A Monumental Anniversary

Two hundred years ago this summer, Russia and the U.S. first established diplomatic relations. It is a highly significant anniversary: two of the world’s largest and most influential countries opening up diplomatic channels (the first U.S. ambassador to Russia – John Quincy Adams – later went on to become the sixth U.S. president), but it will likely get little fanfare in U.S. media this summer, except perhaps as a news peg on which to hang discussion of the latest chill in the two countries’ bilateral relations. 

For our part, we are kicking off our celebration of this anniversary by dedicating this entire issue of Russian Life to the Russian-American relationship. But we are doing it in our own, quirky way. Not through an encyclopedic recounting of the two centuries of U.S.-Russian relations, but by telling some interesting stories which separately, and as a whole, offer a glimpse into the complex history which entwines Russia and America.

It so happens that this issue also coincides with a few rather salient “round” anniversaries of Russian-Americana. The first concerns our cover story on Sitka, Alaska. It was on October 18, 1867 – 140 years ago this fall – that the official Alaskan handover ceremony took place, Russia having sold the territory to America for $7.2 million. Russia had been in the Americas for over 120 years, and Sitka (then Novo-Arkhangelsk) had been the capital of Russia’s colony. For our story, we asked some local residents to take us on a tour of their town, reflecting on the Russian influences still present today. Their story is on page 28.

Second, 30 years ago this July, one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, Vladimir Nabokov, went to his final rest. It is astonishing how fluently Nabokov straddled the Russian and American cultures and literatures (page 44). Yet one wonders if he would have become such a poignant writer of fiction, had he not been forced into emigration. Indeed, the recurring themes of separation, nostalgia and exile which pervade his work offer an invaluable glimpse into the 20th century’s many migrations from Russia to America. 

Third, Igor Stravinsky, whom Ilya Ovchinnikov has called the greatest composer of the 20th century, was born 125 years ago this summer (page 36). The amazing multifacetedness of Stravinsky’s work is akin to the many areas of Nabokov’s expertise – both were true geniuses and testaments to the good that can come from the mixing of Russian and American cultures.

Before Andrei Harwell came to us with the story of Churaevka (page 52), we knew nothing of that utopian Connecticut community. And yet it is just a few hours’ drive from our offices here in Vermont. Partly because of this, we set about creating a virtual map of interesting Russian-American locales in North America. You can find a link to this project (and suggest additions) on our website.

The final feature in this issue is about a less benign migration –  beetles from the American Southwest to Russia. Aided by factory farming, war and industrialization, the Colorado Potato Beetle (page 39) has become a scourge in Russia. Other countries have successfully brought the pest to heel, and one cannot but wonder if a bilateral U.S.-Russian effort could turn things around. (It would certainly be more product than trading barbs and accusations about missile defense systems, Kosovo, Iraq and Chechnya.)

In any relationship, there are beetles and butterflies, Gogolian spats and Tolstoyan love affairs. The trick is to not let the inevitable irritants and errs of everyday overshadow the achievements and alliances of more historic dimensions. The mix of our cultures has given birth to some amazing things that warrant celebration. That is what this issue, and indeed this magazine, is all about.

Enjoy the issue.