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Children’s World: Growing Up in Russia, 1890-1991
A pioneering history of the experiences of children during Russia’s most disrupted century
How a country views its children reveals a great deal about that country. This landmark history of childhood in twentieth-century Russia presents an enthralling and detailed picture of a society where childhood was celebrated everywhere but children’s real needs were often neglected by the state. Catriona Kelly, one of the foremost cultural historians of modern Russia, explores every aspect of children’s lives, including the stresses and joys of ordinary family life, friendships, sports and games, first love, clothing, and schools. She examines the experiences of children in institutions, orphanages, and Stalin’s camps, as well as the impact on their lives of such historical tragedies as revolution, civil and world war, and political purges. Based on unprecedented research in archives, hundreds of interviews, and the study of a huge range of newspapers, books, and pamphlets, the book has an immediacy which is startling. Over 100 illustrations sharpen the focus still more. Kelly weaves together information about the relationships between children and adults, prevailing ideas about childhood, and the actual experiences of children to create an unforgettable account of the intimate workings of Russian and Soviet society.
How a country views its children reveals a great deal about that country. This landmark history of childhood in twentieth-century Russia presents an enthralling and detailed picture of a society where childhood was celebrated everywhere but children’s real needs were often neglected by the state. Catriona Kelly, one of the foremost cultural historians of modern Russia, explores every aspect of children’s lives, including the stresses and joys of ordinary family life, friendships, sports and games, first love, clothing, and schools. She examines the experiences of children in institutions, orphanages, and Stalin’s camps, as well as the impact on their lives of such historical tragedies as revolution, civil and world war, and political purges. Based on unprecedented research in archives, hundreds of interviews, and the study of a huge range of newspapers, books, and pamphlets, the book has an immediacy which is startling. Over 100 illustrations sharpen the focus still more. Kelly weaves together information about the relationships between children and adults, prevailing ideas about childhood, and the actual experiences of children to create an unforgettable account of the intimate workings of Russian and Soviet society.
736 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 11, 2011
This is, in theory, in one book. In scope, argument, and layers, though, it is many books:
*A discussion of the influence of western ideas on theories of Russian childhood development before the Revolution;
*A study of early Revolutionary ideas of childcard;
*An analysis of the entwining of state and society in Soviet childcare, especially under Stalin;
*A look at the evolution of child institutionalization practices in the Soviet years;
*A contemplation of roles within the Soviet family;
*An examination of inconsistencies in childcare between the 50s and 80s;
*A consideration of the history of gendered education, and theories of gender and sex, through the Soviet era.
To Kelly's credit, she does work with an enormous amount of evidence to discuss all of these topics thoroughly. Her only issue is putting it all together. With such an enormous scope, she can only come back to this thesis: That the only "Russian childhood" that existed was one within some geographic constraints, with a few repeating cultural trappings (like long-standing words as baby-talk) involved. In almost all ways, growing up in the Russian, then Soviet, empire, varied significantly based on the decade, one's location, one's gender, and one's social class. (Kelly points out repeatedly that class mattered, despite claims otherwise.)
What's good:
*The importance of contextuality is underlined when Kelly shows history through children's eyes--glimpses of children as victims of the Leningrad siege, for example.
*The sensitivity to region/location as making differences between experiences
*The awareness of gender
What's an issue:
*The book is so comprehensive that it has to pull back at times--in the chapter on institutionalization, the book can't go as deeply as a monograph on orphans, for example, although one can see the author is tempted to do so.
*Inconsistency about sexuality. The book reflects a discussion of attitudes toward sexuality in its concluding chapter, and does tangentially refer to homosexual relationships. This thread could be explored further, however.
*A discussion of the influence of western ideas on theories of Russian childhood development before the Revolution;
*A study of early Revolutionary ideas of childcard;
*An analysis of the entwining of state and society in Soviet childcare, especially under Stalin;
*A look at the evolution of child institutionalization practices in the Soviet years;
*A contemplation of roles within the Soviet family;
*An examination of inconsistencies in childcare between the 50s and 80s;
*A consideration of the history of gendered education, and theories of gender and sex, through the Soviet era.
To Kelly's credit, she does work with an enormous amount of evidence to discuss all of these topics thoroughly. Her only issue is putting it all together. With such an enormous scope, she can only come back to this thesis: That the only "Russian childhood" that existed was one within some geographic constraints, with a few repeating cultural trappings (like long-standing words as baby-talk) involved. In almost all ways, growing up in the Russian, then Soviet, empire, varied significantly based on the decade, one's location, one's gender, and one's social class. (Kelly points out repeatedly that class mattered, despite claims otherwise.)
What's good:
*The importance of contextuality is underlined when Kelly shows history through children's eyes--glimpses of children as victims of the Leningrad siege, for example.
*The sensitivity to region/location as making differences between experiences
*The awareness of gender
What's an issue:
*The book is so comprehensive that it has to pull back at times--in the chapter on institutionalization, the book can't go as deeply as a monograph on orphans, for example, although one can see the author is tempted to do so.
*Inconsistency about sexuality. The book reflects a discussion of attitudes toward sexuality in its concluding chapter, and does tangentially refer to homosexual relationships. This thread could be explored further, however.
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May 24, 2008Orphan Alert! Dear God - what was I thinking?! Well, I wasn't- i was in harvard square - bookstore nirvana, looking for a big fat sleepy time book. This is defined as something that is of medium interest, a place or thing I've never thought of, and is not something I have to evaluate or pass serious judgement on - as a librarian I have to do this enought already. It can't be a mystery because then i have to sty wake to the end. The whole goal is to calmly read myself to sleep....was i out of my mind!? i simply do not do orphans any way shape or form, prisons, starvation, zoos, anything with words - touching, pathos, tragicomedy, and then pick up a 3 inch book on Russian Children. It took a bit of time before I realized what I was into becasue I alwys start these kinds of books in the middle but then i starte reading backwards and boom - on to half.com it went.
Here is one take-away: These are Russian folktales called skazki which somehow went under the commie radar. This is a place in Russian history where for a time the best writers said their piece about the system and the best artists did their stuff. ok - i did learn something.
Here is one take-away: These are Russian folktales called skazki which somehow went under the commie radar. This is a place in Russian history where for a time the best writers said their piece about the system and the best artists did their stuff. ok - i did learn something.
October 11, 2009
This is one of my oral exam readings that my adviser told me to read. Amazing research. I only had 4 hours for this 500+ page book, but I will certainly come back to this, especially the chapters on the starlinist era. It is just a little too huge.
August 30, 2009
Tasty erudition.
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March 29, 2010 Main HQ792.S65 K45 2007
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews