Product Description
A Century of Russian Art, 1900-2000 focuses on the artists, ideas and movements which contributed to Russias cultural renaissance during the first years of the twentieth century and continued to provide Soviet and then post-Soviet art with its distinguishing characteristics. Through comparative essays regarding the Silver Age, the avant-garde, or Constructivism and the applied arts, in addition to appreciations of individual artists such as of Chagall, Filonov, Kandinsky, Malevich, Miasoedov, Nikritin, Popova, Rodchenko and Tatlin, A Century of Russian Art describes the principal semaphores of modern Russian art, concentrating on Symbolism and the plastic arts, the move towards abstract painting, the time of Revolution, the ascendancy of Socialist Realism, and the non-conformist trends. ... Read more

Product Description
From the reign of Tsar Nicholas II to the brutal cult of Stalin to the ebullient, uncertain days of perestroika, nowhere has the inextricable relationship between politics and culture been more starkly illustrated than in twentieth-century Russia.

In the first book to fully examine the intricate and often deadly interconnection between Russian rulers and Russian artists, cultural historian Solomon Volkov brings to life the experiences that inspired artists like Tolstoy, Stravinsky, Akhmatova, Nijinsky, Nabokov, and Eisenstein to create some of the greatest masterpieces of our time.

Epic in scope and intimate in detail, The Magical Chorus is the definitive account of a remarkable era in Russia's complex cultural life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Chudno!
If only something like this book had been available when I studied Russian literature forty years ago, the twentieth century wouldn't have been the great slog that much of it was then. I especially appreciate that art, music and ballet are part of the picture painted of Russian politics and culture. If there still are departments of Slavic Languages that teach 20th century Russian literature, I hope this will be among their textbooks. If not, a blessing on the student who finds this book.

I congratulate the author and thank him profoundly. It's a wonderful book.

A song that continues
Surveys of Russian culture date back really to James Billington's "The Icon and the Axe."These books tended to fixate on the glories of the 19th century which include Pushkin, Repin, Tchaikovsky, Dostoevsky, and Tolstoy before moving on to the Silver Age and then running out of steam around World War II.This was more a fault of the authorities who presented the world with a mummified high culture (designed to raise hard currency), a suppressed underground culture of dissidents, and a banal popular culture.To complicate matters, there was an interesting, but also bizarre emigre culture (think of Nabokov for the first and the movie Liquid Sky for the latter).

One of the outgrowths of the fall of the Soviet Union and the passage of time is insight into the rest of the story and what a complex story it is.From the vantage point of the 21st century, 30th century Russian culture is a complex organism indeed.Be it the role of the intellectuals that Lenin exiled in the 1920s, attempts to re-imagine Russian culture in the aftermath of World War II, the comings and goings of the intellectual firmament during the sixties and seventies are all interesting topics.Even more fascinating is what happened to the cultural life of the Soviet Union when the country whose impulses it was meant to reflect ceased to exist.

Solomon Volkov is well equipped to chronicle the comings and goings of this world.He was part of it in some respects and as a leading musicologist, biographers of Shostakovich, and author of half a dozen books on Russian topics.He even knew most of the figures depicted in the last third of the book.In many respects the book provides a great deal of commentary tracing the evolution of Russian culture under a variety of circumstances including decline, revolution, civil war, tyranny, foreign invasion, destruction, political comings and goings, stagnation, repression, and finally the greatest challenge, freedom.

I did like the book's attempt to show continuity within Russian culture through the 20th century, literally from the death of Tolstoy to the return and death of Solzhenitsyn.In this respect the book is an improvement over numerous books which speculate with very little understanding on the internal dynamics of Russia.

If I were to identify a flaw it is almost that the story Volkov is attempting to tell is too big for a book of under 300 pages.Really I think some of the issues Volkov raises really need more space for greater development. The controversy between "the town" and the village (think "blue state Russia" and "red state Russia") really deserves more space than Volkov is able to provide it. Is there a relationship between these two schools and the old westernizer and slavophile dichotomy? The career of Eduard Liminov who can be said to have had a foot in both camps is an example. Starting life as the son of a KGB official, living in exile as a dissident in New York in the 1970s (and the author of a book that was almost like the "Fear of Flying" of the emigre community) and then the leader of a crazy Neo-Bolshevik fascist organization and arrested on fire arms charges.Since this is only one of the stories chronicled in the book I can only add that reading it was at times it is almost like drinking from a fire hose.

Another flaw with the book is in its illustrations. Yes it was nice to see pictures of all the artists, writers, and composers, but pictures of the paintings Volkov choses to discuss would have been even better.

Despite the flaws inherent in attempting to tackle such a broad topic in such a very little space, I encourage anyone interested in Russian culture to read Volkov's latest effort.Despite its shortcomings this book represents an important contribution to the understanding of 20th century Russia's difficult story.

A magical chorus is a magical book...
This book was a wonderful read, not just about the major artistic figures--and they are all here, Tolstoy, Akmatova, Shostikovich, Gorky, Chekhov--but also the views that Lenin, Stalin and other leaders took toward the arts.This is especially so of Stalin: and the author does not hesitate to discuss Stalin's interest in the arts, his intelligence, and his love for the Russian classics.I also enjoyed reading about Pasternak's own fascination with Stalin.In the end, I gained a better understanding of the "soul" of Russian artistic genius, and an appreciation for its survival during difficult, disastrous years.

The twining of politics and art
In Russia, it has been said, "a poet is much more than a poet" (Pushkin), and "a great writer is like a second government" (Solzhenitsyn). Indeed, in few countries is culture so intertwined with politics. Particularly during the last century, when art (be it film, literature, music or painting) was unceremoniously dragooned into the service of the State.

How Russian politics and culture battled during the 20th century is the subject of Solomon Volkov's fine new book, a volume that is part memoir, part history, part rumination on the Russian worldview. Sprinkled liberally with first-hand accounts (many of the author himself), it brings to light fascinating episodes, from the various Nobel Prize scandals, to the real roots of the Thaw (American films, perhaps?), to bards like Vysotsky and Okudzhava, made popular by official scorn.

Through it, there is a sense of continuity, of politicians hopelessly trying to reign in culture, to dictate what shall be proper and sanctioned, of artists giving a nod to the Powers That Be, then quietly writing "for the drawer" or singing subversive songs for friends.

In one episode, Volkov tells of the buses full of riot police, hunkered down outside the Taganka Theater during Vysotsky's wake there in 1980. It brought to mind more recent deployments of excessive OMON legions against a miserly collection of liberals and oppositionists. In Russia, after all, a demonstrator is much more than a demonstrator. (Reviewed in Russian Life)

Volkov magic!
The Magical Chorus is not only a fierce and fearsome look at a century and a half of Russian history, but a tantalizing journey behind the appearances of history, with insight only Solomon Volkov can forge. Volkov stalks his books stealthily page by page until capture; the hunt always excites and invigorates, and reveals essences. Magical Chorus is no exception to the wiles of an author who for whatever reason remains oddly controversial. For me, he's a master writer. Brilliance mesmerizes around the lightest details of Russian cultural life, as Volkov's passions become ours. Magical Chorus languored about too long for me until the middle 'A Rendevous With Stalin', where ignites the connection to the book's real and entrancing heart - the Russian mystery of mirrors between her rulers and artists. After that, Volkov takes off. Uncle Joe's moral tics, and Stalinism itself, are dissected like a surgeon; Akhmatova (noting she died thirteen years to the day after Stalin), Yevtushenko, sympathetic stories of Prokofiev and Mayakovsky. Volkov's empathy never impedes his duty as a writer. The best thing about reading him is he never gives you reason to tire. This is a first rate keeper that harbors a blistering study of tragedy. ... Read more

Product Description
This book contains five major plays by Anton Chekhov - "Ivanov", "The Seagull", "Uncle Vanya", "Three Sisters" and "The Cherry Orchard" - in Russian and English. The Russian text is on the left side, the English text is on the right side of each spread. The texts are precisely synchronized. A great book for learning both languages while reading Chekhov's plays. Translated by Marian Fell and Julius West, verified and corrected by Alexander Vassiliev. ... Read more

Product Description
This book examines the artistic life of Vitebsk during the years 1917-1922, when a great burst of creative experimentation transformed the modest Russian town into one of the most influential gateways to the art of the twentieth century. Spurred by native son Marc Chagall, who returned home after the October Revolution in 1917 to take the position of art commissioner, Vitebsk rose to a pinnacle of fame as an artistic laboratory for the avant-garde. It was here that such luminaries as El Lissitzky, Yuri Pen, Kazimir Malevich, Nikolai Suetin, Mikhail Bakhtin, and others worked, inspired one another, and made distinctive contributions to modernism. Art historian Aleksandra Shatskikh surveys the entire 'Vitebsk phenomenon', drawing on an array of archives in Russia and Amsterdam, many of which have never been open to Western scholars. She discusses Chagall's Academy of Art and its major teachers and students; the founding of the artists' group, UNOVIS; Malevich's architectural experiments; Bakhtin's circle; and important developments in theater and music in Vitebsk.With more than two hundred outstanding illustrations, the book brings Vitebsk to life at a fascinating and transformative moment in art history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

kazanskiy sobor +Isakievskiy sobor+zimniy dvorez
name architektor+histor ... Read more

Product Description
The book shows how three of Russia's most important twentieth century poets used autobiographical prose to defend poetry and the poet in an era when poetry was under attack. It juxtaposes these autobiographies with each other and with the culturo-political events that followed Russia's 1917 October Revolution in a way that has never previously been attempted. ... Read more

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A Unique Home-Study Method Developed by the Famous Berlitz Schools of Language ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Awesome!
This book is great!! Although it's not necessarily for the beginner (only because of the lack of audio). They do spell out how to say everything phonetically. Without ever hearing the language previously, I feel it would be very difficult, though not impossible. That being said, it goes step-by-step, starting out very simple and utilizing a lot of repetition. This really helps you get a feel for the language, memorize it and start constructing your own thoughts. I studied Russian for 2 years in college and I'm trying to refresh my skills to travel to Russia - this book is by far the best I've seen. There are also little blurbs throughout that explain the grammar (esp. the Russian cases) in sizable chunks, and short quizzes with answers at the end of each section which really helps out. I would definitely recommend this book to those looking to improve their Russian.

Surprisingly easy to use
You know those horror stories folks learning Russian tell?
forget 'em,
This book made pronouncing a leaf-shake on a windy day; I really liked the translations of English and Russian above one another as it made word association a little easier too-
Even if you don't come out understanding Russian so well-you'll definitely be able to read write and say anything placed before you

Great, but no audio
The Berlitz Self-Teacher series was one of the great language learning concepts.The lessons are interesting and relevant and have a different feel than the usual language books.While the imitated pronunciation is a great idea, with Russian I would suggest that you must get a book with an accompanying cassette or cd.The language is too different from English to rely on the book alone.Since no audio is offered for this book, I would think using it as the basis for lessons with a Russian speaking friend or tutor would be ideal.

Best Book I've ever seen on foreign language
I used this book about 7 years ago, and I must say it makes it very easy to learn not only how to tranlate russian, but how to actually speak it, write it, read it, understand it.I definitely recommend this book to everybody who wants to speak russian.There is NO better book out there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well Worth the Money
What makes RUSSIAN ART NOUVEAU so excellent is that in addition to extensive coverage of architecture, it also has shorter sections on furniture, pottery, painting, and the graphic arts.Furthermore the information provided about the Art Nouveau movement in Russia and its relationship to other European countries is not dry, academic prose.I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and learned much from it.Important, too, is the fact that the photographs of what is being discussed are ample.And though one might wish for more colored plates of the architecture, the black and white ones are revealing and are generally of features, such as railings, in which color is not key.I only wish I'd found this book before visiting Russia so I could have seen even more examples of Russian Art Nouveau architecture in person.

Note:Petrov's book with the same title is limited to painting. ... Read more

Product Description
The book is a first inclusive publication on the history of the Leningrad School, one of the brightest and significant phenomena in the Soviet Art of 1930-1980 that strongly influenced its contents and development. The book outlines basic periods of the school's evolution from the period that preceded its formation in the early 1930s up to the early 1990s. Paintings reproduced in the publication belong to large Russian and foreign private collections, some of the works are published for the first time. This allows for a renewed and more comprehensive assessment of the art heritage of individual painters and the epoch in general.The publication contains a Historical outline, artists' biographies and photographs and an extensive reference section that helps to navigate the book materials and provides the reader with important historical guidelines.Texts are published in Russian and English.Published in St.Petersburg by Russian Painting Collectors' Club.Text by Sergei V. Ivanov.Limited, 450 pages, 343 color plates with numerous black and white photographs of artists. Hard cover with cloth and gold stamping, 12,7 x 10 inches. Historical outline. Chronology of the Leningrad School. Index of more than 1200 painters. Artists' Biographies and Bibliography of the Leningrad School of Painting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book
I've got this book as a gift and I am very happy I own it now. Wonderful collection of paintings from the Soviet era. Interesting historical outline in the beginning of the book.

Excellent gift and must-have for anyone in the field
I purchased this book before it got available on Amazon (through the author). Several things set this print apart:
- English AND Russian text
- 100s of outstanding pictures (quality is top notch)
- Biographies of the artists
- Good and deep subject narrative

When I purchased it I received in a packaging that will make Amazon packaging look like a toy wrapping... and on time. Overall, excellent gift or a professional book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Iconic History
If you have ever wondered about the work of those who struggled to preserve the relics and icons of the Orthodox Church during Soviet rule, or been curious about the history and meaning of icon painting within that church, this book is for you.

Yazykova (translated by Paul Grenier) relates the history of the church's survival against monumental odds, the stories of the individuals who kept on painting icons, those who toiled to minimize damage to churches, and those who took their faith abroad. And all this is recounted within the wider historical context of church history and iconography. An invaluable work of history that ends with a description of where iconography is going into the future, and who are its leading artists. Includes about a dozen beautiful color plates.

As reviewed by Russian Life

An intriguing and educational read about those who opposed a state without history
The rise of Stalin and Communism did untold damage to the modern presence of Russian history. "Hidden and Triumphant: The Underground Struggle to Save Russian Iconography" tells of those who dared to defy the state and preserve what made them Russian, protecting Church relics, and other icons of Russian history as they were being purged throughout the era. "Hidden and Triumphant" is an intriguing and educational read about those who opposed a state without history.

Hidden and, "therefore," Triumphant
One might read this 194-page book in translation about holy icons in Russia as (1) art history presented in chronology and schools, (2) Church-State relations during the Soviet era, (3) political and/or economic nationalism, and (4) literary or multi-disciplinary criticism. The author, Irina Yazykova, covers all of these topics.

In addition, Yazykova, an art historian with appointment to teach in a Russian theological seminary, depicts the triumph of icons as part of an endemic resilience of faith that she experiences as a Russian Christian. We might consider her historical lens of faith to be a "hidden" or latent component of her inquiry, in one of several senses of the word that appears in the book's title.

A hidden lens requires explanation. The author's opinion is that holy icons in Russia were themselves familiar items, having been widely distributed for centuries prior to the Bolsheviks consolidating power after the Revolution in 1917. However, familiarity alone by leaders of the state did not constitute understanding. Indeed, the Soviet leadership failed to recognize the power of reverence among average Russians toward icons. Illustrating their lack of understanding, Party leaders attributed superstition to reverence of icons, which prompted active programs of suppressing icons in favor of a Leninist philosophy about art. As the author demonstrates, the same leaders had been falsely optimistic about extinguishing this reverence. Thus, Yazykova contends, the reverence of icons had simply gone into hiding during the Soviet era.

Readers benefit from how well the author lifts the veil of hidenness so that we may view with understanding what the Soviet leaders failed to see. Yazykova's thesis emphasizes the congruence of a collective Russian mind and history of the Orthodox Christian faith in devotion to icons. Therefore, by entertaining iconographic streams across a millennium of Russian history, the author explores a transformative view provided by icons and reverence to them throughout seventy years of official suppression.

I recommend that readers with little or no familiarity with icons and Russian iconography carefully read and mark the Introduction ["Word and Image"] and first two chapters of this book [1-42]. The author provides a readable and sensitive theological overview of what icons mean to Orthodox Christians, in the Introduction, as well as the history of Christian icons in Byzantium, which appealed from the start to a collective sense of Beauty among Russian people [Chapter 1]. In my opinion, Chapter 2 ["Perfect artists and philosophers of highest wisdom: The iconographic tradition, 900-1900"] is arguably among the most concise and better constructed histories of the icon in Russia ever written.

Chapter 3 [43-65] engages a critical discussion of the so-called new iconoclasts: Soviet leaders and members of the Communist Party. Yazykova presents her discussion in terms of a shared fate that Soviet iconoclasts sealed between individual Russians and icons. New martyrs--likely far more than best estimates--rose in numbers as did tales of their resistance to despots. Because of the toll in life [not despite of, the author contends] and the popularity of repeating and perhaps embellishing stories of the Martyrs, the seeds of triumph for the icons were planted and nurtured in rich soil.

Chapters 4-6 provide the names and associations of Russian iconographers, by identifying teachers and students inside the Soviet Union and among émigrés exiled from Mother Russia in the years following 1920. These chapters read like a people's history, and should cause no one to stumble over polysyllabic names or obtuse piety. The author recounts personal sacrifice of iconographers by disdaining Soviet officials without honorific verbiage. For example, "Even far from Russia's shores, they and thousands of such people continued to consider themselves Russians and held to the faith that their country would someday shake off the Communist night and become hospitable once again to normal life" [67].

Midway in the monograph are 28 glossy-print photographs of icons and three photographs taken during the Soviet era. What I like about the selection is editorial attention to icons written during the Soviet era and their links to iconographic schools, which the author explores in earlier chapters. Photographic quality provides stunning resolution. For example, Ouspensky's "Carved Altar Cross" [91], housed in Holy Trinity Church, Vanves [Paris] shines with lustrous light akin to what I remember first-hand.

Three appendices conclude the text. The first, Appendix A: "New Russian Iconographers," offers an intimate portrait of iconographers by name and style along with contextual developments in the first decade of the 21st-Century. It is clear that the author writes from direct familiarity, which makes these 19 pages a critical supplement to extend her thesis. Appendix B: "Beauty Saving the World" maintains a steady hand at presenting the icon as visual text or sermon in relationship to the theme of Beauty in Russian hesychasm, literature and the arts. Finally Appendix C offers helpful suggestions for schools and workshops inside and outside Russia providing iconography training.

Translator Paul Grenier conveys an approachable style in contemporary English. A Foreword by Professor Wendy Salmond merits praise, too, because she invites readers to become active when observing and engaging holy icons, lest they miss all that which is hidden and triumphant in this superb book.


... Read more

Product Description
Audio training course designed specifically for English speakers and containing 17 theme based lessons covering the every day situations. Each lesson consists of English tutorials, vocabulary, and complete live conversations. Essentials such as greetings, shopping, telling the time, asking for directions, elements of Russian business etiquette, such cultural concepts as The Russian soul, how to date someone in Russian and even a short poem by Alexander Pushkin included here.

The Russian audio course that jumps right into learning the language with expertly designed structure of the lessons and their thematic organization to benefit English Speakers. Engaging, attention grabbing, infused with cultural content to deliver immediate results for those who needs to master Russian fast. Will work with iPod, PC, lap-top, MP3, cell phone or any home stereo. No additional software or special equipment necessary.

The Easy Russian for English Speakers is attempting to provide a lightweight form of tuition which aims to show Russian language from the angle familiar to English speakers. It does not bombard students with heavy grammar. Certain elements of grammar are introduced as and when it is necessary.The format of each lesson exposes listener to correct pronunciation at correct 'live' speed of the language. New vocabulary and phrases are repeated several times though, so that the listener is able to capture and analyse this material. New vocabulary is then put into practice through dialogues and short conversations. Necessary minimal grammar and language concepts are explained in English. Foreign language learning need not be overly complicated.

This CD goes a little further than just the language and is offering an insight into Russian culture and literature. Such concept as the Russian soul is almost always missing in all traditional courses yet this is something that has significant influence both culturally and linguistically in Russian language. Many other courses spend little or no time showing features of Russian language sharing common roots with all other European languages, or showing important differences specific to those who speak English. I find that such elements significantly improve both quality and speed of learning and make overall learning experience more interesting. Anyone in possession of re-usable existing language features will make better progress in another language.

TRACK LIST

01 GREETINGS, WELCOME
02 ALPHABET, SPELLING
03 SPEAKING AND UNDERSTANDING
04 TRAVELLING BY TAXI
05 THEATRE TICKETS, NUMBERS
06 HOTEL, CONCIERGE
07 ORDERING FOOD AND DRINK
08 SHOPPING, POSSESSIONS
09 DIRECTIONS, GETTING AROUND TOWN
10 SUGGESTIONS, NUMBERS
11 TELLING THE TIME
12 MAKING PHONE CALLS
13 APPOINTMENTS, WEEKS, MONTHS
14 BUSINESS MEETINGS
15 DATING SOMEONE
16 MYSTERIOUS RUSSIAN SOUL
17 SAYING GOODBYE
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

fast track to Russian
These audio lessons jumped right into learning the language and moved briskly. I also enjoyed the structure of the lessons and their thematic organization. Unlike other audio language learning tapes the tracks were engaging - my attention was kept and I felt like I was actually absorbing Russian. Overall, this audio training is excellent for those who need to learn Russian fast, or may only need to learn enough for a specific situation.
K.S. ... Read more

Product Description
A COMPENDIUM OF 500 CANONICAL IMPRINTS AND TRANSFERS OF THE 15 - 19th CENTURIESThe work is titled "Book of Icon Patterns: the authentic prorisi and perevody of Russian icons of the 15-19th centuries." The text has been edited by G.B. Markelov, who is known in Russia as a fine scholar, icon-painter and member of the Ancient Literature Department of The Russian Literature Research Institute. The two volumes comprising the book contain 500 old drawings which have been for many years searched out at various libraries, museums and private collections. This book is the amplest atlas of high-quality specimens of Old Russian drawing technique, the technique which has never been thoroughly studied and duely appreciated.Icon prorisi and perevody -- imprints and transfers -- are drawings on paper which meticulously reproduce the outlines of icon compositions. Prorisi and perevody served as an additional source for creating strictly canonical images to many a generation of Russian icon-painters.The book contains old iconographical subjects as well as subjects used in modern services. They are arranged according to the commonly accepted clerical hierarchy of images: the Holy Trinity, The Saviour, the Virgin, the Baptist, the Apostles, the Prophets and other characters of the Old Testament, the most prominent saints, the female saints, the parable episodes, etc. Each pattern is reproduced in its full size and that renders the book a valuable source comparable to a facsimile edition. The majority of patterns have never been published before.The plates are preceded by a Preface which provides information on history of paper pattern practice in Old Russian Art, narrates about the methods of making and using prorisi and perevody in traditional icon painting. A special section gives iconographical comments which clarify the meaning and the subject-matter of each depiction. The Russian text is always followed by the full English translation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Iconographer's Resource
This hard to get pair of books provides a valuable resource for icon writers.Large illustrations, clear enough to look and learn from.Thank you Amazon, for supporting small sellers carrying rare hard to find books. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first book in any language to examine the friendship and the interrelated thought of two giants of Russian culture: Fedor Dostoevsky (1821-1881), one of Russia`s greatest novelists, and Vladimir Soloviev (1853-1900), Russia`s most influential philosopher. Marina Kostalevsky provides biographical details and a wide-ranging comparative analysis of their principal works from philosophical, literary, historical, and religious perspectives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A marvelous and well-illustrated book.
Russian Icons by Tamara Talbot Rice

This is a marvelous book despite its age.It is well illustrated and written with an informed academic and energetic style.The author provides a brief 25-page essay as in introduction to iconography as both an art and mode of religious life.A synthesis of Historic fact and religious truth converge providing a fair, although brief explanation of the purpose and idea expressed in Icons as understood by the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Adequate details are given for key writers of Icons in their historic setting, shaped by the political and religious culture in medieval Russia, so as to offer the reader a candid experience without becoming a laborious and dry exposition.

After the essay, several pages are devoted to providing a brief description of each of the 48 color plates. In my opinion, the quality of the Icon photographs is very nice and would justify the acquisition of this book.

For anyone interested in writing Icons, Rice also gives a glimpse into the materials and techniques used by the various regions and schools of Iconographers.

This book can stand on its own as both an entry level resource on Icons, but also as a supplement to any established library.
... Read more