kvas,
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
comme il faut
dacha -
hodit’ po gribi
6
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
War and Peace,
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
1
1
1
1
1
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
Benjamin Paterssen:
1
1
1
1
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
1
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
2
saari.
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
3
soldiers from as far afield as the Caucasus and Siberia worked around the clock to clear fo
soldiers from as far afield as the Caucasus and Siberia worked around the clock to clear fo
soldiers from as far afield as the Caucasus and Siberia worked around the clock to clear fo
4
Like the magic city of a Russian fairy tale, St Petersburg grew up with such fantastic spe
Like the magic city of a Russian fairy tale, St Petersburg grew up with such fantastic spe
Like the magic city of a Russian fairy tale, St Petersburg grew up with such fantastic spe
The Bronze Horseman
On a shore by the desolate waves He stood, with lofty thoughts, And gazed into the distan
On a shore by the desolate waves He stood, with lofty thoughts, And gazed into the distan
On a shore by the desolate waves He stood, with lofty thoughts, And gazed into the distan
5
Thanks to Pushkin’s lines, the legend made its way into folklore. The city that was named af
Thanks to Pushkin’s lines, the legend made its way into folklore. The city that was named af
Thanks to Pushkin’s lines, the legend made its way into folklore. The city that was named af
three times since as politics have changed, is still called simply ‘Peter’ by its resident
three times since as politics have changed, is still called simply ‘Peter’ by its resident
three times since as politics have changed, is still called simply ‘Peter’ by its resident
In the popular imagination the miraculous emergence of the city from the sea assigned
In the popular imagination the miraculous emergence of the city from the sea assigned
In the popular imagination the miraculous emergence of the city from the sea assigned
Tales of Petersburg
Crime and Punishment
Bronze Horseman
Petersburg
A city built on water with imported stone, Petersburg defied the natural order. The fam
A city built on water with imported stone, Petersburg defied the natural order. The fam
A city built on water with imported stone, Petersburg defied the natural order. The fam
6
* The name in Russian is pronounced ‘Pyotr’ - so ‘Peter’ (from the original Dutch spelling
* The name in Russian is pronounced ‘Pyotr’ - so ‘Peter’ (from the original Dutch spelling
* The name in Russian is pronounced ‘Pyotr’ - so ‘Peter’ (from the original Dutch spelling
Less Than One: Selected Essays
1. Shifting the huge granite rock for the pedestal of The Bronze Horseman. Engraving af
1. Shifting the huge granite rock for the pedestal of The Bronze Horseman. Engraving af
1. Shifting the huge granite rock for the pedestal of The Bronze Horseman. Engraving af
Shifting the huge granite rock for the pedestal of The
Engraving after a drawing by A. P. Davydov, 1782
Falconet’s equestrian statue of Peter the Great was twelve metres high and nearly thirty me
Falconet’s equestrian statue of Peter the Great was twelve metres high and nearly thirty me
Falconet’s equestrian statue of Peter the Great was twelve metres high and nearly thirty me
7
bronze Horseman
8
9
Petersburg did not grow up like other towns. Neither commerce nor geopolitics can account
Petersburg did not grow up like other towns. Neither commerce nor geopolitics can account
Petersburg did not grow up like other towns. Neither commerce nor geopolitics can account
perception’. Sometimes it appeared that the city was assembled as a giant mise-en-scene -
perception’. Sometimes it appeared that the city was assembled as a giant mise-en-scene -
perception’. Sometimes it appeared that the city was assembled as a giant mise-en-scene -
mise-en-scene -
melange
10
Petersburg was conceived as a composition of natural elements -water, stone and sky. This
Petersburg was conceived as a composition of natural elements -water, stone and sky. This
Petersburg was conceived as a composition of natural elements -water, stone and sky. This
11
* The main architects of Petersburg in Peter the Great’s reign were Domenico Trezzini
* The main architects of Petersburg in Peter the Great’s reign were Domenico Trezzini
* The main architects of Petersburg in Peter the Great’s reign were Domenico Trezzini
East, even singing birds from India, although few survived the Russian frost.12 Peter issu
East, even singing birds from India, although few survived the Russian frost.12 Peter issu
East, even singing birds from India, although few survived the Russian frost.12 Peter issu
12
13
’There reigns in this capital a kind of bastard architecture’, wrote Count Algarotti in
’There reigns in this capital a kind of bastard architecture’, wrote Count Algarotti in
’There reigns in this capital a kind of bastard architecture’, wrote Count Algarotti in
14
15
16
The key to this architectural unity was the planning of the city as a series of ensembles l
The key to this architectural unity was the planning of the city as a series of ensembles l
The key to this architectural unity was the planning of the city as a series of ensembles l
October
St Petersburg was more than a city. It was a vast, almost Utopian, project of cultural en
St Petersburg was more than a city. It was a vast, almost Utopian, project of cultural en
St Petersburg was more than a city. It was a vast, almost Utopian, project of cultural en
Notes from Underground
17
Muscovy was a religious civilization. It was rooted in the spiritual traditions of t
Muscovy was a religious civilization. It was rooted in the spiritual traditions of t
Muscovy was a religious civilization. It was rooted in the spiritual traditions of t
The dominance of the Church hindered the development in Muscovy of the secular art forms
The dominance of the Church hindered the development in Muscovy of the secular art forms
The dominance of the Church hindered the development in Muscovy of the secular art forms
18
(parsuny)
The development of other secular forms of art was equally impeded by the Russian Church.
The development of other secular forms of art was equally impeded by the Russian Church.
The development of other secular forms of art was equally impeded by the Russian Church.
skomorokhi
Petrushka),
gusli
(lubki)
19
Peter hated Muscovy. He despised its archaic culture and parochialism, its superstiti
Peter hated Muscovy. He despised its archaic culture and parochialism, its superstiti
Peter hated Muscovy. He despised its archaic culture and parochialism, its superstiti
Everything in the new capital was intended to compel the Russians to adopt a more European
Everything in the new capital was intended to compel the Russians to adopt a more European
Everything in the new capital was intended to compel the Russians to adopt a more European
live, how to build their houses, how to move around the town, where to stand in church, how ma
live, how to build their houses, how to move around the town, where to stand in church, how ma
live, how to build their houses, how to move around the town, where to stand in church, how ma
20
21
22
Yet underneath the surface of this European dream world the old Russia still showed throu