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Between Heaven and Hell
s/t: The Story of a Thousand Years of Artistic Life in Russia
This slim volume tackles an overwhelming subject: 1,000 years of Russian achievements in the arts, from medieval ikons to the novels of Tolstoy to the films of Eisenstein. Much has been written about the subject over the years, but Lincoln poses himself a slightly different task: to depict not so much the history of Russian arts as the history of the country's "artistic experience," including the "social and political forces" that shaped artistic creation. Author of such histories as Romanovs and Nicholas I, Lincoln ably provides the context such a task requires. Unfortunately, Lincoln's purple prose can sometimes be distracting. No one ever seems to merely wear a medal, they wear it "proudly"; a building is not simply painted turquoise when it can be "brilliant" turquoise. Here, for instance, is Lincoln on the music of Rimsky-Korsakov: "Oceans churned, storms thundered, the sun sparkled in wintry forests, and in the new warmth of spring nightingales sang and golden fish leaped from crystal streams." Overall, however, Lincoln's marriage of history and the arts is a happy one, demonstrating how the peculiarly Russian tension between East and West and between politics and the arts helped produce artistic works that were both uniquely beautiful and uniquely Russian.
This slim volume tackles an overwhelming subject: 1,000 years of Russian achievements in the arts, from medieval ikons to the novels of Tolstoy to the films of Eisenstein. Much has been written about the subject over the years, but Lincoln poses himself a slightly different task: to depict not so much the history of Russian arts as the history of the country's "artistic experience," including the "social and political forces" that shaped artistic creation. Author of such histories as Romanovs and Nicholas I, Lincoln ably provides the context such a task requires. Unfortunately, Lincoln's purple prose can sometimes be distracting. No one ever seems to merely wear a medal, they wear it "proudly"; a building is not simply painted turquoise when it can be "brilliant" turquoise. Here, for instance, is Lincoln on the music of Rimsky-Korsakov: "Oceans churned, storms thundered, the sun sparkled in wintry forests, and in the new warmth of spring nightingales sang and golden fish leaped from crystal streams." Overall, however, Lincoln's marriage of history and the arts is a happy one, demonstrating how the peculiarly Russian tension between East and West and between politics and the arts helped produce artistic works that were both uniquely beautiful and uniquely Russian.
528 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 23, 2020
When you know a subject well, you're likely to be a little more exacting in your critique and wanting a little something extra from a general work. I love Russian arts, especially the period from, say, Dostoevsky, up through NEP, especially the avant-garde music and poetry. You'll get some of that in this work, but probably not enough if you know a lot about it. For the layperson, this work is just fine. You'll learn a lot, probably more than you have room for in your aesthetic sensibilities, and will likely discover a lot of new stuff you've never heard of. For the non-beginner, you'll find some shocking shortcomings: Shostakovich reduced to a few pages (along with the superior Prokofiev); all those weird art movements are barely touched upon (all the -icists), and, perhaps the greatest, most sinful omission, Tarkovsky isn't even mentioned?!?? Isn't Andrei Rublev the greatest movie ever made?
Like I said, if you know and love Russian art, the negatives will seem to outweigh the positives. If you are interested in learning about Russian art, you couldn't find a better place to start.
Like I said, if you know and love Russian art, the negatives will seem to outweigh the positives. If you are interested in learning about Russian art, you couldn't find a better place to start.
July 23, 2026
When this book came out in 1998 Kirkus review wrote:
'A Russian historian explores 1,000 years of Russian art within the context of ongoing political repression and brutality and a search for Russian identity. Lincoln (The Conquest of a Continent, 1993, etc.), whose writings are usually focused on political history, here presents a grand synthesis of Russia's artistic life in an effort to illuminate the ongoing struggles that paved the road to that country's enduring masterpieces. Lincoln's densely footnoted history will be welcomed by those seeking a comprehensive overview of Russian arts. But those seeking deeper insight or a new interpretation of Russian artistic life will be disappointed. As its title suggests, this volume leans heavily on exaggerated and dramatic frameworks. Conflicts and debates that have determined Russian political and artistic development for centuries dominate the narrative but do not lend it direction or depth. Thus, themes such as the ``eternal Russian dilemma'' of being caught between East and West, the chasm between Russia's elites and her masses, and the ongoing struggle against censorship and brutal political repression appear more as self-fulfilling prophesies than as real explanations for artistic endeavours. The chronically overwritten style detracts from Lincoln's narrative (Russian folk motifs were ``elevated into the artistic stratosphere'' by works of art; Crime and Punishment ``catapulted him [Dostoyevsky] to the pinnacle of greatness''), which is also marred by an overly passionate veneration of Russian national culture, revering the achievements of 19th-century Russia as the result of their uniquely Russian character. Flawed in its conception and narrative style, Lincoln's sweeping consideration of artistic life in Russia nevertheless offers a stimulating read because of the sheer power of its subject matter.'
They were not the only ones with reservations and now over a quarter of a century later I would highly recommend anyone interested read this only as beginning and look to newer books for real insight. I would warn any student to be careful of using it as reference source.
'A Russian historian explores 1,000 years of Russian art within the context of ongoing political repression and brutality and a search for Russian identity. Lincoln (The Conquest of a Continent, 1993, etc.), whose writings are usually focused on political history, here presents a grand synthesis of Russia's artistic life in an effort to illuminate the ongoing struggles that paved the road to that country's enduring masterpieces. Lincoln's densely footnoted history will be welcomed by those seeking a comprehensive overview of Russian arts. But those seeking deeper insight or a new interpretation of Russian artistic life will be disappointed. As its title suggests, this volume leans heavily on exaggerated and dramatic frameworks. Conflicts and debates that have determined Russian political and artistic development for centuries dominate the narrative but do not lend it direction or depth. Thus, themes such as the ``eternal Russian dilemma'' of being caught between East and West, the chasm between Russia's elites and her masses, and the ongoing struggle against censorship and brutal political repression appear more as self-fulfilling prophesies than as real explanations for artistic endeavours. The chronically overwritten style detracts from Lincoln's narrative (Russian folk motifs were ``elevated into the artistic stratosphere'' by works of art; Crime and Punishment ``catapulted him [Dostoyevsky] to the pinnacle of greatness''), which is also marred by an overly passionate veneration of Russian national culture, revering the achievements of 19th-century Russia as the result of their uniquely Russian character. Flawed in its conception and narrative style, Lincoln's sweeping consideration of artistic life in Russia nevertheless offers a stimulating read because of the sheer power of its subject matter.'
They were not the only ones with reservations and now over a quarter of a century later I would highly recommend anyone interested read this only as beginning and look to newer books for real insight. I would warn any student to be careful of using it as reference source.
May 7, 2021
How to you compress/express a thousand years of Russian artists and their art in 450 pages? I don’t know, but Lincoln manages to do it. He gives overviews of artistic periods as well as what is going on politically. He also tells stories about the lives of specific artists, some well known in the West. Others not so well known. He covers a lot of the arts. Surprisingly I found his focus on architecture of the greatest interest. But Lincoln taught me new things about writers such as Tolstoi snd Dostoyevskii. I have two complaints. I wish there were more color reproductions of the beautiful art Lincoln talks about. I also wish Lincoln had written a final chapter summing up the 1000 years between heaven and hell. Also, more on Brodsky! (Ok, that’s three complaints. A great place to start if you know little about Russian history and the arts. And even if you do know a lot about the subject, this book is a great refresher course.
March 30, 2025
I undertook a Russian art elective while studying at art school and was fortunate enough to have a brilliant lecturer in the field. They included this book to the recommended reading list. It has contributing factor in a lifetime love of Russian art. Would definitely recommended to beginners and students of the field.
August 29, 2024
Came away from this book with countless new ones to read. Came away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the novels I have read and a curiosity and excitement for the many I have not.
The sheer amount of ground covered in these pages is dizzying— a cross section of all manner of artists. The painters of realism, romanticism, baroque, Avant- garde, primitivism, cubo-futurist ?!, constructivism, rayonism.
Moving quickly through the centuries— artists and their contemporaries, their successors, their inspirations.
Hundreds of names waltz across the pages; framed by the context of their cultural and political place in time. Such as the mad burst of creativity during the early days of the Bolshevik Revolution when it was still uncertain what the future would look like // before Russia’s new leaders condemned it as “decadent”. Just as Ivan the terrible had decreed that art must serve the state, so Lenin demanded that art must serve the Revolution.
A great crash course for anyone curious about the evolution of art through history in a country that has given us so many greats.
The sheer amount of ground covered in these pages is dizzying— a cross section of all manner of artists. The painters of realism, romanticism, baroque, Avant- garde, primitivism, cubo-futurist ?!, constructivism, rayonism.
Moving quickly through the centuries— artists and their contemporaries, their successors, their inspirations.
Hundreds of names waltz across the pages; framed by the context of their cultural and political place in time. Such as the mad burst of creativity during the early days of the Bolshevik Revolution when it was still uncertain what the future would look like // before Russia’s new leaders condemned it as “decadent”. Just as Ivan the terrible had decreed that art must serve the state, so Lenin demanded that art must serve the Revolution.
A great crash course for anyone curious about the evolution of art through history in a country that has given us so many greats.
July 31, 2013
A sweeping, marvellous overview of a thousand years of Russian history that is largely unknown and misunderstood in the West. Lincoln is a master of narrative history, drawing the reader into the lives of artists, as if they, too, have a seat around the samovar and are sharing tea. The ending is a little abrupt -- perhaps reflecting the uncertainty and upheaval of the formation of the new Russian Federation, and perhaps in acknowledgement that a new epoch in artistic history is about to begin, but had not, at the time of printing, really gotten underway. Overall, an excellent, informative read, and a must for anyone interested in Russian art and culture.
October 29, 2008
This goes into the history of the arts in russia- which is pretty cool since I've admired russian writers in particular and thought this book would give me insight into them.
It's a stiff read, but I'm trying.
It's a stiff read, but I'm trying.
Read
July 31, 2008Partially read
Did Not Finish
October 16, 2018When I’m a hundred pages in and we’re well into the 1800s, it’s not even five hundred years of history. Given I was significantly more interested in the early period than the later, done.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews