Natasha's Dance

Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia

★ Liang Wendao, Liu Yu, Xiong Peiyun, and Xu Zhiyuan co-edited this book, "Ideal Country Translation Series" (MIRROR) Series 1 (025) - Keep an open mind and non-utilitarian eyes to see the richness and complexity of the world. This book is specially introduced by Zhang Jianhua, who brilliantly points out the characteristics of "literary centrism" in Russian culture and the Russian national character and national psychology represented by "Natasha's Dance", as well as how the author Figes combines history and literature to present the complexity and diversity of Russian culture.
★ "Natasha's Dance" explores the profound and complex multiple aspects of Russian culture through Tolstoy's famous novel "War and Peace", showing the differences and complex interactions between the upper-class European culture and the peasant Russian culture, and how the confrontation between the "civilized" and "native" Russia has had a crucial impact on national consciousness and literature and art since the 19th century.
★ "Natasha's Dance" depicts strong Russian emotions from Russian ballet, painting, poetry, drama, music to the brilliant works of literary masters such as Tolstoy, Pushkin, and Dostoyevsky, showing the construction of the "Russian soul" and the trauma of Russians' "cultural identity" and "identity" under the impact of Westernization.
★ It was selected as one of the most popular books of the year by media outlets such as The New York Times, Time Magazine, and The Daily Telegraph, and was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Award and the Duff Cooper Award.
【Content Introduction】
In Tolstoy's masterpiece "War and Peace," Natasha, a young noblewoman educated in France, loves to sing and dance. Whether in Scottish dances, English dances, or Russian folk dances, she gracefully displays the graceful and elegant Russian charm. Through "Natasha's Dance," Orlando Figgis reinterprets this masterpiece, introducing great writers and artists such as Tolstoy, Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky, Chekhov, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich, and capturing the vast, pristine, and all-embracing Russia with the grace of prose.
Through a discussion of Russian ballet, painting, poetry, drama, and music that emerged in the 18th century, "Natasha's Dance" explores the divisions between European and folk elements in Russian culture, the conflict between "civilized" and "indigenous" Russias, and the schism between the aristocratic upper class and the rural masses. The book further explores the construction and expression of the "Russian soul" and "Russianness," revealing the influences of politics, national identity, social values, customs, folk art, and religion on the formation and development of Russian culture, presenting a cultural scroll filled with dramatic detail and dazzling splendor.
【Expert Recommendation】
Everything about Russia needs to be of the highest quality, and the same applies to Figgis's history of Russia, and he delivers once again. He writes fluently and beautifully, full of impressive wit and a sense of life. He has conducted a light, magnificent, and wide-ranging study of a vast library of documents, ranging from the letters of the nobility to the archives of Stalin, and his analysis is concise and full of talent. This remarkable, dazzling, and brilliant guide to Russian culture is lively, entertaining, story-telling, and captivating. - Simon Montefiore, Author of "Jerusalem 3,000 Years," Figgis writes about this subject in a unique way. He draws on a wide range of sources, his language is vivid, compact, and full of dramatic detail, and his writing about private life is particularly unique. - Joseph Frank, "London Review of Books"
The book is detailed and contains numerous illustrations, which illustrate the author's profound insight into this civilization, which was both barbaric and intelligent, and possessed a high level of artistic achievement. This book presents us with a Russia that is between mystery and rationality, between "the East" and "Europe." - Lisa Yadin, The Observer
This is a book that is both highly entertaining and allows the reader to almost smell the "Russian earth." Professor Figgis has accomplished this impossible feat... He tells us about the cultural roots of Russia's underground, its absurdities and geniuses, its humanity and cruelty. This is an awe-inspiring achievement. - Geoffrey Goodman, The Tribune
Orlando Figes successfully depicts the immense depth and power of Russian culture, outlining key issues and events in Russian history. He writes in a way that allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of Russia, a way that goes beyond simply describing the despotism of the rulers, the brutality of the conquerors, and the cruelty of the wars. His book is remarkable in that it discusses the "Russian Question" in the words of Russians themselves, exploring how they sought their Asian roots, the mysteries of the Russian peasantry, and how they nurtured so many great writers, poets, painters, and composers. —Sergei Schmemann, The New York Times
A comprehensive account of Russian cultural history, encompassing a wide range of themes and sweeping perspectives. —Anne Applebaum, Evening Standard Book of the Year: "Extremely rich and captivating reading... studded with flashes of plot and sharp, moving, and sometimes humorous descriptions... an unrivaled insight into the character of great Russia." —Pierce Brendon, Old Bones: "Brilliantly rich... magnificent and deeply persuasive... an immensely pleasurable read." —Anthony Beevor, American author Orlando Figgis's story... is wide-ranging and beautifully told. With his exquisite eye for vivid prose, the world he describes comes alive. The color illustrations are beautiful, and the critical bibliography is a useful supplement, citing many recent (English-language) monographs on various areas of Russian cultural history. ... This book is a true pleasure to read and a must-have in your collection." —Caroline Brooke, Professor of Russian History, King Mary College, London, UK "Exciting... This excellent historical work takes its title from War and Peace, and the aristocratic heroine Natasha Rostova subconsciously does a peasant shawl dance... A book you wish you hadn't read earlier." —The Independent on Sunday

2018-03-01

四川人民出版社

Ideal Country

868

9787220106699