xlink:href='#calibre_link-146'>Scythians, who saw Russia as an ‘elemental’ culture from the Asiatic
Scythians, who saw Russia as an ‘elemental’ culture from the Asiatic
Scythians, who saw Russia as an ‘elemental’ culture from the Asiatic
steppe which, in the revolution yet to come, would sweep away the dead weight of European
steppe which, in the revolution yet to come, would sweep away the dead weight of European
steppe which, in the revolution yet to come, would sweep away the dead weight of European
certain style of speech and dress, distinct codes of social interaction and behaviour,
certain style of speech and dress, distinct codes of social interaction and behaviour,
certain style of speech and dress, distinct codes of social interaction and behaviour,
coats and beards, cabbage soup and kvas, folk-like wooden houses and brightly coloured chur
coats and beards, cabbage soup and kvas, folk-like wooden houses and brightly coloured chur
coats and beards, cabbage soup and kvas, folk-like wooden houses and brightly coloured chur
In the Western imagination these cultural forms have all too often
In the Western imagination these cultural forms have all too often
In the Western imagination these cultural forms have all too often
been perceived as ‘authentically Russian’. Yet that perception is a myth
been perceived as ‘authentically Russian’. Yet that perception is a myth
been perceived as ‘authentically Russian’. Yet that perception is a myth
as well: the myth of exotic Russia. It is an image first exported by the
as well: the myth of exotic Russia. It is an image first exported by the
as well: the myth of exotic Russia. It is an image first exported by the
Ballets Russes, with their own exoticized versions of Natasha’s dance,
Ballets Russes, with their own exoticized versions of Natasha’s dance,
Ballets Russes, with their own exoticized versions of Natasha’s dance,
and then shaped by foreign writers such as Rilke, Thomas Mann and
and then shaped by foreign writers such as Rilke, Thomas Mann and
and then shaped by foreign writers such as Rilke, Thomas Mann and
Virginia Woolf, who held up Dostoevsky as the greatest novelist and
Virginia Woolf, who held up Dostoevsky as the greatest novelist and
Virginia Woolf, who held up Dostoevsky as the greatest novelist and
peddled their own versions of the ‘Russian soul’. If there is one myth
peddled their own versions of the ‘Russian soul’. If there is one myth
peddled their own versions of the ‘Russian soul’. If there is one myth
which needs to be dispelled, it is this view of Russia as exotic and
which needs to be dispelled, it is this view of Russia as exotic and
which needs to be dispelled, it is this view of Russia as exotic and
eslewhere. Russians have long complained that the Western public
eslewhere. Russians have long complained that the Western public
eslewhere. Russians have long complained that the Western public
does not understand their culture, that Westerners see Russia from
does not understand their culture, that Westerners see Russia from
does not understand their culture, that Westerners see Russia from
afar and do not want to know its inner subtleties, as they do with the
afar and do not want to know its inner subtleties, as they do with the
afar and do not want to know its inner subtleties, as they do with the
culture of their own domain. Though based partly on resentment and
culture of their own domain. Though based partly on resentment and
culture of their own domain. Though based partly on resentment and
wounded national pride, the complaint is not unjustified. We are
wounded national pride, the complaint is not unjustified. We are
wounded national pride, the complaint is not unjustified. We are
inclined to consign Russia’s artists, writers and composers to the
inclined to consign Russia’s artists, writers and composers to the
inclined to consign Russia’s artists, writers and composers to the
cultural ghetto of a ‘national school’ and to judge them, not as individuals, but by how fa
cultural ghetto of a ‘national school’ and to judge them, not as individuals, but by how fa
cultural ghetto of a ‘national school’ and to judge them, not as individuals, but by how fa
For European Russians, there were two very different modes of personal behaviour. In
For European Russians, there were two very different modes of personal behaviour. In
For European Russians, there were two very different modes of personal behaviour. In
But it is not very meaningful unless one can show how it manifests itself in social intera
But it is not very meaningful unless one can show how it manifests itself in social intera
But it is not very meaningful unless one can show how it manifests itself in social intera
A few words are in order on the structure of the book. It is an interpretation of a cultu
A few words are in order on the structure of the book. It is an interpretation of a cultu
A few words are in order on the structure of the book. It is an interpretation of a cultu
overleaf: Benjamin Paterssen: Vue de la grande parade au Palais de L’Empereur Alexandre
overleaf: Benjamin Paterssen: Vue de la grande parade au Palais de L’Empereur Alexandre
overleaf: Benjamin Paterssen: Vue de la grande parade au Palais de L’Empereur Alexandre
On a misty spring morning in 1703 a dozen Russian horsemen rode across the bleak and barre
On a misty spring morning in 1703 a dozen Russian horsemen rode across the bleak and barre
On a misty spring morning in 1703 a dozen Russian horsemen rode across the bleak and barre
Few places could have been less suitable for the metropolis of Europe’s largest state. T
Few places could have been less suitable for the metropolis of Europe’s largest state. T
Few places could have been less suitable for the metropolis of Europe’s largest state. T
When Peter’s soldiers dug into the ground they found water a metre or so below. The northe
When Peter’s soldiers dug into the ground they found water a metre or so below. The northe
When Peter’s soldiers dug into the ground they found water a metre or so below. The northe
