The Catherine the Great: A Panorama of Capital Life. Book 1
The Catherine the Great: A Panorama of Capital Life. Book 1
14.99 €
M. Gordin's book "Catherine's Century," the first volume in the "Bygone Petersburg: A Panorama of Capital Life" series, explores the distinctive features of Petersburg customs in the second half of the 18th century.
The city in question was the most open and hospitable in Russia at the time. It was a global crossroads where turbulent and vibrant aspirations, ideas, and destinies collided—a haven for professional daredevils and adventurers, a whirlwind of incredible adventures, a hub of fabulous luxury.
The book describes in detail the lives of two Petersburgs. The first was the capital of a formidable empire, a city of haughty nobles, a shady police force, cunning officials, merchants and artisans humiliated by the barons, and dumb peasants. The second was a noble paradise, where gentlemen were allowed to serve or not serve at their own discretion, travel the world, and read works banned even by the French censors.
While working on the book, the author drew on a variety of sources—memoirs, diaries, letters, newspaper advertisements, archival documents, as well as descriptions of St. Petersburg published by contemporaries, particularly foreign ones that had not been translated into Russian.
The book contains over one hundred illustrations.
The city in question was the most open and hospitable in Russia at the time. It was a global crossroads where turbulent and vibrant aspirations, ideas, and destinies collided—a haven for professional daredevils and adventurers, a whirlwind of incredible adventures, a hub of fabulous luxury.
The book describes in detail the lives of two Petersburgs. The first was the capital of a formidable empire, a city of haughty nobles, a shady police force, cunning officials, merchants and artisans humiliated by the barons, and dumb peasants. The second was a noble paradise, where gentlemen were allowed to serve or not serve at their own discretion, travel the world, and read works banned even by the French censors.
While working on the book, the author drew on a variety of sources—memoirs, diaries, letters, newspaper advertisements, archival documents, as well as descriptions of St. Petersburg published by contemporaries, particularly foreign ones that had not been translated into Russian.
The book contains over one hundred illustrations.
See also:
- All books by the author
- All books in the series Former Petersburg