Natasha's Dance

felt - her love affair with Levin

Sonya was eighteen when she married Tolstoy - rather young by European standards but not b

Sonya was eighteen when she married Tolstoy - rather young by European standards but not b

Sonya was eighteen when she married Tolstoy - rather young by European standards but not b

65

had an average female age at first marriage as low as twenty years -and in this respect Rus

had an average female age at first marriage as low as twenty years -and in this respect Rus

had an average female age at first marriage as low as twenty years -and in this respect Rus

66

67

-  by which time she had given birth to seventeen children, the first at the age of just sixte

- by which time she had given birth to seventeen children, the first at the age of just sixte

- by which time she had given birth to seventeen children, the first at the age of just sixte

68

The arranged marriage was the norm in peasant Russia until the beginning of the twentieth

The arranged marriage was the norm in peasant Russia until the beginning of the twentieth

The arranged marriage was the norm in peasant Russia until the beginning of the twentieth

-  sobriety and diligence, health and child-rearing qualities being more important than g

- sobriety and diligence, health and child-rearing qualities being more important than g

- sobriety and diligence, health and child-rearing qualities being more important than g

smotrinie.

kborovod.69

69

70

prenuptial khorovod, which was sung and danced by the village girls in spring, was a sad and bi

prenuptial khorovod, which was sung and danced by the village girls in spring, was a sad and bi

prenuptial khorovod, which was sung and danced by the village girls in spring, was a sad and bi

khorovod,

They are making me marry a lout

They are making me marry a lout

They are making me marry a lout

With no small family.

With no small family.

With no small family.

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!

With a father, and a mother

With a father, and a mother

With a father, and a mother

And four brothers

And four brothers

And four brothers

And sisters three.

And sisters three.

And sisters three.

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!

Says my father-in-law,

Says my father-in- law,

Says my father-in-law,

’Here comes a bear!’

’Here comes a bear!’

’Here comes a bear!’

Says my mother-in-law,

Says my mother-in-law,

Says my mother-in-law,

’Here comes a slut!’

’Here comes a slut!’

’Here comes a slut!’

My sisters-in-law cry,

My sisters- in-law cry,

My sisters-in-law cry,

’Here comes a do-nothing!’

’Here comes a do-nothing!’

’Here comes a do- nothing!’

My brothers-in-law cry,

My brothers-in-law cry,

My brothers-in-law cry,

’Here comes a mischief- maker!’

’Here comes a mischief-maker!’

’Here comes a mischief-maker!’

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!71

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!71

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!71

71

The bride and groom played a largely passive role in the peasant wedding rituals, which w

The bride and groom played a largely passive role in the peasant wedding rituals, which w

The bride and groom played a largely passive role in the peasant wedding rituals, which w

(devichnik)

was a matter of communal importance and, until it had been confirmed, either by the fing

was a matter of communal importance and, until it had been confirmed, either by the fing

was a matter of communal importance and, until it had been confirmed, either by the fing

Among the upper classes there were still traces of these patriarchal customs in the nine

Among the upper classes there were still traces of these patriarchal customs in the nine

Among the upper classes there were still traces of these patriarchal customs in the nine

In the provinces, where the gentry was generally closer to the culture of the peasants, no

In the provinces, where the gentry was generally closer to the culture of the peasants, no

In the provinces, where the gentry was generally closer to the culture of the peasants, no

72

73

74

took several weeks of careful preparation while ‘the people who knew prices arranged

took several weeks of careful preparation while ‘the people who knew prices arranged

took several weeks of careful preparation while ‘the people who knew prices arranged

75

Moscow was the centre of the marriage market for the gentry from the provinces. The autumn bal

Moscow was the centre of the marriage market for the gentry from the provinces. The autumn bal

Moscow was the centre of the marriage market for the gentry from the provinces. The autumn bal

Eugene Onegin:

To Moscow and the marriage mart! They’ve vacancies galore… take heart!76

To Moscow and the marriage mart! They’ve vacancies galore… take heart!76

To Moscow and the marriage mart! They’ve vacancies galore… take heart!76

76

Pushkin himself met his wife, Natalia Goncharova, who was then aged just sixteen, at a Mos

Pushkin himself met his wife, Natalia Goncharova, who was then aged just sixteen, at a Mos

Pushkin himself met his wife, Natalia Goncharova, who was then aged just sixteen, at a Mos

whole class of matchmakers to whom noble suitors could apply, giving them the age of their pr

whole class of matchmakers to whom noble suitors could apply, giving them the age of their