January 26, 2022

Marriage is No Laughing Matter


Marriage is No Laughing Matter
The happiest day of your life isn't something to laugh about. Image from Russian Life

This week, a new law in the Rostov Oblast seeks to end laughter during wedding ceremonies. Not only is laughter during a wedding now against the law, but it also includes limitations on talking loudly and talking excitedly. 

Also, be sure to clean your dirty shoes, hang up your coat, and leave behind your backpack or any other larger bags you might be carrying before entering the ceremony, as all of these could get you in trouble. Don't forget to have a snack before arrival, as you are not allowed to eat once you get there, and it would also be a good idea to stow away the celebratory bottle of vodka and pack of cigarettes: drinking and smoking are included within the new law. 

While it may be very tempting, you absolutely must remember to abstain from rearranging the furniture: this counts as violating the composition of the room! Luckily, the ceremony is limited to 40 minutes and the law doesn't have any issues with crying, so you don't have to hold yourself back for too long. 

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Some of our Books

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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
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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 Moscow Eccentric
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The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

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.

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Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

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