Russian Calendar

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The Tunguska X-File
May 01, 2008

The Tunguska X-File

What really happened over the Podkamennaya Tunguska river on June 30, 1908? And why do people get so obsessed about it?

The First Woman in Space
May 01, 2008

The First Woman in Space

Never "one of the boys," Valentina Tereshkova became an icon, a symbol for Soviet space achievements. But she only ever went into space once.

Independence Day
May 01, 2008

Independence Day

It did not seem like such a big deal at the time, Russia declaring its sovereignty on June 12, 1992. Everyone was doing. Maybe that is why so few people can remember the holiday now...

The Tauride Connection
March 01, 2008

The Tauride Connection

In April 1783, Russia annexed the Crimea. We look back at the Khan who enabled enabled it, and his ignominious fate.

The Unseemly Holiday
March 01, 2008

The Unseemly Holiday

Where did this holiday come from? Why does Russia still celebrate it? How did it survive the Soviet collapse?

The Aspirations of Youth
March 01, 2008

The Aspirations of Youth

Tsar Alexander's speech to the Polish Sejm in 1818 set off a century of turmoil. Poland was given freedoms which Russia somehow was not deserving of. It helped spur the Decembrist revolt and all that followed.

A Lucky Filmmaker
January 01, 2008

A Lucky Filmmaker

Grigory Alexandrov, born 1903, was a pathbreaking filmmaker who enjoyed incredible success and fame for his first three films, but it was a fame he never recaptured.

From Julian to Gregory
January 01, 2008

From Julian to Gregory

Eighty years ago, Russia finally adopted the Gregorian calendar. Well, almost. The ROC never got on board and then there is history to deal with, and its difficult 12-day gap.

Celebrating Studenthood
January 01, 2008

Celebrating Studenthood

A look at the history and practice of St. Tatyana's Day, the day each year which students celebrate their studenthood.

The Tver Uprising
November 01, 2007

The Tver Uprising

The uprising in Tver in December 1327 was a final straw leading to the consolidation of power in Moscow.

Samuil Marshak
November 01, 2007

Samuil Marshak

A reflection on the life and influence of this Soviet-era poet, translator and writer.

When Things Fell Apart
November 01, 2007

When Things Fell Apart

A chronicle of the days surrounding the 1917 revolution, in the words and thoughts of those who lived through it.

 

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EVENTS FOR RUSSOPHILES

A Few of Our Books

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
Russia Rules

Russia Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
Steppe / Степь

Steppe / Степь

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
The Samovar Murders

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.

Popular Articles

Why Don't Russians Smile?
January 10, 2014

Why Don't Russians Smile?

It is a common trope that Russians never smile. Which of course is interpreted to mean they are unfriendly, gloomy, sullen – positively Dostoyevskian. This, of course, is a complete misreading of body language and cultural norms.

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