Cinema · Books · Observations

Gurilyov’s romance and Baratynsky’s elegy “Razuverenie” as sung by Larisa

Remember when Kharita Ignatyevna was teaching Larisa how to handle wealthy suitors, and she took up her guitar, sat down by the window and sang "Matushka, golubushka, solnyshko moe, Pozhalei, rodimaya, dityatko tvoe!" What, in essence, does this romance by Gurilyov, to words by Nikormsky, signify? On the

Books · Moscow · Museums · Mores

In Pushkin, a Singing Girl with a Guitar Tries to Lure the Eligible Bachelor Lensky:

They call the neighbour to the samovar, And Dunya pours the tea; They whisper to her: "Dunya, mind your manners!" Then they bring in the guitar too: And she starts to squeak (good God!): Come to my golden palace! Literal translation Here the guitar is a sign of

NB! · Faith · Art · Moscow · Observations · Humour

Tell me, why does even Van Dyck's Preparation for the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian remind me of the unbearable Moscow heat?

Faith · Monarchies · Society

Regent Maria Christina's decree of 1834 finally abolished the Spanish Inquisition

On 15 July 1834 the last remnants of the Spanish Inquisition ceased to exist. On that day a decree was issued by Maria Christina, Regent of Spain, finally abolishing the Inquisition throughout the empire. On the mainland the Inquisition had already been shut down under Napoleon's Joseph Bonaparte,

Archive · Books · Mores · People

A Memorial Plaque to Vladimir Chertkov, Friend, Editor and Publisher of Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy

Many Tolstoys, for understandable reasons, do not care for Chertkov, the closest friend, confidant, fellow thinker and comrade-in-arms of Lev Nikolayevich. To appreciate Chertkov's place in Tolstoy's life, it is enough to recall that their correspondence fills five volumes of Tolstoy's collected

Portrait of a dark-haired man with a moustache, wearing a dark coat, a burgundy waistcoat and a white cravat.

Aristocracy · Art · Science · People

Portrait of a man by the painter Philip de László

Portrait of the French Aristocrat, Industrialist and Scientist Armand de Gramont, Duc de Guiche (1879-1962) Artist: Philip de László

Monarchies · Paris · People

Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte:

at the time of his victory in the election of France's first president on 10 December 1848 // at the time of the coup d'état of 2 December 1851

Aristocracy · In the Press · London · Monarchies

Rumours that the title of Duke of Edinburgh may not pass to Edward

The English press debates whether Prince Charles will defy the wishes of his late father: who is to inherit the title of Duke of Edinburgh, Edward, Earl of Wessex, as Prince Philip bequeathed it, or Charles after all, to whom it belongs by seniority? It was said as long ago

Benches and tables made of wooden pallets stand on a pavement among trees and dry grass. Beyond are a street with cars and pale multistorey buildings.

NB!

Pallet benches on a city street in front of apartment buildings

Observations · Society · Paris · Humour

The Mayor of Paris's self-description in a keynote speech and a list of criticisms of her

Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, has hinted at her participation in the 2022 presidential election with a rather theatrical declaration:. "I am a woman, I am the daughter of an immigrant, I am French, I am a mother of three children, I have three grandchildren, I am a Parisian,

Black and white portrait of a young woman with long tousled hair in a knitted sweater, looking to one side.

Coming Up · Cinema · Pop Culture

Tilda in two films at the Cannes Festival, Memoria and The French Dispatch

Tilda Swinton at 27 ❤️. A reminder that this year we shall see Tilda in two films at once at the Cannes Film Festival: Memoria by the independent Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul and The French Dispatch by Wes Anderson

Faith · Observations · Society · Humour

The Church of England to apologise for the persecution of Jews in the thirteenth century, WHEN IT DIDN'T EVEN EXIST

What next: will Sergio Mattarella apologise for the Punic Wars? *Of course, the Church of England regards itself as the successor of the Catholic Middle Ages on English soil, and antisemitism in the island's religious tradition was hardly confined to the period 800 years ago, but sometimes a

Alexandr Radayev