Mud and Stars
Travels in Russia with Pushkin, Tolstoy, and Other Geniuses of the Golden Age
New York : Pantheon Books, [2019]
Format: Book
Edition: First American edition.
Description: xv, 287 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm
ONE OF SMITHSONIAN'S BEST TRAVEL BOOKS OF THE YEAR
With the writers of the Golden Age as her guides--Pushkin, Tolstoy, Gogol, and Turgenev, among others--Sara Wheeler searches for a Russia not in the news, traveling from rinsed northwestern beet fields and the Far Eastern Arctic tundra to the cauldron of nationalities, religions, and languages in the Caucasus. Bypassing major cities as much as possible, she goes instead to the places associated with the country's literary masters. With her, we see the fabled Trigorskoye ("three hills") estate that Pushkin frequented during his exile, now preserved in his honor. We look for Dostoevsky along the waters of Lake Ilmen, site of the only house the restless writer ever owned. We pay tribute to the single stone that remains of Tolstoy's birthplace. Wheeler weaves these writers' lives and works around their historical homes, giving us rich portraits of the many diverse Russias from which these writers spoke.
As she travels, Wheeler follows local guides, boards with families in modest homestays, eats roe and pelmeni and cabbage soup, invokes recipes from Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking, learns the language, and observes the pattern of outcry and silence that characterizes life under Vladimir Putin. Illustrated with both historical images and contemporary snapshots of the people and places that shaped her journey, Mud and Stars gives us timely, witty, and deeply personal insights into Russia, then and now.
With the writers of the Golden Age as her guides--Pushkin, Tolstoy, Gogol, and Turgenev, among others--Sara Wheeler searches for a Russia not in the news, traveling from rinsed northwestern beet fields and the Far Eastern Arctic tundra to the cauldron of nationalities, religions, and languages in the Caucasus. Bypassing major cities as much as possible, she goes instead to the places associated with the country's literary masters. With her, we see the fabled Trigorskoye ("three hills") estate that Pushkin frequented during his exile, now preserved in his honor. We look for Dostoevsky along the waters of Lake Ilmen, site of the only house the restless writer ever owned. We pay tribute to the single stone that remains of Tolstoy's birthplace. Wheeler weaves these writers' lives and works around their historical homes, giving us rich portraits of the many diverse Russias from which these writers spoke.
As she travels, Wheeler follows local guides, boards with families in modest homestays, eats roe and pelmeni and cabbage soup, invokes recipes from Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking, learns the language, and observes the pattern of outcry and silence that characterizes life under Vladimir Putin. Illustrated with both historical images and contemporary snapshots of the people and places that shaped her journey, Mud and Stars gives us timely, witty, and deeply personal insights into Russia, then and now.
Contents:
The people stay silent -- A heart's journey -- The heart within the tomb -- I am yours in heart -- We all come out from under Gogol's overcoat -- We shall rest -- The lady Macbeth of Mtsensk -- The poetry of procrastination -- Deep-sea fish -- Envoi.
Subjects:
Pushkin, Aleksandr Sergeevich, 1799-1837 -- Homes and haunts.
Gogolʹ, Nikola Vasilʹevich, 1809-1852 -- Homes and haunts.
Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910 -- Homes and haunts.
Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich, 1818-1883 -- Homes and haunts.
Literary landmarks -- Russia (Federation)
Authors, Russian -- 19th century -- Biography.
Russian literature -- 19th century -- History and criticism.
Russia (Federation) -- Description and travel.
Pushkin, Aleksandr Sergeevich, 1799-1837 -- Homes and haunts.
Gogolʹ, Nikola Vasilʹevich, 1809-1852 -- Homes and haunts.
Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910 -- Homes and haunts.
Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich, 1818-1883 -- Homes and haunts.
Literary landmarks -- Russia (Federation)
Authors, Russian -- 19th century -- Biography.
Russian literature -- 19th century -- History and criticism.
Russia (Federation) -- Description and travel.
ISBN:
9781524748012 (hardcover)
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Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
LITERATURE Reading Whe | St. Andrews Indoors | Nonfiction | In |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 277-278) and index.