March 15, 2023

Renaming Russia?


Renaming Russia?
1596 map of Moscovia. Lambert Andrea, Wikimedia Commons.

In November 2022, a petition was submitted to President Zelensky's website that proposed the renaming of Russia to Moscovia and "the Russian Federation" to "the Moscovian Federation." Since the petition received over 25,000 signatures, the Ukrainian president is legally obligated to respond to it.

On March 10, Zelensky released his long-awaited response. In his statement, he highlighted that any alterations to geographical names are subject to regulation by legislation, with the responsibility for making such changes resting solely with the Ukrainian government. Moreover, he underscored that the names of countries are firmly enshrined in official United Nations documents, thus rendering any modifications to these titles a challenging task.

Zelensky said the issue "required careful study on the level of historical and social context, as well as taking into account possible international legal consequences." The president revealed that he will direct the Ukrainian prime minister to conduct a thorough review of the petition.

According to the petition, the name Moscovia was widely used to refer to the Russian state until a few centuries ago, with the moniker "Russia" linked to imperial interventions in Kyivan Rus.

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Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

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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.

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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.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

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.

Faith & Humor
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Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
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Jews in Service to the Tsar

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