Course Info

Please find attached you reading list for the Course in 19^th-century Russian cultural history which is a core module in the SF (second-year) TSM programme. This course constitutes half of your work load in Russian for the year.

This course runs for 4 hours a week and has the dual function of

1. developing your knowledge and understanding of Russian cultural history and
2. developing your reading proficiency

SF is the year when we expect you to make the transition from reading short extracts or article-length texts to reading longer works such as short stories and plays. To set yourselves on the right track we recommend that you read the Tolstoy short story «После бала» in Russian [available here among other places] over the summer.

Starting to read a full-length text in the original is a daunting task. It is very easy to become demoralized. We recommend that you use a dual language text. But use it sensibly! Remember the aim is to develop you reading skills not to con yourself (or us). You can find a translation of Tolstoy’s story here and here.  I think you will find that as you read you will become less and less dependent/ reliant on the translation and you will suddenly find that you have read first a sentence, then a paragraph and then a page without referring to it at all. This is a very exhilarating moment: make sure you give yourselves the opportunity to experience it.

For longer texts we recommend that you read them in English, but that you select a Chapter or substantial section to read in Russian. You will also be discussing extracts from all the texts in a dedicated ‘Text/Source’ class once a week.

The reading list for this course includes the following core literary texts. There is an expectation that students will read all of these texts and will read them in advance of the lectures/seminars devoted to them. It is therefore highly recommended that you read the longer novels over the summer.

The set texts are listed in the order in which they will be studied.

1. Aleksandr Pushkin, “Queen of Spades” and “Gypsies”
2. Mikhail Lermontov, A Hero of our Time
3. Nikolai Gogol, “The Overcoat”
4. Ivan Turgenev, Fathers and Children [Father and Sons]
5. Lev Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
6. Fedor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment
7. Anton Chekhov, Cherry Orchard and “Lady with a Lap Dog”

Students are responsible for finding the texts themselves.  At times this will involve old-fashioned skills like locating the material in a library. All Russian-language versions of the texts are available on the Internet.

History source texts are also studied during the year. These are read in English. Again these should be read in advance of the relevant classes. All readings are from the book: Thomas Riha (ed.), Readings in Russian Civilization, Volume II, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, 1969 (Second edition). Students will be required to read the following chapters during the academic year:

Alexander Radishchev, ‘A Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow’, pp. 261-279.

Peter Chadaev, ‘Apology of a Madman’, pp. 303-314.

Vissarion Belinsky, ‘Letter to Gogol’, pp. 315-320.

Gleb Uspenskii, ‘From a Village Diary’, pp. 358-367.

David Footman, ‘Killing an Emperor’, pp. 368-377.

Ivan Aksakov, ‘A Slavophile Statement’, pp. 378-382.

Nikolai Danilevsky, ‘The Slav Role in World Civilization’, pp. 383-389.

Sergei Witte, ‘An Economic Policy for the Empire’, pp. 416-429.

Peter Durnovo, ‘Memorandum to Nicholas II’, pp. 465-478.

You will be circulated with a detailed course outline at the beginning of the course so that you can plan your work efficiently.