Natasha's Dance (118 page)
but he had a huge sex drive and, in addition to the thirteen children Sonya bore, there w
but he had a huge sex drive and, in addition to the thirteen children Sonya bore, there w
but he had a huge sex drive and, in addition to the thirteen children Sonya bore, there w
But there was one peasant woman who represented more than a sexual conquest. Aksinia Ba
But there was one peasant woman who represented more than a sexual conquest. Aksinia Ba
But there was one peasant woman who represented more than a sexual conquest. Aksinia Ba
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War and Peace,
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khorovod
khorovod,
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significant that Tolstoy did not know how to end the tale. Two different
significant that Tolstoy did not know how to end the tale. Two different
significant that Tolstoy did not know how to end the tale. Two different
conclusions were published: one in which the hero kills the peasant woman, the other where h
conclusions were published: one in which the hero kills the peasant woman, the other where h
conclusions were published: one in which the hero kills the peasant woman, the other where h
Tolstoy’s own life story was unresolved as well. In the middle of the 1870s, when the ‘going t
Tolstoy’s own life story was unresolved as well. In the middle of the 1870s, when the ‘going t
Tolstoy’s own life story was unresolved as well. In the middle of the 1870s, when the ‘going t
Confession
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Yet even after his spiritual crisis Tolstoy was ambivalent: he idealized the peasants an
Yet even after his spiritual crisis Tolstoy was ambivalent: he idealized the peasants an
Yet even after his spiritual crisis Tolstoy was ambivalent: he idealized the peasants an
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a long while. And then a strange thing happens. Never in my life have I seen a clearer expr
a long while. And then a strange thing happens. Never in my life have I seen a clearer expr
a long while. And then a strange thing happens. Never in my life have I seen a clearer expr
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Tolstoy was aware of the ambiguity, and for years he agonized. As a writer, and a Russian
Tolstoy was aware of the ambiguity, and for years he agonized. As a writer, and a Russian
Tolstoy was aware of the ambiguity, and for years he agonized. As a writer, and a Russian
War and Peace:
Karataev had no attachments, friendships, or love, as Pierre understood them, but he love
Karataev had no attachments, friendships, or love, as Pierre understood them, but he love
Karataev had no attachments, friendships, or love, as Pierre understood them, but he love
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With every passing year, Tolstoy strived to live more and more like a peasant. He learned
With every passing year, Tolstoy strived to live more and more like a peasant. He learned
With every passing year, Tolstoy strived to live more and more like a peasant. He learned
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4
4
4
4
4
In 1862, Tolstoy married Sofya (Sonya) Behrs, the daughter of Dr Andrei Behrs, the house do
In 1862, Tolstoy married Sofya (Sonya) Behrs, the daughter of Dr Andrei Behrs, the house do
In 1862, Tolstoy married Sofya (Sonya) Behrs, the daughter of Dr Andrei Behrs, the house do
Anna Karenina.
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Every Russian knows the verses from Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin in which the lovesick Tatiana
Every Russian knows the verses from Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin in which the lovesick Tatiana
Every Russian knows the verses from Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin in which the lovesick Tatiana
Eugene Onegin
’Oh, come! Our world was quite another! We’d never heard of love, you see. Why, my good husb
’Oh, come! Our world was quite another! We’d never heard of love, you see. Why, my good husb
’Oh, come! Our world was quite another! We’d never heard of love, you see. Why, my good husb
’And so they took me off to strangers… But you’re not even listening, pet.’63
’And so they took me off to strangers… But you’re not even listening, pet.’63
’And so they took me off to strangers… But you’re not even listening, pet.’63
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The scene encapsulates the contrast between the two different cultures - the European
The scene encapsulates the contrast between the two different cultures - the European
The scene encapsulates the contrast between the two different cultures - the European
’Why is her face so tear-stained? Is she being married against her will?’ ‘Against her will
’Why is her face so tear-stained? Is she being married against her will?’ ‘Against her will
’Why is her face so tear-stained? Is she being married against her will?’ ‘Against her will
”Wife, obey thy husband!” ‘ ‘Is it the Tchudovsky choir?’ ‘No, from the Synod.’ ‘I asked the fo
”Wife, obey thy husband!” ‘ ‘Is it the Tchudovsky choir?’ ‘No, from the Synod.’ ‘I asked the fo
”Wife, obey thy husband!” ‘ ‘Is it the Tchudovsky choir?’ ‘No, from the Synod.’ ‘I asked the fo
country. They say he’s awfully rich. That’s why she’s being married to him.’ ‘Oh no. They make
country. They say he’s awfully rich. That’s why she’s being married to him.’ ‘Oh no. They make
country. They say he’s awfully rich. That’s why she’s being married to him.’ ‘Oh no. They make
’What a dear little creature the bride is - like a lamb decked for the slaughter. Say what
’What a dear little creature the bride is - like a lamb decked for the slaughter. Say what
’What a dear little creature the bride is - like a lamb decked for the slaughter. Say what
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’A lamb decked for the slaughter’ is perhaps not how Kitty felt - her love affair with Levin
’A lamb decked for the slaughter’ is perhaps not how Kitty felt - her love affair with Levin
’A lamb decked for the slaughter’ is perhaps not how Kitty felt - her love affair with Levin
Sonya was eighteen when she married Tolstoy - rather young by European standards but not b
Sonya was eighteen when she married Tolstoy - rather young by European standards but not b
Sonya was eighteen when she married Tolstoy - rather young by European standards but not b
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had an average female age at first marriage as low as twenty years -and in this respect Rus
had an average female age at first marriage as low as twenty years -and in this respect Rus
had an average female age at first marriage as low as twenty years -and in this respect Rus
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- by which time she had given birth to seventeen children, the first at the age of just sixte
- by which time she had given birth to seventeen children, the first at the age of just sixte
- by which time she had given birth to seventeen children, the first at the age of just sixte
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The arranged marriage was the norm in peasant Russia until the beginning of the twentieth
The arranged marriage was the norm in peasant Russia until the beginning of the twentieth
The arranged marriage was the norm in peasant Russia until the beginning of the twentieth
- sobriety and diligence, health and child-rearing qualities being more important than g
- sobriety and diligence, health and child-rearing qualities being more important than g
- sobriety and diligence, health and child-rearing qualities being more important than g
smotrinie.
kborovod.69
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prenuptial khorovod, which was sung and danced by the village girls in spring, was a sad and bi
prenuptial khorovod, which was sung and danced by the village girls in spring, was a sad and bi
prenuptial khorovod, which was sung and danced by the village girls in spring, was a sad and bi
khorovod,
They are making me marry a lout
They are making me marry a lout
They are making me marry a lout
With no small family.
With no small family.
With no small family.
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!
With a father, and a mother
With a father, and a mother
With a father, and a mother
And four brothers
And four brothers
And four brothers
And sisters three.
And sisters three.
And sisters three.
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!
Says my father-in-law,
Says my father-in-law,
Says my father-in-law,
’Here comes a bear!’
’Here comes a bear!’
’Here comes a bear!’
Says my mother-in-law,
Says my mother-in-law,
Says my mother-in-law,
’Here comes a slut!’
’Here comes a slut!’
’Here comes a slut!’
My sisters-in-law cry,
My sisters-in-law cry,
My sisters-in-law cry,
’Here comes a do-nothing!’
’Here comes a do-nothing!’
’Here comes a do-nothing!’
My brothers-in-law cry,
My brothers-in-law cry,
My brothers-in-law cry,
’Here comes a mischief-maker!’
’Here comes a mischief-maker!’
’Here comes a mischief-maker!’
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!71
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!71
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh dear me!71
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The bride and groom played a largely passive role in the peasant wedding rituals, which w
The bride and groom played a largely passive role in the peasant wedding rituals, which w
The bride and groom played a largely passive role in the peasant wedding rituals, which w
(devichnik)
was a matter of communal importance and, until it had been confirmed, either by the fing
was a matter of communal importance and, until it had been confirmed, either by the fing
was a matter of communal importance and, until it had been confirmed, either by the fing
Among the upper classes there were still traces of these patriarchal customs in the nine
Among the upper classes there were still traces of these patriarchal customs in the nine
Among the upper classes there were still traces of these patriarchal customs in the nine
In the provinces, where the gentry was generally closer to the culture of the peasants, no
In the provinces, where the gentry was generally closer to the culture of the peasants, no
In the provinces, where the gentry was generally closer to the culture of the peasants, no
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took several weeks of careful preparation while ‘the people who knew prices arranged
took several weeks of careful preparation while ‘the people who knew prices arranged
took several weeks of careful preparation while ‘the people who knew prices arranged
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Moscow was the centre of the marriage market for the gentry from the provinces. The autumn bal
Moscow was the centre of the marriage market for the gentry from the provinces. The autumn bal
Moscow was the centre of the marriage market for the gentry from the provinces. The autumn bal
Eugene Onegin:
To Moscow and the marriage mart! They’ve vacancies galore… take heart!76
To Moscow and the marriage mart! They’ve vacancies galore… take heart!76
To Moscow and the marriage mart! They’ve vacancies galore… take heart!76
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Pushkin himself met his wife, Natalia Goncharova, who was then aged just sixteen, at a Mos
Pushkin himself met his wife, Natalia Goncharova, who was then aged just sixteen, at a Mos
Pushkin himself met his wife, Natalia Goncharova, who was then aged just sixteen, at a Mos
whole class of matchmakers to whom noble suitors could apply, giving them the age of their pr
whole class of matchmakers to whom noble suitors could apply, giving them the age of their pr
whole class of matchmakers to whom noble suitors could apply, giving them the age of their pr
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In War and Peace Levin comes to Moscow to court Kitty. The rituals of their wedding draw in
In War and Peace Levin comes to Moscow to court Kitty. The rituals of their wedding draw in
In War and Peace Levin comes to Moscow to court Kitty. The rituals of their wedding draw in
War and Peace
’Put it right on!’ was the advice heard from all sides when the priest brought forward the cr
’Put it right on!’ was the advice heard from all sides when the priest brought forward the cr
’Put it right on!’ was the advice heard from all sides when the priest brought forward the cr
’Put it on!’ she whispered, smiling.
’Put it on!’ she whispered, smiling.
’Put it on!’ she whispered, smiling.
Levin looked round at her and was struck by her beatific expression. He could not help bein
Levin looked round at her and was struck by her beatific expression. He could not help bein
Levin looked round at her and was struck by her beatific expression. He could not help bein
With light hearts they listened to the reading of the Epistle and heard the head-deacon thun
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