Nikolai Tolstoy
A Genial Man Despite His Humble Origins
Anton Chekhov: A Life
By Donald Rayfield
HarperCollins 704pp £25
The opening of the Russian archives following the collapse of the Soviet regime has wrought the summary demise of much scholarly work on the history of the twentieth century. It is not in Soviet studies alone that the effect has been felt, however, as restored intellectual freedom begins to realise the vast range of treasures becoming accessible. Soviet obscurantism meant that nineteenth century and earlier history had also been occluded by censorship or official discretion.
A disproportionate number of great Russian writers and artists were drawn from the ranks of the nobility. Anton Chekhov was, like Gorki, a relative exception, since he came from very humble origins indeed. His grandfather Egor had managed by dint of hard work and lack of scruple to amass sufficient
Sign Up to our newsletter
Receive free articles, highlights from the archive, news, details of prizes, and much more.@Lit_Review
Follow Literary Review on Twitter
Twitter Feed
London's East End was long synonymous with poverty and sweatshops, while its West End was associated with glamour and high society. But when it came to the fashion industry, were the differences really so profound?
Sharman Kadish - Winkle-pickers & Bum Freezers
Sharman Kadish: Winkle-pickers & Bum Freezers - Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style; Fashion City: ...
literaryreview.co.uk
In 1982, Donald Rumsfeld presented Saddam Hussein with a pair of golden spurs. Two decades later he was dropping bunker-busting bombs on his palaces.
Where did the US-Iraqi relationship go wrong?
Rory Mccarthy - The Case of the Vanishing Missiles
Rory Mccarthy: The Case of the Vanishing Missiles - The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the United States and the ...
literaryreview.co.uk
Barbara Comyns was a dog breeder, a house painter, a piano restorer, a landlady... And a novelist.
@nclarke14 on the lengths 20th-century women writers had to go to make ends meet:
Norma Clarke - Her Family & Other Animals
Norma Clarke: Her Family & Other Animals - Barbara Comyns: A Savage Innocence by Avril Horner
literaryreview.co.uk