* Stalin’s father had been murdered by an axe wrapped in a quilted jacket; and his likely
The Secret File of Joseph Stalin: A Hidden Life
+ Even two of Stalin’s own relatives by marriage, Anna Redens and Olga Allilueva, were
+ Even two of Stalin’s own relatives by marriage, Anna Redens and Olga Allilueva, were
+ Even two of Stalin’s own relatives by marriage, Anna Redens and Olga Allilueva, were
Only One Year
969),
Chagall. The offensive was personally instigated by Stalin. He even studied linguisti
Chagall. The offensive was personally instigated by Stalin. He even studied linguisti
Chagall. The offensive was personally instigated by Stalin. He even studied linguisti
Pravda
189
Jewish film directors (Leonid Trauberg, Dziga Vertov, Mikhail Romm) were accused of maki
Jewish film directors (Leonid Trauberg, Dziga Vertov, Mikhail Romm) were accused of maki
Jewish film directors (Leonid Trauberg, Dziga Vertov, Mikhail Romm) were accused of maki
Stalingrad,
The Black Book
Life and Fate
* One of these prominent doctors was Isaiah Berlin’s uncle Leo, who was accused of passin
* One of these prominent doctors was Isaiah Berlin’s uncle Leo, who was accused of passin
* One of these prominent doctors was Isaiah Berlin’s uncle Leo, who was accused of passin
Isaiah Berlin: A Life
+ All citizens of the USSR had a Soviet passport. But inside the passport there was a cate
+ All citizens of the USSR had a Soviet passport. But inside the passport there was a cate
+ All citizens of the USSR had a Soviet passport. But inside the passport there was a cate
masterpiece was published in his native land. He had asked to be buried in a Jewish cemeter
masterpiece was published in his native land. He had asked to be buried in a Jewish cemeter
masterpiece was published in his native land. He had asked to be buried in a Jewish cemeter
190
’I had believed that after the Soviet victory, the experience of the thirties could not
’I had believed that after the Soviet victory, the experience of the thirties could not
’I had believed that after the Soviet victory, the experience of the thirties could not
Men, Years
Life
191
She was sitting in a small room where her portrait by Modigliani hung on the wall and, sad a
She was sitting in a small room where her portrait by Modigliani hung on the wall and, sad a
She was sitting in a small room where her portrait by Modigliani hung on the wall and, sad a
192
Reading Horace was one way of keeping sane. Some writers turned to literary scholarship o
Reading Horace was one way of keeping sane. Some writers turned to literary scholarship o
Reading Horace was one way of keeping sane. Some writers turned to literary scholarship o
Pasternak’s Russian translations of Shakespeare are works of real artistic beauty, if n
Pasternak’s Russian translations of Shakespeare are works of real artistic beauty, if n
Pasternak’s Russian translations of Shakespeare are works of real artistic beauty, if n
193
Pasternak refused to attend the meeting of the Writers’ Union at which Akhmatova and Zoshc
Pasternak refused to attend the meeting of the Writers’ Union at which Akhmatova and Zoshc
Pasternak refused to attend the meeting of the Writers’ Union at which Akhmatova and Zoshc
Pravda
194
Doctor Zhivago.
Novyi mir,
Shostakovich found another way to save his sanity. In 1948 he was dismissed from his teachin
Shostakovich found another way to save his sanity. In 1948 he was dismissed from his teachin
Shostakovich found another way to save his sanity. In 1948 he was dismissed from his teachin
195
196
* Smuggled out of Russia and first published in Italy in 1957, Doctor Zhivago became an in
* Smuggled out of Russia and first published in Italy in 1957, Doctor Zhivago became an in
* Smuggled out of Russia and first published in Italy in 1957, Doctor Zhivago became an in
Doctor Zhivago
told fellow composers that it was ‘unpleasant’ work, to be done ‘only in the event of extreme
told fellow composers that it was ‘unpleasant’ work, to be done ‘only in the event of extreme
told fellow composers that it was ‘unpleasant’ work, to be done ‘only in the event of extreme
197
Meeting on the Elbe
Yet all the time Shostakovich was writing secret music ‘for the drawer’. Some of it was mu
Yet all the time Shostakovich was writing secret music ‘for the drawer’. Some of it was mu
Yet all the time Shostakovich was writing secret music ‘for the drawer’. Some of it was mu
Rayok,
The Peep Show,
198
Shostakovich first used Jewish themes in the finale of the Second Piano Trio (1944), dedicat
Shostakovich first used Jewish themes in the finale of the Second Piano Trio (1944), dedicat
Shostakovich first used Jewish themes in the finale of the Second Piano Trio (1944), dedicat
* It is not entirely clear when Shostakovich wrote Rayok. Sketches of it seem to date fr
* It is not entirely clear when Shostakovich wrote Rayok. Sketches of it seem to date fr
* It is not entirely clear when Shostakovich wrote Rayok. Sketches of it seem to date fr
Rayok.
Rayok:
Shostakovich in Context
initiated his own campaign against the Jews, Shostakovich voiced his protest by adopting Je
initiated his own campaign against the Jews, Shostakovich voiced his protest by adopting Je
initiated his own campaign against the Jews, Shostakovich voiced his protest by adopting Je
From Jewish Poetry
199
7
7
7
7
7
On 4 October 1957 the first beeps from space were heard as Sputnik I made its pioneering f
On 4 October 1957 the first beeps from space were heard as Sputnik I made its pioneering f
On 4 October 1957 the first beeps from space were heard as Sputnik I made its pioneering f
The Soviet system was defined by its belief in science and technology. After 1945 the re
The Soviet system was defined by its belief in science and technology. After 1945 the re
The Soviet system was defined by its belief in science and technology. After 1945 the re
were useful to the military but academic sciences and mathematics, too. The state made s
were useful to the military but academic sciences and mathematics, too. The state made s
were useful to the military but academic sciences and mathematics, too. The state made s
200
Russia had its own prodigious range of science fiction which, unlike that of the West, fo
Russia had its own prodigious range of science fiction which, unlike that of the West, fo
Russia had its own prodigious range of science fiction which, unlike that of the West, fo
What Is to Be Done?
Mixing science fiction with mystical belief was typical of the Russian literary tradit
Mixing science fiction with mystical belief was typical of the Russian literary tradit
Mixing science fiction with mystical belief was typical of the Russian literary tradit
Red Star
Engineer Menni
Aelita
The Garin Death Ray
the proletariat. Like its nineteenth-century antecedents, this fantastic literatur
the proletariat. Like its nineteenth-century antecedents, this fantastic literatur
the proletariat. Like its nineteenth-century antecedents, this fantastic literatur
We
The Brothers Karamazov
Science fiction largely disappeared in the 1930s and 1940s. Socialist Realism left no spac
Science fiction largely disappeared in the 1930s and 1940s. Socialist Realism left no spac
Science fiction largely disappeared in the 1930s and 1940s. Socialist Realism left no spac
Ivan Efremov’s Andromeda (1957) was perhaps the most important work in this new wave, and
Ivan Efremov’s Andromeda (1957) was perhaps the most important work in this new wave, and
Ivan Efremov’s Andromeda (1957) was perhaps the most important work in this new wave, and
Andromeda
* It may be that the title of Zamyatin’s novel We was drawn at least in part from Dostoevsky
* It may be that the title of Zamyatin’s novel We was drawn at least in part from Dostoevsky
* It may be that the title of Zamyatin’s novel We was drawn at least in part from Dostoevsky
The Devils,
Zamyatin’s
A Collection of Critical Essays
to the whole materialist philosophy of the Soviet regime. But he was not alone. Science
to the whole materialist philosophy of the Soviet regime. But he was not alone. Science
to the whole materialist philosophy of the Soviet regime. But he was not alone. Science
Into the Storm
201
The science fiction novels of the Strugatsky brothers (Arkady and Boris) were subversive
The science fiction novels of the Strugatsky brothers (Arkady and Boris) were subversive
The science fiction novels of the Strugatsky brothers (Arkady and Boris) were subversive
Predatory Things of the Century
Unguarded Thoughts (1966),
Science fiction films were equally a vehicle for challenging Soviet materialism. In Ro
Science fiction films were equally a vehicle for challenging Soviet materialism. In Ro
Science fiction films were equally a vehicle for challenging Soviet materialism. In Ro
Nine Days
Solaris
have been researching the mysterious regenerative powers of a huge burning star. His
have been researching the mysterious regenerative powers of a huge burning star. His
have been researching the mysterious regenerative powers of a huge burning star. His
Hunters in the Snow
Solaris
2001,
In his cinematic credo, Sculpting in Time (1986), Tarkovsky compares the artist to a pri
In his cinematic credo, Sculpting in Time (1986), Tarkovsky compares the artist to a pri
In his cinematic credo, Sculpting in Time (1986), Tarkovsky compares the artist to a pri
Sculpting in Time
202
Andrei Rublev
203
The Brothers Karamazov,
live
Tarkovsky said that Hermann Hesse’s line from The Glass Bead Game (1943) ‘could well have se
Tarkovsky said that Hermann Hesse’s line from The Glass Bead Game (1943) ‘could well have se
Tarkovsky said that Hermann Hesse’s line from The Glass Bead Game (1943) ‘could well have se
The Glass Bead Game
Andrei Rublev’.204
204
The same religious theme is at the centre of Stalker (1979), which, in Tarkovsky’s own desc
The same religious theme is at the centre of Stalker (1979), which, in Tarkovsky’s own desc
The same religious theme is at the centre of Stalker (1979), which, in Tarkovsky’s own desc
Stalker
205
belief in
206
Nostalgia
It may seem extraordinary that films like Stalker and Solaris were produced in the Brezh
It may seem extraordinary that films like Stalker and Solaris were produced in the Brezh
It may seem extraordinary that films like Stalker and Solaris were produced in the Brezh
Stalker
Solaris
Molodaia gvardiia (Young Guard),
Molodaia gvardiia
30. ‘The Russian bouse inside the Italian cathedral’. Final shot from Andrei Tarkovsky’s
30. ‘The Russian bouse inside the Italian cathedral’. Final shot from Andrei Tarkovsky’s
30. ‘The Russian bouse inside the Italian cathedral’. Final shot from Andrei Tarkovsky’s
‘The Russian bouse inside the Italian cathedral’. Final shot from Andrei Tarkovsky’s
(1983)
the support of the Party’s senior leadership throughout the 1970s.* Yet its cultural poli
the support of the Party’s senior leadership throughout the 1970s.* Yet its cultural poli
the support of the Party’s senior leadership throughout the 1970s.* Yet its cultural poli
* It had the political protection of Politburo member Mikhail Suslov, Brezhnev’s chie
* It had the political protection of Politburo member Mikhail Suslov, Brezhnev’s chie
* It had the political protection of Politburo member Mikhail Suslov, Brezhnev’s chie
Molodaia gvardiia
the 1960s) and the dissident intelligentsia. Even Solzhenitsyn came to its defence when i
the 1960s) and the dissident intelligentsia. Even Solzhenitsyn came to its defence when i
the 1960s) and the dissident intelligentsia. Even Solzhenitsyn came to its defence when i
Novy mir
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
207
Molo-daia gvardiia
(samizdat)
samizdat
Veche
208
What, in the end, was ‘Soviet culture’? Was it anything? Can one ever say that there was a spe
What, in the end, was ‘Soviet culture’? Was it anything? Can one ever say that there was a spe
What, in the end, was ‘Soviet culture’? Was it anything? Can one ever say that there was a spe