What do the origins of the words glasnost, perestroika, sputnik or samovar tell us about Russia and the Soviet Union?
This book provides an overview of the history and culture of the largest country in the world by selecting one hundred Russian words and discussing their links to specific events or historical periods. In this highly original format, a series of linguistic snapshots offers a montage of Russia's thousand-year-old story and its inextricable connections with the Russian language. Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, the Romanov dynasty, Trotsky and Stalin all feature in these pages, but so do everyday items which shed unusual light on aspects of social and cultural history, such as avos'ka (string bag), boroda (beard), kalita (purse) and varezhki (mittens).
Crammed full with both historical and etymological information, this book also includes fascinating facts about Russian writers, performers and musicians. Perfect for readers with a passion for all things Russian or for those wishing to learn more about this complex and engrossing country.
Sprache
Verlagsort
Illustrationen
23 Illustrations, black and white
Maße
Höhe: 198 mm
Breite: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-85124-591-8 (9781851245918)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Alexander Tulloch is a linguist, translator and author. His previous books include 'It's All Greek' (2018) and 'Just the Job' (2020). He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
Contents
Introduction
Russia in 100 Words
Further Reading
Russian Collections in the Bodleian Libraries
Index
