Understanding Moscow through Literature, History, and Film

book for understanding Moscow fair gum The Moscow Book Festival, held on Red Square, 2021

Fyodor Tyutchev once said that “Russia cannot be known by the mind” – but perhaps Moscow can be known through literature and historical surveys? A conversation on the popular listserve SEELANGS led to many experts volunteering some of their favorite works about the city of Moscow. This curated selection encompasses a vast array of resources, including novels, poems, historical studies, and films, offering a multifaceted exploration of the city across time.

Poems

 

Children of Arbat books moscow Novels and Plays

History and Academic Works

boris akunin moscow books

In Russian

 

Films

 

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About the Author

Josh Wilson

Josh has been with SRAS since 2003. He holds an M.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in History from Idaho State University, where his masters thesis was written on the political economy of Soviet-era censorship organs affecting the stage. He lived in Moscow from 2003-2022, where he ran Moscow operations for SRAS. At SRAS, Josh still assists in program development and leads our internship programs. He is also the editor-in-chief for the SRAS newsletter, the SRAS Family of Sites, and Vestnik. He has previously served as Communications Director to Bellerage Alinga and has served as a consultant or translator to several businesses and organizations with interests in Russia.

Program attended: All Programs

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