Books · Observations · Nature
If bellua is some very large beast, then bestia is any dumb, unreasoning animal, fera a wild beast, and pecus, ǒris any animals kept by humans
Such is Latin
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NB! · Books · Observations · Humour
Mishima out of context
Mishima out of context. Do we agree?
Interviews · Books · People
Translator Mikhail Rudicky on Kafka's prose and its likeness to Pushkin's
Kafka is a prose writer of genius. His narrative voice is clear and pure, full-toned, and, strange as it may seem, reminiscent of Pushkin's prose! Only Pushkin was drawn towards harmony, whereas Kafka was drawn away from it. "The Castle", for instance, reminds me of
Books · Society
Eduard Asadov’s poem “Dream of the Ages” on the struggle of freedom against violence
Ever since man first rose upright above the earth, And lived, and loved, as nature bids, According to science, among mountains and rivers, In that distant, almost primeval age,— There lived and flourished freedom in the world. But the forefather who took the hide and the meat, Leaving his comrade
Archive · Books · Observations
Art historian Vsevolod Petrov in his diaries on love for K. and for books
I think only of books. What do I have? Nothing but books. What would I wish for? Books. And only K. do I love more than books, because for her I am ready not merely to refrain from buying books but even to sell my own, so as to buy
Books · Monarchies · Mores · Education
Mirror for Princes: a genre of medieval literature written to instruct rulers, containing precepts and recommendations for dukes, princes and inexperienced kings
Thus a French Speculum Principis of the early sixteenth century contains the counsel not to "speak against the sun" and not to "make water facing the sun"
Archaeology · Books · Rome
Archaeologists find remains of Caligula's portico in the gardens of Agrippina the Elder in Rome
In Rome, on Piazza Pia, archaeologists have discovered the remains of Caligula's portico. The emperor had this portico built in the gardens of his mother, Agrippina the Elder (the granddaughter of Augustus and the daughter of Agrippa, his closest associate). The gardens occupied almost the whole of the
NB! · Archive · Books · People
Tolkien used Tengwar, the script he devised for the legendarium of The Lord of the Rings, for entries in his weekly desk calendar
Books · Monarchies · People
Mikhail Lomonosov on the merits of the Russian language among European languages
Charles the Fifth, Emperor of Rome, used to say that one should speak Spanish with God, French with friends, German with the enemy, and Italian with the fair sex. But had he been skilled in the Russian tongue, he would surely have added that one may fittingly speak it with
Archive · The East · Books · People
Alexandre Dumas's journey through Russia and the Caucasus in 1858 and 1859
Alexandre Dumas in a Circassian coat during his three-month stay in the Caucasus. Dumas père travelled through Russia in 1858 to 1859, having come at the invitation of the patron of the arts Count Kushelev-Bezborodko, who is called the prototype of the Count of Monte Cristo, and, for
In the Press · Books · Moscow · Museums · Heritage
New director Vladimir Tolstoy plans to complete restoration of the Khamovniki estate
In a recent interview with Kommersant, Vladimir Tolstoy, who a month ago took up the post of Director General of the Leo Tolstoy State Museum, spoke of the main tasks awaiting him in his new office. The first item on the new director's list of priorities is to
Aristocracy · Cinema · Books
A fine occasion today to recall the magnificent 1963 screen adaptation of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's novel “The Leopard”, on the life of the aristocratic Salina family amid the political and social upheavals of the Risorgimento in Italy
Civil war is breaking out in Italy. On one side stand the republicans, adherents of Garibaldi; on the other, supporters of the ruling Bourbon dynasty. Alain Delon plays Tancredi, nephew of the central character, Prince Salina, who embodies the aristocracy in the face of fatal change. Prince Salina is played