September 22, 2001

Peasants


Peasants

Czarist Origins of Communism
Brief page discusses the peasant system in Emperial Russia.

The Differentiation of the Peasantry
Excerpt from the complete on-line text of The Development of Capitalism in Russia, written by V.I. Lenin in 1896-99.

Emancipation Edict
Document issued by Tsar Alexander II in 1861, freeing the peasants from their servitude to their noble landlords.

Origin, Growth and Abolition of Personal Servitude
Lecture regarding Russian peasantry, delivered by Maxime Kovalevsky, in 1891. This lecture was part of a series titled, Modern Customs and Ancient Laws of Russia.

Russian Agrarian History and Soviet Debates on the Peasantry
Scholarly article and chronological chart on the subject of the Russian peasant and the Revolution.

The Russian Post-Emancipation Household
Two Villages in the Moscow Area; excellent Masters thesis written in 1995 by Herdis Kolle, University of Bergin.

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Some of our Books

The Little Humpbacked Horse
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The Little Humpbacked Horse

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.

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Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

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.

 
Life Stories
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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.

Bears in the Caviar
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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.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
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Driving Down Russia's Spine

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