Russian Life: May/Jun 2005

16: Slava Polunin: The World's Greatest Clown Dasha Demourova
A biography of the amazing performer, whose clowning and shows are like no other.
Russian Calendar

18: Ilya Mechnikov: Scientist from Birth Dasha Demourova
He discovered the link between white blood cells and the body's natural protection against pathogens, and it won him the Nobel.
Russian Calendar

22: War-Torn Language Mikhail Ivanov
In honor of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, we look at how war language has infiltated the civilian argot.
:: Illustrations/Images by Victor Bogorad
Survival Russian

24: Stalin’s Folly Constantine Pleshakov
Why did Stalin stubbornly ignore mounds of intelligence and repeated warnings from his top generals that Hitler was preparing to invade the Soviet Union in June 1941?
Features

30: The Bryansk Forest Sternly Stirred Laura Williams
One of the most important fronts in the Great Patriotic War was the one in the forests, villages and fields behind enemy lines – where partisans took on the German War Machine.
:: Illustrations/Images by Igor Shpilenok
Features

36: War and Peace Tamara Eidelman
Sixty years ago, the spring of 1945 dawned with hope for a new era, an end to World War, a return to music and dancing...
Features

44: Reindeer Nation Olga Povoroznyuk
Just north of Chita, in Siberia, is a little-known and rapidly diminishing nomad people, the reindeer-herding Kalar Evenks.
Features

52: Hearing Voices Susan Scotto
Three thoughtful young female singer-songwriters reflect the aspirations, moods and emerging worldview of Russia’s youth.
Features

59: Fungi are Friends Darra Goldstein
Russians have a special bond with mushrooms that is not paralleled in the West. In this issue, a special recipe for mushroom-stuffed eggs.
Cuisine

60: Spies, Reindeer, Empresses and Partizans Paul E. Richardson
Book reviews of Spy Handler, Running with Reindeer, Five Empresses and War in the Wild East. Links are provided here for purchasing these books online.
Under Review

64: Remembering a Giant Paul E. Richardson
An obituary and tribute to one of the greatest Kremlinologists ever, George F. Kennan
Post Script