Current Moscow Time: 19:50:3620 May 2013
The world’s biggest country, in a magazine. Since 1956.
Russian Life: Oct/Nov 1999
19: Pushkin's Heir
Mikhail Lermontov is often called "Russia's second greatest poet," after Alexander Pushkin. And there is more that the quality of their art in common between the two writers.
Features
34: Pulling the blanket to one's side
Prisoner lingo and the language of thieves takes center stage.
Survival Russian
36: Royal Road Rally Aids Burn Center
England's Prince Michael recently led a road rally from England to Russia to raise money for a Children's Burn Center. Not so remarkable? Well, the cars dated almost from the time of the Prince's relative, Russia's last tsar.
Features
37: Crime & Punishment: Russia's Prison System
Russia's prison system houses more prisoners per capita than any other nation on Earth. And the system's problems are as old and pernicious as when it was founded 120 years ago.
Features
40: The Silent Killer
A look at the threat of TB in Russia's prisons and beyond.
Features
48: A 400 gold ruble salmon
Drunken salmon is a superb appetizer that dates from the time of Empress Anna Ioannovna.
Cuisine
50: Finns Take Title in 2nd Int'l Vodka Taste Off
Results from the second Russian Life Taste Off in Northfield Vermont.
Features
52: Tozhok: Provincial Treasure
The river town of Torzhok has weathered the centuries amazingly well. William Brumfield takes us on a tour.
:: Illustrations/Images by William C. Brumfield
Travel
59: Three books
Three books are reviewed: Who Killed Kirov?, Yeltsin's Russia, and The Post-Soviet Handbook.
Under Review
64: Duma Election Cheat Sheet
A graphical overview of the coming Duma election.
Post Script