29 Comments
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Chen Rafaeli's avatar

Amazing post, through and through. Thank you.

(I admit with shame-never knew about the author, and first time I see this painting)

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Thanks! I really recommend "Циники", it is a great novel.

The painting is great too! I recently stumbled upon it, and had to use it.

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Eckhard Umann's avatar

Engagement und Distanzierung: Arbeiten zur Wissenssoziologie I https://amzn.eu/d/a8n7aCm

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Eckhard Umann's avatar

о мышлении

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Eckhard Umann's avatar

Über den Prozeß der Zivilisation. Soziogenetische und psychogenetische Untersuchungen: 2 Bände in Kassette (suhrkamp taschenbuch wissenschaft) https://amzn.eu/d/1X4ASqo

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

I appreciate you caring for my German :)

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Eckhard Umann's avatar

suchet, und Ihr werdet finden. Habe mal einem Russen erklären müssen, warum Akunins Fandorin nur Abiturientenaufsätze sind, seitdem schmollt er. Das Fahrrad nicht neu erfindet bedeutet wohl, dass akademische Arbeit stets in der Bibliothek beginnt

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Eckhard Umann's avatar

Сергей Брин не без причины стал самым молодым Героем России

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Not sure that's provable even if for some strange reason true.

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Eckhard Umann's avatar

ладно, тогда гвардия молоденькая (воспоминания Фадеева насчет процесса творения тоже забавные)

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Eckhard Umann's avatar

для себя уже чего-то забавного из соврем. немецкой музики нашел, что можешь советовать русским друзьям?

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

To be honest, I almost never listen to any music at all.

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

A classic, no?

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Eckhard Umann's avatar

о культуре

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Ana Bosch's avatar

Wonderful post. I’m always learning from you Konstantin.

It was a sad read, specially because today my 9yo was drilling me about “why doesn’t anyone do anything about Putin?”

And now Stalin- second servings of dread.

In any case, a really engaging series of quotes. My to-read list keeps growing.

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Thanks! Yeah, the parallels with the modern world are sand and partially justified. And your kid's question is a very apt one—one that a lot of EU leaders should ask themselves, honestly...

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Hyun Woo Kim's avatar

Oh no, now I've learned how Beliy died and feel somewhat bad. I had no idea how he lived after the Silver Age.

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

After your comment I double checked, and Andrei Beliy died from a stroke in his home. So either Mariengof meant another Beliy (fairly common surname), or he misremembered.

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Hyun Woo Kim's avatar

Considering that he mentions Mandelstam and Meyerhold, I think he may have mixed up Beliy with Kharms. I don't think there would be another Beliy to be included in that list.

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

I think you might be on to something, that's a very good hypothesis.

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S. MacPavel's avatar

Tolstoy didn't live long enough to read Pasternak's Hamlet.

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Tolstoy was fluent in English, so he probably was familiar with Shakespeare's Hamlet.

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Buckwheat Blues's avatar

Thanks for this post, put a smile on my face.

Could choose any of the quotes to illustrate our day and age, like nothing has essentially changed in the world.

" In the twenties in Moscow, one could ask again, "Who Can Be Happy and Free in Russia?"

And one would answer, "Maxim Gorky in Sorrento." "

A winning formula, minus being Gorky (what a bastard).

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Maybe that's why he was happier than most.

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