MARY CONWAY applauds the revival of a tense, and extremely funny, study of men, money and playing cards
Patterns of Russia: History, Culture and Spaces
Accessible and informed insights into the ‘lands of the Rus’
ENGAGING ACCOUNT: (L to R) Isaak Levitan, Eternal Peace, 1894; Dormition Cathedral in Vladimir, detail of the surprisingly unthreatening Last Judgement fresco by Andrey Rublyov and Daniil Chorniy, 1408; St Petersburg, south bank of River Neva, with the dome of St Isaac’s cathedral, 1818–58
MEHDI ACHOUCHE explores the constant fascination of cinema with Marxist alienation from Fritz Lang and Chaplin to Bong Joon Ho
FIONA O’CONNOR steps warily through a novel that skewers many of the exposed flanks of the over-privileged
MARY CONWAY applauds the study of a dysfunctional family set in an Ireland that could be anywhere
MICK MCSHANE is roused by a band whose socialism laces every line of every song with commitment and raw passion
New releases from Mountain, Soul Asylum and Michael McDermott
ALEX HALL is disgusted by the misuse of ‘emotional narratives’ to justify uninformed geo-political prejudice
A SERIES of reflections on the interrelationships between culture, history and place, Patterns of Russia makes no attempt to be comprehensive. It is a surprisingly personal account but nonetheless interesting for that.
Its author, Robin Milner-Gulland, writes in a relaxed and conversational style, covering the huge subject matter in a pleasurably engaging and jargon-free fashion.
Influences from different civilisations over the past two millennia are skilfully referenced throughout, highlighting the multicultural areas of influence that eventually created the “lands of the Rus.”
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