Russian Houses

by Elizabeth Gaynor, Elizabeth Gaynor

Russian Houses offers an unprecedented look at the architecture and interiors of Ostankino, the Menshikov Palace, and other homes of the princes and czars. The rough-hewn beauty of traditional peasant homes--with their samovars, stoves, and ornate exteriors--is portrayed with knowledgeable and insightful authority. The breathtaking photographs and evocative text guide the reader through the homes of Pasternak, Gorky, Dostoevsky, and other artists and intellectuals. Over 300 full color photographs.

Genres: Russia, Art, Architecture, Design, History, Nonfiction

287 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1991

Reviews

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so much fun to use these gorgeous photographs as fodder for the houses I imagine when I read Russian novels. If I could, I'd frame some of these images. But it's a library book. Of the four sections (Provincial Life, Imperial Palaces, Golden Age, Contemporary Life), Contemporary Life is my favorite.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and informative book, though one that is very emphatically written for a Western audience (and with a bit of a habit of referring to "the Russians" as a near-monolith). The text for this edition was clearly written before the fall of the Soviet Union, and of course even the "contemporary" section is now essentially a historical document. Worth looking through even if mainly for the photos.