12020-09-19T21:26:58-04:00Rose Gotlieb6c3e2c511096da97aa32a54e53b398109cac1a5981Photograph of the outside of the Kremlinplain2020-09-19T21:26:58-04:00Rose Gotlieb6c3e2c511096da97aa32a54e53b398109cac1a59
This page is referenced by:
12020-09-17T10:31:23-04:00Envy 35-4419Yury Oleshaplain2020-12-10T12:51:52-05:00pg. 36 - Shapiro Solomon Shapiro is a character in Envy. Olesha uses antisemitic stereotypes in describing Shapiro, which might indicate the attitude at the time surrounding Jews.
pg. 37 - Tyrolean hat A type of German hat made of felt with a pin on the side. Looks slightly childish, which may relate to Babichev's characterization.
pg. 39 - the Palace of Labor The Palace of Labor, first conceptualized in 1922, was never built. It would have contained libraries, workers organizations, an auditorium, a cafeteria, and other facilities for workers. Now the Moscow Hotel stands in the place it would have been built. This is one of many buildings that were never constructed, such as the Palace of the Soviets and the Pantheon of Glory. It may be relevant to the satirical nature of the book that a building that was supposed to be a symbol of Soviet ideals but was never constructed is pictured in this scene.
pg. 39 - the Kremlin The Kremlin was the residence of both Lenin and Stalin and is located in Moscow. It is made up of many different buildings. Prior to the Soviet period, it served as the Tsar's Moscow residence.
pg. 41 - Tiepolo Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770) was an Italian Rococo painter, particularly emphasizing the light in Rococo art. Much of his work was religious in theme. Later in life, he moved towards more secular themes. He reached fame early on in his life, which may relate to Nikolai's desire for fame.
pg. 43 - Otto Lilienthal Otto Lilienthal (1848-1896) is largely considered to be the first successful aviator. He was a German mechanical engineer, and died in a glider crash--this may be why Nikolai states that he "killed himself" on page 43. His work was largely based on birds/other natural phenomena of flight, and inspired the work of the Wright brothers.
12020-10-07T11:18:55-04:00The Aviator 253-2794Eugene Vodolazkinplain2020-12-21T19:42:53-05:00pg. 257 — Alexandr Blok An accomplished Symbolist poet and playwright. He was born in St. Petersburg in 1880. One of his more successful pieces is the Verses about the Beautiful Lady (1904).
pg. 257 — Kremlin The palace in Moscow that has housed the heads of state for some time. It was used for this purpose for the Tsar, the head of the Soviet regime, and is now home to Vladimir Putin.
pg. 258 — Yuri Gagarin The first man and citizen of the Soviet Union in space. He completed Earth orbit in 1961, which was a huge milestone in the space race.
pg. 269 — Yelagin Island An island at the mouth of the Neva River in St. Petersburg. It is home to almost nothing but Yelagin Palace.
pg. 273 — Yusupov Palace The Yusupov (or Moika) Palace was once the home of the head of the House of Yusupov in St. Petersburg. Interestingly, it is the site of Grigori Rasputin's murder.
pg. 279 — Michaelangelo's Dying Slave Created between 1513 and 1516, Dying Slave is one of two statues meant to stand outside the tomb of Pope Julius II but is held at the Louvre. Art historian Richard Fly says it "suggests that moment when life capitulates before the relentless force of dead matter."
pg. 279 — White Sea-Baltic Canal One of many Soviet Great Construction Projects that were built under Stalin it was originally named the Stalin White Sea-Baltic Canal. It connects the White Sea with the Baltic Sea via Lake Onega.