Volume 49, Number 17 · November 7, 2002
Scratch a Russian
By John Bayley
Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia
by Orlando Figes
Metropolitan Books, 544 pp., $35.00
In an early chapter of Tolstoy's War and Peace, Natasha, the young Countess Rostov, goes on a visit to 'Uncle,' an old family friend, once an army officer, who has 'gone native' and lives in a wooden cottage in the forest with his mistress, a comely serf from the local estate. After Natasha and her brother Nikolai have been regaled with rye-cakes, pickled mushrooms, and vodka, they hear the sounds of a balalaika, played by the local hunt servants. Uncle jumps up, seizes a guitar, and himself begins to play the accelerating rhythm of a Russian peasant dance. Natasha has never heard the folk song he is playing, but it arouses some instinct in her heart; and Uncle eggs her on to join in the dancing. Automatically she puts her arms akimbo and begins to execute the steps of the dance correctly, encouraged by the applause and laughter of Uncle and the hunt serfs.
Review, 3115 words
To read the full text of this piece, please choose one of the following options:
|
If you are already a subscriber to the Review's electronic edition, please sign in: |
To subscribe to the electronic edition, please press the button below. |
To purchase access to this article for $3, please press the button below. |