Happiness Two old men pass the night sharing tales of buried treasures, wondering at the happiness they might bring. Meanwhile, they are seemingly unaware of the beautiful treasures of nature that surround them in the here and now. Fiction
Our Transcription and Dating System Where we explain how Russian Life deals with the knotty issues of transcription and dates, and what our standards are. Holidays Reference
The Same Old Story To leave home, a boy must cope with his mother’s anguish. She cannot understand why he would leave behind the happiness of the known to the uncertainty of the unknown. Excerpted from a newly released translation published by Bunim & Bannigan. Fiction
Notes at the Front Musicians have not been spared from the criminalization of protest and expression. We also share Ilya Yashin's final words. Dissent Music War
Person to Person A traveler shares a story from his personal life, to show how a chance interaction gave him a new perspective on contentment and happiness. Fiction
The Book of Happiness The Book of Happiness, loosely based on Nina Berberova’s years spent living in Paris, follows the heroine Vera as she struggles through life abroad with a dying husband. After his passing, Vera meets a stranger who opens her eyes to what it means to be truly content. Fiction
Anna Belova, scientist If Anna Belova looks to you a lot like Vera Gregorieva on the facing page, don’t be surprised. Not only are they sisters, they are twins. And they are both neurologists. 100 Young Russians
Anna Karenina In these excerpts from Tolstoy’s classic novel, we check in on Anna, Vronsky, Levin and Kitty after all have made their respective romantic choices. None, save perhaps Kitty, are realizing the happiness they dreamed of, but at least two of them will overcome this. Fiction
Anastasia Volochkova, ballet dancer There is a Russian proverb “It is better to be born happy than pretty.” Bolshoi Prima Ballerina Anastasia Volochkova, 26, is lucky enough to be both. And young to boot. 100 Young Russians
Birch An excerpt from Darra Goldstein's new cookbook, Beyond the North Wind, in which she ruminates on the place of birch in Russian culture, food, and history. Customs Food & Drink History
Domestic Bliss Zoshchenko addresses the “women’s emancipation” effort that led to the creation of canteens, kindergartens and other social services meant to free women from traditional housework and thereby grant them a happy and dignified life. Fiction
A Traveler's Tale In this quixotic tale within a tale, Tolstoy (who himself had a history of artistic opportunism) explores the experiences of a “superfluous man” whose life spans the Civil War and Revolution, who at once longs for his happy, carefree life before 1914, while reveling in how war “fans the soul.” Fiction
