Aristocracy · Society · People
Skobelev was disliked in high society, evidently for his popularity, though they added that he was too Russian: a peasant's grandson. The general was invariably reproached for his love of the common man. The way he treated his soldiers is astonishing. Once, in a field camp, he noticed
Archive · Books · People
Nemirovich-Danchenko describes an episode from the Turkish campaign, during the distribution of St George Crosses, when General Skobelev refused an officer from one of the companies that had wavered in battle. “YOU may well deserve it; let them recommend you for a personal cross. But now I am giving
Archive · Society · People
In his lifetime Skobelev was called the White General for his love of white uniforms and white horses, and the wreath from the General Staff Academy at his funeral bore the inscription: “To the hero Skobelev, commander, the equal of Suvorov”. Indeed, since Suvorov no other commander had enjoyed such
NB! · Archive · Books · People
V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko (the brother) described the life of his friend General Skobelev. The biographical details in the book are rather meagre, but the accounts of the military campaigns are thorough, and there are extracts from letters
NB! · Art · People · Humour
Bad hair day of Arthur *I'm better than your wife, after all* Rimbaud. A drawing by the celebrated artist Henri Fantin-Latour (1836-1904), who had Russian roots on his mother's side and was known for his independence
NB! · Architecture · Monarchies · Heritage · Saint Petersburg
Archive · Architecture · Faith · Heritage
The Church of the Saviour at Nereditsa stood on territory held by our troops, on the line of defence, and for several months the Nazis shelled it from the other bank of the Volkhov, from artillery positions in the Yuriev Monastery. V. F. Antonov, the church's long-standing
NB! · Archive · Architecture · Faith · Heritage
NB! · Archive · Architecture · Faith · Heritage
Architecture · Faith · Heritage · Society
During the war Novgorod was almost destroyed: the Nazis wrecked the white-stone monasteries and churches, monuments of the 11th and 12th centuries. One of the first stone structures in Rus', the Cathedral of St Sophia in the Novgorod Kremlin, was disfigured beyond recognition: its interior was reduced to
NB! · Archive · Heritage
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