so charming as before.
’Why does she talk French with the children?’ he thought. ‘It’s so affected and unnatural. A
’Why does she talk French with the children?’ he thought. ‘It’s so affected and unnatural. A
’Why does she talk French with the children?’ he thought. ‘It’s so affected and unnatural. A
126
Such attitudes continued to be found in high-born families throughout the nineteenth
Such attitudes continued to be found in high-born families throughout the nineteenth
Such attitudes continued to be found in high-born families throughout the nineteenth
Childhood
fastidious combination of French, English and Italian, all of which he spoke with vastly mo
fastidious combination of French, English and Italian, all of which he spoke with vastly mo
fastidious combination of French, English and Italian, all of which he spoke with vastly mo
‘Je suis triste et seul comme une bylinka v pole
127
Uncle Ruka died in Paris at the end of 1916, the last of the old-world Russian aristocracy.
Uncle Ruka died in Paris at the end of 1916, the last of the old-world Russian aristocracy.
Uncle Ruka died in Paris at the end of 1916, the last of the old-world Russian aristocracy.
The Orthodox religion was equally remote from the consciousness of the Westernized e
The Orthodox religion was equally remote from the consciousness of the Westernized e
The Orthodox religion was equally remote from the consciousness of the Westernized e
and conformity they continued to baptize them in the state religion and observed its ri
and conformity they continued to baptize them in the state religion and observed its ri
and conformity they continued to baptize them in the state religion and observed its ri
128
Set against this domination by Europe, satires such as Kniazhnin’s and Kheraskov’s bega
Set against this domination by Europe, satires such as Kniazhnin’s and Kheraskov’s bega
Set against this domination by Europe, satires such as Kniazhnin’s and Kheraskov’s bega
For some this was a question of the contrast between Moscow and St Petersburg. The roots
For some this was a question of the contrast between Moscow and St Petersburg. The roots
For some this was a question of the contrast between Moscow and St Petersburg. The roots
late eighteenth century and the defence of the old gentry culture of Moscow and its provin
late eighteenth century and the defence of the old gentry culture of Moscow and its provin
late eighteenth century and the defence of the old gentry culture of Moscow and its provin
Journey to the Land of Ophir
Natalia
For others, Russia’s virtues were preserved in the traditions of the countryside. Fonv
For others, Russia’s virtues were preserved in the traditions of the countryside. Fonv
For others, Russia’s virtues were preserved in the traditions of the countryside. Fonv
The Minor
129
Poor Liza
Poets like Pyotr Viazemsky idealized the village as a haven of natural simplicity:
Poets like Pyotr Viazemsky idealized the village as a haven of natural simplicity:
Poets like Pyotr Viazemsky idealized the village as a haven of natural simplicity:
Here there are no chains,
Here there are no chains,
Here there are no chains,
Here there is no tyranny of vanity.130
Here there is no tyranny of vanity.130
Here there is no tyranny of vanity.130
130
Writers like Nikolai Novikov pointed to the village as the place where native customs
Writers like Nikolai Novikov pointed to the village as the place where native customs
Writers like Nikolai Novikov pointed to the village as the place where native customs
131
In foreign lands all goes to a plan, Words are weighed, steps measured. But among us Russia
In foreign lands all goes to a plan, Words are weighed, steps measured. But among us Russia
In foreign lands all goes to a plan, Words are weighed, steps measured. But among us Russia
132
Lvov contrasted the convention-ridden life of the European Russians with the spontaneo
Lvov contrasted the convention-ridden life of the European Russians with the spontaneo
Lvov contrasted the convention-ridden life of the European Russians with the spontaneo
Central to this cult of simple peasant life was the notion of its moral purity. The radical
Central to this cult of simple peasant life was the notion of its moral purity. The radical
Central to this cult of simple peasant life was the notion of its moral purity. The radical
Journey from St Petersburg to Moscow
Come hither, my dear Moscow and Petersburg ladies, look at their teeth and learn from the
Come hither, my dear Moscow and Petersburg ladies, look at their teeth and learn from the
Come hither, my dear Moscow and Petersburg ladies, look at their teeth and learn from the
133
6
6
6
6
6
In eighteenth-century panoramas of St Petersburg the open sky and space connect the city w
In eighteenth-century panoramas of St Petersburg the open sky and space connect the city w
In eighteenth-century panoramas of St Petersburg the open sky and space connect the city w
raison d’etre
For Russia’s educated elites Europe was more than a tourist destination. It was a cultu
For Russia’s educated elites Europe was more than a tourist destination. It was a cultu
For Russia’s educated elites Europe was more than a tourist destination. It was a cultu
Eugene Onegin,
Vladimir Lensky, just returning From Gottingen with soulful yearning, Was in his prime - a
Vladimir Lensky, just returning From Gottingen with soulful yearning, Was in his prime - a
Vladimir Lensky, just returning From Gottingen with soulful yearning, Was in his prime - a
134
All the pioneers of Russia’s arts learned their crafts abroad: Tred-iakovsky, the country’s
All the pioneers of Russia’s arts learned their crafts abroad: Tred-iakovsky, the country’s
All the pioneers of Russia’s arts learned their crafts abroad: Tred-iakovsky, the country’s
seen, Berezovsky, Fomin and Bortnyansky learned their music in Italy. Mikhail Lomonosov
seen, Berezovsky, Fomin and Bortnyansky learned their music in Italy. Mikhail Lomonosov
seen, Berezovsky, Fomin and Bortnyansky learned their music in Italy. Mikhail Lomonosov
‘was
135
The Grand Tour was a vital rite of passage for the aristocracy. The emancipation of the n
The Grand Tour was a vital rite of passage for the aristocracy. The emancipation of the n
The Grand Tour was a vital rite of passage for the aristocracy. The emancipation of the n
Journey of a Russian Noblewoman
136
objets d’art,
The travel literature that accompanied this traffic played a vital role in shaping Rus
The travel literature that accompanied this traffic played a vital role in shaping Rus
The travel literature that accompanied this traffic played a vital role in shaping Rus
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