Natasha's Dance A Cultural History of Russia by Orlando Figes 2003 Paperback-image

Natasha's Dance A Cultural History of Russia by Orlando Figes 2003 Paperback

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Dewey Decimal: 947 Item Width: 6.2 in Illustrator: Yes Topic: Russia & the Former Soviet Union Intended Audience: Trade Item Height: 2 in Genre: History Language: English Item Weight: 30.9 Oz Publication Year: 2003 Edition Description: Revised edition Author: Orlando Figes gtin13: 9780312421953 brand: Picador Features: Revised Reviews: "Scintillating. . .an exceptional history of Russian culture and a joy to read." -- San Francisco Chronicle "Stunning and ambitious. . .Figes captures nothing less than Russians' complex and protean notions regarding their national identity." -- The Atlantic Monthly "Staggering. . .A vivid, entertaining, and enlightening account of what it has meant to be culturally a Russian over the last three centuries." -- Los Angeles Times "[A] masterly work." -- New York Review of Books "A big, bold, interpretative cultural history." -- Foreign Affairs, Stunning and ambitious. . .Figes captures nothing less than Russians' complex and protean notions regarding their national identity., "Scintillating. . .an exceptional history of Russian culture and a joy to read." --San Francisco Chronicle "Stunning and ambitious. . .Figes captures nothing less than Russians' complex and protean notions regarding their national identity." --The Atlantic Monthly "Staggering. . .A vivid, entertaining, and enlightening account of what it has meant to be culturally a Russian over the last three centuries." --Los Angeles Times "[A] masterly work." --New York Review of Books "A big, bold, interpretative cultural history." --Foreign Affairs, Staggering. . .A vivid, entertaining, and enlightening account of what it has meant to be culturally a Russian over the last three centuries. ISBN-10: 0312421958 Number of Pages: 784 Pages Format: Trade Paperback Synopsis: History on a grand scale--an enchanting masterpiece that explores the making of one of the world's most vibrant civilizations A People's Tragedy , wrote Eric Hobsbawm, did "more to help us understand the Russian Revolution than any other book I know." Now, in Natasha's Dance , internationally renowned historian Orlando Figes does the same for Russian culture, summoning the myriad elements that formed a nation and held it together. Beginning in the eighteenth century with the building of St. Petersburg--a "window on the West"--and culminating with the challenges posed to Russian identity by the Soviet regime, Figes examines how writers, artists, and musicians grappled with the idea of Russia itself--its character, spiritual essence, and destiny. He skillfully interweaves the great works--by Dostoevsky, Stravinsky, and Chagall--with folk embroidery, peasant songs, religious icons, and all the customs of daily life, from food and drink to bathing habits to beliefs about the spirit world. Figes's characters range high and low: the revered Tolstoy, who left his deathbed to search for the Kingdom of God, as well as the serf girl Praskovya, who became Russian opera's first superstar and shocked society by becoming her owner's wife. Like the European-schooled countess Natasha performing an impromptu folk dance in Tolstoy's War and Peace , the spirit of "Russianness" is revealed by Figes as rich and uplifting, complex and contradictory--a powerful force that unified a vast country and proved more lasting than any Russian ruler or state., Beginning in the eighteenth century with the building of St. Petersburg and culminating with the Soviet regime, Figes examines how writers, artists, and musicians grappled with the idea of Russia itself--its character, spiritual essence, and destiny. Skillfully interweaving the great works--by Dostoevsky, Stravinsky, and Chagall--with folk embroidery, peasant songs, religious icons, and all the customs of daily life, Figes reveals the spirit of "Russianness" as rich and uplifting, complex and contradictory--and more lasting than any Russian ruler or state. Publisher: Picador Dewey Edition: 21 Item Length: 9.2 in Book Title: Natasha's Dance : a Cultural History of Russia ISBN-13: 9780312421953

Description

  1. Absolutely captivating! Orlando Figes masterfully weaves Russia's rich cultural tapestry, blending history, art, and politics into a vivid, immersive read. The depth of research and engaging storytelling make this a must-have for anyone fascinated by Russian heritage. A true masterpiece that brings the past to life!

    Phoenix Coder

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