Working Through History

There is an interesting history behind the picture (taken by Valery Bliznyuk, who we profile on page 18) on the cover of this issue. Local lore has it that, in the early 1700s, the Virgin Mary appeared to local residents of Solovetsky Island near where this structure now stands. In the vision, she told them that they should build a monastery and church here and call it the Second Golgotha, because one day this site would be glorified by martyrs.

The monastery and church were built and functioned for two hundred years. But in 1922 they were closed when Solovetsky became one of the first Soviet camps for political prisoners. Subsequently, many victims of the camps—martyrs all—were buried near the site of this 200 year old prophecy.

Russian history is rich with such unexpected touchpoints.

While one of our goals with Russian Life is to focus on contemporary issues (and contemporary individuals—like our 100 Young Russians to Watch series), many of our articles are concerned with history. This is because, like the late, respected historian Bruce Lincoln (see review, page 52), we feel that one of this magazine’s most important tasks is to tell the story of Russia’s past, that we may all better understand Russia’s present.

We are repeatedly amazed, whenever we take up a little-known historical topic (for instance, Tsar Paul I, as on page 41 of this issue), how little there is in either the specialized or general literature that is “approachable.” There may be glosses in encyclopedias here, detailed academic treatises there, but nothing that explores, in a readable way, for non-specialists, the significance of this event or personage.

In our historical stories we try to dig deep enough so that the story has substance, so that it goes somewhere new, but not so deep that we lose ourselves, or our readers, in the process. It can be a fine line to walk, and I have taken the space here to explain our pursuit so that you, our readers, can help “keep us honest.” Let us know how we are doing, whether we are slicing too deep or being too superficial. And let us know what kinds of stories we are not writing that you would like to see.

Of course, we face an entirely different challenge when it comes to better-known subjects, like the Trans-Siberian railroad (stories begin on page 29). When a subject is well covered elsewhere, we try to veer onto a siding somewhere and present a unique angle. So, in addition to a short historical overview of the railway, we decided in this instance that it would be interesting to print a travel essay about the weeklong ride by someone who knows no Russian and is not a “dyed in the wool” Russophile. The result is an interesting and rather unique view of this legendary ride.

Aside from these two major stories (and our usual wealth of “departmental” material), we continue our series on Young Russians to Watch. With this issue’s close, we will have presented you with 41 of our eventual 100 profiles. Each individual has a fascinating story to tell, the kind of story about Russia you just don’t see very often in the New York Times or Newsweek. But then we have this unusual conviction that news about Russia doesn’t have to be bad to make it worth reporting.

This isn’t to say we shy from reporting bad news (e.g. some of the Facts and Figures in this issue, or the Post Script editorial). We just find that, in the larger context of things, it is more interesting and worthwhile to celebrate life than to denigrate it, to focus on the part of the glass that is half-full than the part that is half-empty.

Let us know if you agree, and how we are doing. Meanwhile, enjoy the issue!