Russia Books

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.

Saint, Satan, or the desire for magic and magical cures. The figure of the charismatic turns up again and again in history. But the marriage of the charismatic and 20th-21st century media is something quite new. Vinogradova has opened a door to an understanding of the hope and despair of those in the Communist Bloc who sought an age-old 'believer' remedy when all else had failed. Kashpirovsky's huge following is worth our attention. Vinogradova has tapped a vein of great interest in the West and let's hope to hear more from her gifted pen whether as research or fiction

I found this well-written account of the remarkable Kashpirovsky absolutely fascinating. The author researched her subject well and presented an unbiased account of Kashpirovsky's often controversial activities. A must read for all persons of present day Russian affairs.

This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever reaad... It must be read to be experienced. (I cried at the end of this book, and I am not a weepy person!) Definitely worth owning a few copies, because you will want to lend it to people -- who will probably not want to give it back.

There is no better book you could read to give you a heart-sense of Orthodox Christian sanctity. And the book is NOT out of print; Amazon's information is outdated. It was reprinted in 1999, so go ahead and order it!

I really didn't know what to expect when I picked up Kathleen Crane's memoirs of her experiences in graduate school at Scripps and her professional life. To many, it might seem that a book on oceanography is a bit too esoteric or "niche" to be of interest to the general public.

But "Sea Legs" is a truly fascinating, deeply (no pun intended) interesting book. For the scientifically inclined, the detailed descriptions of Crane's work will be of great interest. But the general reader benefits the most from this book, as the reader accompanies Crane and her colleagues on numerous voyages of discovery to fascinating destinations. "Sea Legs" is well worth your time, and beleive me, it is a real page turner.

Sea Legs: Tales Of A Woman Oceanographer is the personal and inspiring story of Kathleen Crane, one of the first female oceanographers to earn her credentials at the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. From research on undersea volcanoes, to meeting and befriending Soviet Union scientists during the height of the cold war, Sea Legs is a memorable and informative autobiographical journey filled with a love of science, a respect for the sea, and the sheer joy of reaching out to embrace the world.

This book is visually stunning, and should be owned by anyone who treasures real insight into the lives of the Rom. The photo quality is award-winning, and the candor in the faces of the subjects gives one a glimpse behind the usual self-protective personas is one is used to seeing. Several of the photographs of the children, in particular, stopped my heart. Friends who have picked up the book to glance through it have expressed the same feeling. There is a texture to the photographs that makes your fingers twitch to reach in and examine further. I treasure this book.

A poetic journey deep into the lives of the Roma people living in the former republics of the Soviet Union. Should be on your bookshelf next to Koudelka's Gypsies.