Russian Life

All articles are very well illustrated and are written at a level that can appeal to both the casual and the dedicated Russophile. I enjoy the magazine on one level, and my Russian born wife enjoys it on a very different level, with the main point in common being that we both read it from cover to cover.

I love the short little factoids that they also include each issue, and even find the advertisements interesting!

Lastly, they have an annual Russian calendar that I've been buying in copious quantities each year - excellent for personal use and for gifts! A great magazine from a great company, and about a once-great and potentially great-again country.

bimonthly pleasure
Datum 2003-01-25 Rang: 10 von 10

Just for the Western russophile, "Russian Life" is a glossy bimonthly magazine of approximately 70 pages. It is published in America, in English. Each issue features sumptuously illustrated articles on a variety of cultural, geographical, historical topics, as well as current events. For example, the latest edition (Jan, Feb '03) features lead story "Through Muslim Eyes", a sympathetic look at Moscow's Moslem community following the terrorism at Nord-Ost. Islam is the second largest religion in Russia, and most of its followers oppose the Wahhabists behind the extremist violence in Chechnya. Also in the current issue: a World War ll history of Marina Raskova's all-female combat aviation regiments; a look at restoration efforts of the famous Amber Room in the Catherine Palace; and a biography of Konstantin Tsyu, the boxing legend from the Urals. Regular departments of the 46-year-old publication include travel, language and other Slavic studies, satire, product reviews, and business news. One of my favorites, the Cuisine section, currently offers a recipe for "sbiten". This is a hot drink made with spices and honey, which was popular for centuries on cold winter days. Street vendors carried hot-coal samovars called "sbiteniki" strapped to their backs and pot-bellied mugs dangling from their aprons; while alcohol-spiked sbiten could be bought at taverns and kiosks. Since the turn of the 20th century, tea has replaced sbiten as the beverage of choice. But Russian Life's sbiten recipe is easy to make and very tasty! The magazine for the most part avoids political controversy and focuses on this kind of human interest content. If you've been to Russia or you're planning to go, or if you simply love Russian culture, I recommend "Russian Life". My only complaint, the articles are too short and the magazine doesn't come often enough! However, each story lists additional sources for further reading, and it is possible to also subscribe to the weekly Russian Life newspaper "Russkaya Zhizn".

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