Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

I have just begun my subscription to your magazine, I can’t tell you how informative I find it and how much I enjoy it. I thank you for your bits on the Royal Family, its nice to see the Russian people finally recognizing them for the good people they were. I hope to see more in the future.

I have a request for information if you could steer me in the right direction. I am looking for the following films either in English or with English subtitles.

1. Dom Romanovykh (House of the Tsars)

2. Last Days of the Last Tsar

3. Tsareubiitsa (Tsar’s Assassin)

I hope you can help me in this matter.

Joanne Rempfer

Dear Joanne,

When it comes to films in the Slavic/Russia area, your first, best bet is to contact Facets Video (1517 West Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, ph. 800-331-6197). Theirs is the best commercial collection we have seen of Russian films (with subtitles) and English films on Russia. If they don’t have what you are looking for (all films are for rent or sale), then they may be able to point you in the right direction.

You may also be interested in noting that a good National Geographic video called Russia’s Last Tsar was just released and is now available through video stores around the US. While it is cursory from a historical standpoint, as any video treatment of this length (60 min.) would be, it does show some unique archival footage.

— The Editors

To the Editor:

It is with dismay that I saw you did not mention the massacre of Nicholas II and family and servants on July 17, 1918. It would be irrational to contend that the birth of Alexander Ivanov or Nikolai Miklukho-Maklai is more important.

Please tell me why you did not note the anniversary of the murders. I confess this omission seems more like Soviet Life than Russian Life to me. I never subscribed, and rarely looked at, Soviet Life.

Bob Schnelle

Sultan WA

Dear Bob,

This omission was entirely deliberate, but not for the reasons you suppose. We see our calendar as a long-term feature in our magazine, and would like to use it to provide information about both well-known and not-so-well known people and events which we feel deserve attention. You will have noticed in recent months that we write not about simple anniversaries, but about things which happened, say, 35, 50 or 140 years ago. That way we have enough material for five years. Look out for the July 1998 issue!

— The Editors

To the Editor:

I am Executive Director of American Friends of the State Hermitage Museum, an organization which promotes public education of the great treasures and urgent needs of the Hermitage in America.

I have just returned from a working visit to see Dr. Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the museum, and found your excellent article on the Hermitage (Russian Life July issue). We have been planning with Dr. Piotrovsky the coming fall and winter public education and membership events in America sponsored by American Friends to raise funds to support the Hermitage.

The highlights of these events will be Dr. Piotrovsky’s Inaugural Hermitage Lecture on October 18, 1996 in New York City. He will talk on The Hermitage in the 21st century, with slides and other illustrative materials. Dr. Piotrovsky’s Lecture will be followed by a benefit dinner to which we will invite leading members of the American arts, museum and philanthropic communities. Also planned for the fall of 1996 are a regular series of Heritage Thursday meetings from 6 to 7.30 p.m. at which experts in different areas of the Hermitage and of Russian arts and culture speak informally with American Friends members.

American Friends welcome enquiries from those planning to visit St. Petersburg or wishing to know more about the Hermitage.

Kate Brooks

American Friends of the State

Hermitage Museum, Inc.

1790 Broadway, 16th floor

New York NY 10019

To the Editor:

I spotted your magazine at my local library. I was fascinated with the Olympics and astounded by the Russian Gymnastics team. I thought they were terrific, even as I rooted for the U.S. team!

The one odd thing I noticed was that there was no information on Alexei Nemov, other than that he is 20 and is from Russia.

I would like to know more about him, like where he lives in Russia.

Michael J. Smith

Dear Michael,

Alexei Nemov is from Togliatti, a Volga town south east of Moscow  famous for its automobile industry and named after a Italian communist leader.

— The Editors