Current Moscow Time: 23:53:1618 May 2013
The world’s biggest country, in a magazine. Since 1956.
Russian Life: Jan/Feb 2011
Cover: Oliver Renck
7: Russia Plays Ball
Russia nabbed the World Cup in 2018. Will it be ready in time? How much will it all cost?
Note Book
12: Ivan v. Migalka
It seems like every week there are new, jaw-dropping events related to the infamous "migalka" - those flashing blue lights atop official vehicles that allow their drivers to flaunt all driving rules. We look at the phenomenon, plus consider two new Russian car lines.
Note Book
15: Freeing the Serfs
150 years ago, everyone knew the serfs had to be freed, but no one knew how to do it without provoking unrest or revolution. But Alexander II went ahead anyway. Sort of...
:: Translation by Nora Favorov
Russian Calendar
21: Modigliani and Akhmatova in Paris
We know comparatively little about the relationship between Akhmatova and Modigliani, but sometimes a few pictures can speak volumes.
:: Translation by Nora Favorov
Literature
23: Pushkin Evenings at the Petrograd House of Writers
In the winter of 1921, conditions could hardly have been worse in St. Petersburg, which may be why local intelligentsia turned to Pushkin and literature for consolation.
:: Translation by Nora Favorov
Literature
26: Survival Japanese
Where columnist Mikhail Ivanov considers the influence of Japanese on Russian language and slang.
:: Illustrations/Images by Victor Bogorad
Survival Russian
28: Trekking Baikal
Winter offers unique travel opportunities to Russia, particularly when it comes to Siberia. For instance, how about a trek across the world’s largest freshwater lake? Or ice skating atop crystal clear waters, then enjoying a searing banya...?
:: Translation by Maria Antonova
Travel
36: Baikal and Irkutsk a Century Ago
An excerpt from George Kennan's famous diary of his travels across Siberia, Tent Life in Siberia, in which he finds out he is not so fluent in Russian as he thought he was.
Siberia
36: Atherton's Russians
One hundred years ago, one of America’s most popular novelists was Gertrude Atherton, a widow from San Francisco. And she had an enduring fascination with Russians and Russian America...
Literature
42: Stalin's Highrises
Anyone visiting Moscow knows about the city’s famous “Seven Sisters.” But few know that there were supposed to be eight. That is just one little-known aspect of their fascinating architectural history. We asked a noted urban historian to tell us more
:: Translation by Brendan Kiernan
Architecture
50: The End of Russian Animation?
If the artists themselves are to be believed, Russian animation is in its death throes. After barely surviving the turmoil of the Soviet breakup, this beloved art form can no longer count on state support, nor can it embrace advertising, making its future uncertain at best.
:: Translation by Jennifer Davis
Art
58: Angels in the Kitchen
Our series in the Cuisine section about the interaction of the culinary and visual arts continues with columnist Darra Goldstein's consideration of Pavel Filonov's "Angels by the Stove." And the recipe? Black bread!
Cuisine
60: Siberia, Emigration, Gorky and Georgia
Reviews of: Stalina, by Emily Rubin; Travels in Siberia, by Ian Frazier; Childhood, by Maksim Gorky; Balancing Act, by Natasha Borzilova; and the film Russian Lessons.
Under Review
64: The Problem is Not Censorship
The beating of journalist Oleg Kashin in November has led many to once again focus on the state of Russian journalism. Guest columnist Alexey Kovalev considers another side of the issue.
Politics
65: Uchites 10: Anna Akhmatova
This issue's language insert, sponsored by the Russkiy Mir Foundation, uses the Calendar piece on Akhmatova and Modigliani as its take-off point. The insert can be downloaded as a PDF at the Uchites page on our website.
Poetry