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A review by korrik
Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia by Orlando Figes
Does what it says on the tin.
Broken down into thematic sections, Figes offers analysis of the roles Europe and Asia played in the Russian imagination and world view, social and architectural differences between St. Petersburg and Moscow, peasant traditions and their influence on high culture, the love affair and dismal breakup between the avant garde and the Soviet state, and many more aspects of Russia's diverse cultural history, often following key players' biographical details to illustrate highs and lows of the era.
Since the book is about culture and information is shared thematically, potential readers are advised to have a basic idea of Russian history and chronology before beginning this interesting tome. It would be terrible if one came away from this book thinking Stravinsky and Tchaikosky or Pushkin and Chekov were contemporaries, given how often they and other artists are discussed in reference to one another.
Broken down into thematic sections, Figes offers analysis of the roles Europe and Asia played in the Russian imagination and world view, social and architectural differences between St. Petersburg and Moscow, peasant traditions and their influence on high culture, the love affair and dismal breakup between the avant garde and the Soviet state, and many more aspects of Russia's diverse cultural history, often following key players' biographical details to illustrate highs and lows of the era.
Since the book is about culture and information is shared thematically, potential readers are advised to have a basic idea of Russian history and chronology before beginning this interesting tome. It would be terrible if one came away from this book thinking Stravinsky and Tchaikosky or Pushkin and Chekov were contemporaries, given how often they and other artists are discussed in reference to one another.