The Firebird and the Fox: Russian Culture Under Tsars and Bolsheviks (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781108484466)

Showcasing the genius of Russian literature, art, music, and dance over a century of turmoil, within the dynamic cultural ecosystem that shaped it, The Firebird and the Fox explores the shared traditions, mutual influences and enduring themes that recur in these art forms. The book uses two emblematic characters from Russian culture - the firebird, symbol of the transcendent power of art in defiance of circumstance and the efforts of censors to contain creativity; and the fox, usually female and representing wit, cleverness and the agency of artists and everyone who triumphs over adversity - to explore how Russian cultural life changed between 1850 and 1950. Jeffrey Brooks reveals how high culture drew on folk and popular genres, then in turn influenced an expanding commercial culture. Richly illustrated, The Firebird and the Fox assuredly and imaginatively navigates the complex terrain of this eventful century.

Author: Jeffrey Brooks
ISBN-10: 1108484468
ISBN-13: 9781108484466
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 10/24/2019
Pages: 346
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.55lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.20w x 0.90d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 06/01/2020