Conversations on Russian Culture: Everyday Life and Traditions of the Russian Nobility (18th — Early 19th Century)

This book by the distinguished philologist and semiotician Yuri Mikhailovich Lotman is an in-depth study of the daily life, customs, and traditions of the Russian nobility from the eighteenth century to the beginning of the nineteenth century. The author examines diverse facets of noble culture—from nuances of behavior and etiquette to literary salons and ball culture—revealing the complex world of the Russian aristocracy of that era. Grounded in a rigorous analysis of historical sources, the work offers not merely a description of daily life, but an exploration of the period’s cultural codes that illuminates the worldview and values of the Russian nobility. The book has become a classic study on the history of Russian culture and an essential reference for understanding the literature and art of the “Golden Age.”