Teach Yourself Russian Language Life and Culture

by Webber, Stephen; Webber, Tatyana

• ISBN13: 9780071396813
• ISBN10: 0071396810
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-23
• Publisher: MCG

Summary

Teach Yourself Russian Language, Life and Culture delves into the customs and ways of Russia and its inhabitants, taking a respectful yet lively point of view. Topics include government, arts, language, work, leisure, education, festivals and celebrations, and food. By asking questions such as "What kind of music is native to Russia?" this book invites you to examine fascinating aspects of another culture.

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
Note on transliteration	xi
Part one The making of Russia
What made Russia?	1	(23)
Geography
Origins of Russia
Invasion and despotism
The Romanovs
The Soviet Union: 1917-1945
From superpower status to the end of the USSR
The new Russia
The Russian language	24	(18)
The basics of the language
Dialects
Other languages spoken in Russia
Names and terms of address
Where Russian has come from and where it's going
Russian today: under threat or flourishing?
Part two Creative Russia
Literature and thought	42	(21)
Russia's literary roots
The 19th century
The Soviet period
Literature in the new Russia: freedom or new restrictions?
Art and architecture	63	(17)
Origins
Influence of the church
Westernisation
Development of national styles
Experimentation and revolution
The Soviet period
New freedoms?
Music and dance	80	(21)
Church music
Folk music and dance
Classical music
Innovation and revolution
Ballet
Popular music and dance culture
Festivals and traditions	101	(13)
Russia's year of celebration
Traditions of Russian life
Food and drink
Superstitions
Creativity in other spheres	114	(26)
Cinema
Theatre
Media
Science and technology
Progress in the name of Socialism
Space
Part three Living in Russia now
Politics and institutions	140	(27)
The transition: from one-party rule to Fledgling democracy
Russian politics since 1993
Political parties
Centre and regions
Elections and voters
State institutions
Symbols of Russia
The basics for living	167	(17)
Education
Health
Housing
Social welfare
Transport
Russians at work and play	184	(15)
The economy
Work and unemployment
Sport and leisure
The people	199	(19)
Who are the Russians?
Family, gender and sexuality
Religion
Russians in the newly independent states
Russia in the wider world	218	(11)
Relations with the West
Relations with neighbours
Russia's image
People to people: contact with the world
The future?
Taking it even further!	229	(2)
Appendix: some typical Russian dishes	231	(6)
Index	237