Russia Books

Published in 1980 during the cold war, without access to the Russian Archives, even now this book has not been bettered in an English publication to show the breadth and sheer variety within the old Russian Empire between 1855-1914. The author comes from an old Russian noble family and obviously had access to images not normally found in books on Russia in the 19th century as the list of private collections consulted at the front of the book shows.

The book is divided into the following sections:

St Petersburg
Moscow
A Vanished World
Life on Country Estates
The Village
Monks and Pilgrims
Rivers and Towns
Siberia
Turkestan
The Caucasus and the Crimea
The Western Borderlands

You see images in this book of a wide variety of things like the Russian Coronation of 1896, various schools in St Petersburg and their students, factories and charities in action, imperial palaces, beggars and family feasts, tribal dress and shamans. It's a world than is very different from today. Towns exist without real suburbs, streets are close to empty in some big towns, poverty is rife and factories spew pollution and mud abounds. If want a wide view of what old Russia was like away from the Aristocratic enclave most books dwell on this book is still hard to go past and it gives you some idea of why the revolution must have seemed like a good idea for those living in poverty in these photographs.

Before the Revolution: St. Petersburg in Photographs : 1890-1914

Great book to sit down with a magnifying glass and study the rare photos. Definite must for those who are interested in that period of time.

This is a wonderful book. I had the privilige of stuying under Vadim at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts for just over two years and he is an incredible pianist. Don't underestimate the value of this book in your musical education.

Russian Folk Songs: Musical Genres And History by composer, concert pianist and choral conductor Vadim Prokhorov (who is also an editor for Musica Russicia Inc.), is a scholarly, college-level analysis written to introduce educators in particular to the diversity and rich cultural lore of Russian folk music. The history of Russian folks songs are discussed at length, as well as detailed musical analysis, and sample songs in full musical notation, presented both in the original Russian and translated into English. Russian Folk Songs is a superbly presented study and deftly written academic reference to a grand, ethnic, and enduring musical tradition.

WOW,I can not praise this book enough...
I purchased the 1st edition in '90 for a few hundred dollars, and refer to this work constantly, it is just irreplaceable.
Richly and profusely illustrated, 312 pages of a good read,and not much fluff.
"Chance Favors the Prepared Mind", and after poring over this book for 7 years, I "chanced" upon a PAIR of Russian Empire ormolu mounted mahogany bergeres at an estate sale.This one book, more than any other, has rewarded me in every way. Truly... a MUST HAVE.

I cannot recommend this book more. We are very lucky it is back in print. A year ago you couldn't find a copy... The book is well written and researched, the illustrations are excellent and no collector, dealer or Russophile should be without it.

First off, I must admit that I do not own this book - yet. I picked it up at random at a friend's house or, more correctly, hoisted it up, as it is printed on good paper and is very thick. Once started, I could not leave it until the end. Most books of this nature do not appeal to me very much, because they only warrant a cursory paging-through. I am sure there are many excellent books of this genre, it is just my ignorance which prevents me from appreciating them. But this one is different. The selection of the photographs is such that the pictures are never boring, and the descriptions, in spite of, or perhaps because of, their brevity, contain a surprising amount of information, which encourages one to read more about the many different subjects touched upon. This is not just a book about houses, it is a book on which one could base a study of the Russian people in its entirety, such as their history and culture in all its forms. Definitely a book I am buying.

For those who have been to Russia and Europe in the past, or lived there, this book highlights all beautiful details of Russia. I bought this book for my father years ago as a gift and later wanted to buy one for myself. I couldn't find it anywhere until I saw it here. I was in tears when I received it since this book has everything about the design and the heart of the country that I came to love and to know. Excellent photography!

I was fortunate enough to have purchased this magnificent volume for its original retail price -- but now feel it may be the most priceless item I have ever owned! As a person who loves to paint (notice I don't call myself "artist" or even "painter") I'm inspired to move forward in capturing something -- ANYTHING of what these artists did. Every time I look through this book and its gorgeous plates, I learn something new about color and light and using paint to sculpture a scene. Having been happily saturated with French and American Impressionists (and we still love them!) it is like entering a parallel universe where all is familiar yet new, and somehow more robust than you can imagine. These works are simply luscious. I pray I live long enough to see a major retrospective. Until then -- this book is my bible, my solace and inspiration. If you can afford it -- or find a deal -- I suggest creating a place of honor in your home -- for the Russians have arrived!!

Wonderful! Well-done!

This is about all I can think to say about this book. Superb text and many, many beautiful illustrations. Russian art wasn't even touched on in my American university art history courses, except for a few important 20th century avant-garde artists...explore this little-known world of Russian impressionist painting with this book. I'm happy I paid the retail price, not the prices asked by the used booksellers now that it is out of print.

I would like to correct your comment - Martha and Katherine Wilmot were actually Irish.

An interesting look at Russia from 1803-1808. Martha and Catherine Wilmot, two English ladies, went at various points to stay with Princess Dashkova (a friend of Catherine the Great) and this book is composed of their journals and letters home. Their letters provide a fascinating look at Russia, particularly the habits of the Russian nobility, during the reign of Tsar Alexander I. Both women were skilled writers, with an eye for the interesting anecdote, and spared no detail for the folks back home. They write about the price of sturgeon, the travails of a homesick maid, the conquests they made at a ball, and the Tsar's wife ("the loveliest creature I almost ever saw"). A very interesting book, and a pleasure to read.

Jane Ashton Sharp won the 2007 Robert Motherwell Book Award, given yearly by the Dedalus Foundation for her book Russian Modernism between East and West: Natal'ia Goncharova and the Moscow Avant-Garde. The award recognizes outstanding publications in the history and criticism of modernism in the arts, and comes with a cash prize.

"Russian Modernism between East and West" gives a complete and description of the influence of Natal'ia Goncharova on her Moscovite colleagues. Best book on this subject!

A true joy to derail from the well-trotten road from Britain to France ending in Italy. At last we are presented with the more unknown gardens of Russia. It's a beautiful book, well written by an authority and with great photos. I especially liked the pavillion disguised as heap of firing-wood, must be one-of-a-kind in this world.

Since the climate is not conducive to gardening, many may be surprised to learn that Russia has some of the most beautiful gardens and parks in the world. What better way to visit them but from the comfort of an easy chair with garden historian Peter Hayden as your guide?

A former chairman of the Garden History Society and an honorary member of the Swedish Society for Dendrology and Park Culture, Hayden knows his subject well. He's the ideal person to compile "Russian Parks and Gardens," which is the first comprehensive history of Russian landscape to be printed in English. Many of the photos included in this volume were taken by Hayden himself and had not been published outside of Russia. There's a wealth to enjoy in 256 pages highlighted by 165 color photographs and 100 archive illustrations.

Hayden's history covers more than 800 years beginning with the initial gardens in the 12th century. We learn that it was Peter the Great who first introduced formal gardens to his homeland by bringing designers and plants from Holland, France, Germany, and Italy. Today St. Petersburg's Summer Garden, which covers 27 acres, is the most popular open space in all of Russia.

What is known as the English style of landscaping was brought to Russia by Catherine the Great who hired British gardeners to design parks for the privileged. In addition, many parks and gardens were created by wealthy families who had the wherewithal to do so, as well as access to thousands of serfs to do the work.

Naturally, the Revolution took its toll on quite a number of Russia's parks and gardens but many have been restored so that they are even more glorious today.

"Russian Parks and Gardens" is an amazing contribution to the annals of landscape history, and a joy to behold.

- Gail Cooke

I would highly recommend this product to anyone adopting from a Russian speaking country. The product comes with 2 pocket size phrase books (which is great for each spouse to have one) and an audio cd.

Is is full of very useful phrases and words for the adoptive family. We haven't traveled yet but I have no doubt this book will be coming with us! We had purchased a general Russian travel phrase book, but that really isn't any help when it comes to the things you really want to communicate to a child. This book does!

I ordered it on a Saturday, it was shipped Monday and arrived at my home on Wednesday. Very quick service! The cd case was broken, but the cd was fine.

I have been listening to this cd in the car for about a month and feel like I have really learned a lot of phrases that will help me in my upcoming adoption. I find I am practicing these phrases at odd times...but they have really stuck. These phrases have stuck much better than the other Russian programs I am working through right now. How wonderful to know how to call your daughter beautiful and to tell her you will love her forever. A lot of more practical phrases as well.

Bolotnikov, Razin, Bulavin and Pugachev are all names lost to history yet these were leaders of four extrodanary revolutions which rocked Russia between 1600 and 1800. These revolts were largly ignored by historians because, at the times when they happened they caused panic among the Russian ruling classes. All four were revolts of common people, peasants, townspeople, Cossaks, low ranking priests and monks, and common soldiers. Indeed the story of these rebellions is the story of the Russian underclass, the "dark people" whole lives are ignored by historians.

In this narrative we learn about Russian peasants were enslaved by great Russians starting with Ivan the Terrible. Later a Cossak revolutionary named Stenka Razin leads a revolt against unpopular religious reforms and the state of serfdom. Another Cossak leader Bulavin leads a rebellion against Peter "the Great," whose sought to build a western style state at the expense of common Russians. Finally we are told about the bloodiest revolt of all, Emelian Pugachev who declaired himself to be the murdered Czar, Peter III and brough terror to the regeim of Czarina Caterine "the Great," an "enlightened" ruler whose reforms stopped short of benifiting the great masses of Russian people.

In each revolt, the methods used were often cruel. But also in each the repression of the rebellions was equally severe. They were all acts of desperation by desperate people. Often the rebels were comprised of ignorant peasants who sought to free themselves from the oppression of severe rulers.

The author, Paul Avrich neither approves nor condemns the actions taken by the revolutionary leaders. Rather he explains in graphic detail the causes of the conflicts, the courses of events and gives an analysis of the importance of each of these four events in Russian history. Avrich then ties in the rebellions of this book with later revolutionary movements, the Decemberist rebels, the Nihilist-Anarchist movements of the 1860s and even the Bolshivik movement. All the same he makes it clear that the rebellions in question were attempts to go back in history to times of simplicity when an agrarian based peasant economy existed with free peasants worked and lived lives of simplicity. This would make these rebellions seperate from western influenced revolutionary activities of later generations, which were led by members of the intellegencia.

This is an exceptional little book which tells the story of the four largest peasant revolts in Russian history all of which were named for the leaders who inspired the revolts--Bolotnikov in 1606-1607, Razin in 1670-1671, Bulavin in 1707-1708, and Pugachev in 1773-1774.

Readers have always wondered why Russia has traditionally felt the need for a strong authoritarian central government. This book answers that question in part. The huge Russian empire was made up of many different ethnic groups. Ethnic jealousies, resulting in civil wars and foreign invasions were always the result of a weak Czar or a change of dynasty. Thus the social compact of the Russian state was that all groups must submit to the power of a Czar in order to survive. This is the reason for the god-like status and supreme power given to the Czar in the old Russian empire.