29 Comments

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

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о мышлении

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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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I appreciate you caring for my German :)

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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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Сергей Брин не без причины стал самым молодым Героем России

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

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

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

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

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A classic, no?

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о культуре

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

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

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

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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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Maybe that's why he was happier than most.

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