Issue Links

Blog on Books and Films
Blog on Books and Films
Comment on the films and books we chose for inclusion in this feature as the must read and must view items...
10 "Berries"
10 "Berries"
Great selection of must-see film bits from RR
The Complete Story in Russian
The Complete Story in Russian
Photos of the Assault on Zemo Nikozi
Photos of the Assault on Zemo Nikozi
The Story in Russian
The Story in Russian
Iskander's Works in Russian
Iskander's Works in Russian
The Story in Russian
The Story in Russian
Chapter 14 is this story.
How the speech was leaked
How the speech was leaked
By Reuters correspondent John Rettie
Transcript of Debate
Transcript of Debate
As it appeared in the NYT.
Interagency Language Roundtable
Interagency Language Roundtable
Level Three ILR materials are what a Presidential Translator must be able to routinely handle.
Website of Huun-Huur-Tu
Website of Huun-Huur-Tu
Includes samples of their singing.
Life and Work of Andrei Platonov
Life and Work of Andrei Platonov
A nice site hosted at Middlebury with extensive biographical information on the great writer.
Video of Gagarin's Grandson
Video of Gagarin's Grandson
Watch it online for free!
K Blows Top
K Blows Top
Buy the book online.
Interview with Peter Carlson
Interview with Peter Carlson
Interview with the author of "K Blows Top" on NPR's "On the Media" radio program.
Sofia Alekseyevna
Sofia Alekseyevna
Lindsey Hughes' book on Tsarevna Sophia
The Foundation Pit
The Foundation Pit
Arguably Platonov's greatest work.
Soul and Other Stories
Soul and Other Stories
A great introduction to Platonov's fiction.
Great Online Encyclopedia
Great Online Encyclopedia
Everything you could want to know, most of it also in English. Route stops, history, photos, etc.
Guidebook on the Trans-Sib
Guidebook on the Trans-Sib
Great place to start if you want a printed guide.

 

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A Few of Our Books

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.
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.
93 Untranslatable Russian Words

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.
Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
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.  
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. 
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Popular Articles

Using Laughter to Cope
September 07, 2021

Using Laughter to Cope

These eight outstanding Soviet comedies show ​​some of what has made Russians laugh over the past century. Most are still watched today. (First in our new series on learning about Russia through its films.)

Peace, Land, Bread
April 23, 2014

Peace, Land, Bread

Peace! Land! Bread! This was the battle cry of the 1917 October Revolution (old calendar) that changed the history of Russia and indeed the entire world. Since the time of Ivan the Terrible, the tsars concentrated on centralization of their power and control. The most common way of doing this was to take power away from the nobility, appeasing them by giving them dominion over their land and workers. This soon developed into the oppressive, slave-style condition known as serfdom.

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