Does the news cycle depress you? Have you lost any hope in the emergence of a hero for our time who might direct our political …
Continue Reading about A Hero for Our Time: Prince Dimitry Pozharsky
Ivan Glazunov: the artist who lives in a 17th century palace
Recently I came across a fantastic work of art that fits beautifully into the aesthetic of the world of my novels. It’s called …
Continue Reading about Ivan Glazunov: the artist who lives in a 17th century palace
The problem of Church and state: Russia in 1917
A major theme in my first novel, A Lamentation of Sirin, is the difficult relationship between Church and state. It seems clear to …
Continue Reading about The problem of Church and state: Russia in 1917
How old Russian words hilariously change their meanings
One of the more fascinating articles I've read recently is one about "untranslatable emotions" in different languages. I was …
Continue Reading about How old Russian words hilariously change their meanings
Why do Russians insist on the name “Holy Russia”?
A reader of my first attempt at writing a novel noticed that I seemed to be obsessed with the idea of American …
Continue Reading about Why do Russians insist on the name “Holy Russia”?
5 Amazing Facts about Medieval Moscow
Earlier this week, I shared a blog post about the amazing things Russians Tsars did on Christmas day. It struck me as an …
Continue Reading about 5 Amazing Facts about Medieval Moscow
8 Things You’ve Never Heard about Dostoyevsky’s Childhood
You know that moment when you walk into a Barnes and Noble or a library and see that one book you’ve wanted for the longest time, …
Continue Reading about 8 Things You’ve Never Heard about Dostoyevsky’s Childhood
The Spiritual Meaning of Stories: Slavic Mythology Edition
More and more people are willing to accept the fact that fairy tales are not merely for children. However, there's still often a …
Continue Reading about The Spiritual Meaning of Stories: Slavic Mythology Edition
How Iconographers Paint Angels
Last Monday, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the day of Archangel Michael. It was doubly interesting that the day fell on a …
Need Relief after Your Thanksgiving Feast? Try Ivan-Chai
Happy Thanksgiving from Belarus, where we actually scrounged up some turkey and butternut squash (to my surprise). Naturally, …
Continue Reading about Need Relief after Your Thanksgiving Feast? Try Ivan-Chai
Four Bizarre Ways Tales from Slavic Mythology Begin
You probably know some of the best first lines in literature. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” (A Tale of …
Continue Reading about Four Bizarre Ways Tales from Slavic Mythology Begin
5 Rules to Reestablish Civility in Internet Conversations
What a week! I used to think social media brought out the bad in people. But I was wrong--it brings out the worst in people. …
Continue Reading about 5 Rules to Reestablish Civility in Internet Conversations
Martha the Mayoress of Novgorod, Part II
Last week, I translated the first part of the story of Martha the Mayoress of Novgorod by Nikolai Karamzin. A few of you requested …
Continue Reading about Martha the Mayoress of Novgorod, Part II
Asian Tribes of the Russian Empire
Another short post today, courtesy of my French friends, who translated my earlier short post about a French traveler watching a …
How a Russian Historian Imagined Democracy to Look in 14th century Russia
As much as you probably want to forget this fact, the election is tomorrow. I've been at a loss how to deal with it, so I …
Continue Reading about How a Russian Historian Imagined Democracy to Look in 14th century Russia
Everything You Need to Know about Men’s Hats in Old Russia
Last week, I wrote about women’s head-dresses. Today, as promised, I’ll add the male version of that post. Basically, it’s …
Continue Reading about Everything You Need to Know about Men’s Hats in Old Russia
5 Kinds of Folk Hats Russian Women Wore
Do you ever wish that hats would come back in fashion? I do. I still sometimes wish I could pull off the Maltese Falcon look, …
Continue Reading about 5 Kinds of Folk Hats Russian Women Wore
5 Unusual Remnants of old Rus
Last week, you may have seen my review of Miles Cameron’s The Dread Wyrm. Mr. Cameron, in preparation for the release of his new …