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I Once Came Across a Remarkable Letter from the Jewish Writer Vergelis to the Party Bureau of the Union of Soviet Writers of the USSR on the "Vicious Peculiarities" of Jewish Literature

I once came across a remarkable letter from the Jewish writer Vergelis to the Party Bureau of the Union of Soviet Writers of the USSR on the "vicious peculiarities" of Jewish literature. The author surveys the work of several Jewish writers: Hofstein, Albirt, Fefer, Der Nister, Bergelson, Dobrushin,

Archive · Books · Moscow · Observations · Society

In 1949 Alexandr Alexandrovich Fadeyev, then General Secretary and Chairman of the Board of the Writers' Union, appealed to Stalin with a proposal to close the Yiddish-language almanacs and dissolve the associations of Jewish writers

In 1949 Alexandr Alexandrovich Fadeyev, then General Secretary and Chairman of the Board of the Writers' Union, appealed to Stalin with a proposal to close the Yiddish-language almanacs and dissolve the associations of Jewish writers. The letter from the Department of Propaganda and Agitation of the Central Committee

Wooden doll with movable arms and legs on a transparent stand in a museum display with burgundy fabric.

NB! · Archaeology · Museums · Rome

Wooden doll with movable limbs from the sarcophagus of a Roman girl of the 2nd century, found in 1889

This toy was found in 1889 in the sarcophagus of a 17-year-old Roman girl who died in the 2nd century AD. The beautifully preserved wooden doll has articulated limbs and a gold ring on the index finger of its left hand

Archive · Books · Ethnography

“At first we could not understand why so many reindeer were being driven across the tundra to Arkhangelsk

“At first we could not understand why so many reindeer were being driven across the tundra to Arkhangelsk. The soldiers escorting us said that military units would be organised. We still did not understand what sort of military units could be made of reindeer. Among us there were Nenets, Komi,

Archive · Society · Ethnography

On 20 November 1941 the State Defence Committee resolved:

"To call up from the national economy of Arkhangelsk Region, the Komi ASSR and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug: reindeer drivers (kayurs), 1,400 men; reindeer, 10,000 head; sledges (narts), 500. The conscripts are to be sent to the disposal of the Arkhangelsk Regional Military Commissariat, to arrive

Books · Society · Nature · Ethnography

Reindeer transport units of the 14th Army in the Arctic during the war

"In the first winter of the war, reindeer transport units began to be organised in all the divisions of the 14th Army. Sámi, Nenets and Komi served in them. The reindeer were often used not only for evacuating the wounded and delivering military supplies, but also for inserting scouts

Two antique black leather shoes on stands in a museum display, one with straps and a buckle.

NB! · Museums · Observations · People · Humour

Talleyrand's orthopaedic shoes that compensated for his lameness

Talleyrand's celebrated shoes, compensating, as far as may be, for his lameness. One thing can be said: in 200 years orthopaedics has come a very long way.

NB! · Art · Mores · Pop Culture · Humour

As You Will Understand, the Enema and the Little Lapdog Were Equally Significant Fashions of the Eighteenth Century

As you will understand, the enema and the little lapdog were equally significant fashions of the eighteenth century. Jean-Frédéric Schall

NB! · Art · Mores · Humour

Do you know what distinguishes an elegant and fashionable lady from a common bourgeoise?

Do you know what distinguishes an elegant and fashionable lady from a common bourgeoise? A tiny dog that watches attentively as the lady is given an enema. Pierre-Antoine Baudouin

Hand-coloured fashion plate of a man in a blue tailcoat, pale pantaloons and gaiters, holding a hat in his hand.

NB! · Paris · Pop Culture · Humour

Parisian men's costume of the early 19th century in a Costume Parisien fashion plate

The Parisian suit is when one hand is, quite literally, in the trousers. Fashion and the hardships of male existence

NB! · Aristocracy · Monarchies · Heritage

The tiara originally belonged to Queen Victoria's granddaughter Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein, who had no children, and after her death in 1956 the jewel passed to her godson, the Duke of Gloucester

NB! · Aristocracy · Monarchies · Pop Culture

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