Two crosses of Konstantin Batiushkov
This year marks the 230th anniversary of the birth of Konstantin Nikolaevich Batyushkov (1787–1855) and the 200th anniversary of the release of his only book, the two-volume book Experiments in…

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strip tease
Nobuyoshi Araki
“Of course, in every work there is a pornographic connotation. Otherwise, it would be just eroticism - pure, intellectual and uninteresting. And I do an upgrade by adding a bit…

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"Drone", Novikov magazine
Of the Russian prints of the beginning of the reign of Catherine II, the most serious was Novikov’s journal “The Drone”, which was published in the capital from May 1769…

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bravery

Heroes “Minor” Fonvizin

The most famous comedy of Fonvizin, “The Minor,” is one of the first-class works of Russian literature. The playwright portrayed in it, firstly, the ignorant, ancient education of noble children; secondly, the brutal arbitrariness of the landowners, their inhuman treatment of serfs.

You can read about the main characters of the play, Mrs. Prostakova, and her son, Mitrofanushka, in the articles on our site especially dedicated to them: Characteristics of Mrs. Prostakova in “The Minor” Fonvizin and Characteristics of Mitrofan in “The Minor” Fonvizin. Continue reading

Vasily Belov “Everything is ahead”

“Everything is ahead” (1986). – After a ravnavnogo immersion in the irrevocable Russian past, Belov, the more painful it was to feel inappropriate in the uncomfortable present, in the swarming stream of modern life, could not but feel himself in conflict with it. And then – he bravely took to resist this flow? and even affect its course? By comparing the 1st and 2nd parts of this little novel, it can be understood that the resolution did not immediately gain in it. Continue reading

Bulgakov “Heart of a Dog”

A homeless dog Sharik, who lived in Moscow, was scrubbed with a boiling water by one cruel cook. It was December, and Sharik, with his side wounded from the burn, was threatened with starvation. He howled plaintively at the gateway, when a well dressed, intelligent-looking gentleman suddenly appeared from the door of a nearby store. To the surprise of the dog, this mysterious man threw him a piece of Krakow sausage and began to call for him.

Sharik ran after his benefactor on Prechistenka and in Obukhiv Lane. On the way, the lord threw him a second piece of Krakow. To Sharik’s even greater astonishment, a decent man called him into the luxurious entrance of a large, rich house and led all the stray dogs, the porter, past the original enemy. Continue reading

Afanasy Nikitin "Going beyond three seas"
“Going beyond the three seas of Afanasy Nikitin” (see its full text) - a description by a 15th century Russian man of his journey to far India.Afanasy Nikitin was a…

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“Woe from Wit” - analysis, briefly
“Woe from Wit” is the main work of Griboyedov’s entire life and is one of the best works of Russian dramatic literature. Despite the fact that Griboyedov describes Russian society…

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