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Russian Life: July/Aug 2010

Cover: Yuri Bulavintsev

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7: Tragedy in Mezhdurechensk Maria Antonova
A tragic mine explosion at Russia's largest mine in May put a damper on celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, and it has many wondering just what has been achieved in worker and mine safety over the past decade.
Note Book

19: Moscow Olympics Tamara Eidelman
A look back at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, marred by an international boycott and the sudden death of the bard Vladimir Vysotsky.
Sports
:: Translation by Nora Favorov

21: Alexander Grin Tamara Eidelman
Alexander Grin (1880-1932) had a short life filled with misfortune. His literary output has never been thought to be "classic" but it is entertaining and has enjoyed a recent resurgence of popularity.
Russian Calendar
:: Translation by Nora Favorov

23: Ruler of the East Tamara Eidelman
Vladivostok, founded 150 years ago, is a rather unusual city, a city of surprises.
Russian Calendar
:: Translation by Nora Favorov

26: Lemme Tell Ya! Mikhail Ivanov
The fine art of linguistic shortcuts and slang.
Survival Russian
:: Illustrations/Images by Victor Bogorad

28: Kayaking in Karelia Lada Bakal
Where we tag along with a group of 40 intrepid Russian explorers on a week-long trip through the rivers and lakes of northern Karelia, far from the lights and comforts of civilization.
Features

38: Art in Utero Irina Titova
St. Petersburg’s Russian Museum has inaugurated a program to acquaint pregnant women with the arts, on specially guided tours. Those who participate swear it is making them, and their children, better off.
Features
:: Illustrations/Images by Dmitry Lovetsky

42: The Spy Who Was Abel Nikolai Dolgopolov
Rudolph Abel was one of the most accomplished Soviet intelligence agents of the post-war period - an "illegal" who was legendary, not slipshod and sloppy, like the 11 "illegals" detained in the US in June 2010. Nikolai Dolgopolov peels back the mask to give us a look at Abel’s life and profession through the eyes of his daughter.
Features
:: Translation by Paul E. Richardson

50: Involuntary Parenthood Dmitry Vinogradov
During the recent controversy about American adoption of Russian orphans, we learned of a small Russian village that is using adoption as a way to save its school, and perhaps even its way of life. This is their story.
Features
:: Translation by Paul E. Richardson :: Illustrations/Images by Olga Ivanova

60: The Tractor Drivers' Supper Darra Goldstein
Arkady Plastov's painting "The Tractor Drivers' Supper" exemplifies the Socialist Realist style, and is full of important cultural references, which lead inevitably to this issue's recipe, for Cabbage with Noodles and Poppy Seeds.
Cuisine

62: Dreams of Possession and Tolstoy Paul E. Richardson
Reviews of "A Dream in Polar Fog," by Yuri Rytkheu; "The Possessed" by Elif Batuman; "Moscow Noir" edited by Natalia Smirnova and Julia Goumen; "Brief Lives: Tolstoy," by Anthony Briggs; and "The Russia Reader," edited by Adele Barker and Bruce Grant.
Literature

64: A Poet Departs Russian Life
A short note on the life and work of poet Andrei Voznesensky, who passed away on June 2, 2010.
Post Script