This morning I booked a solo July trip to Russia. I’ve long been fascinated by the country (the Hermitage! the Bolshoi!) and can’t wait to experience it first hand. I’ll be there for six days, splitting my time between Moscow and St. Petersburg, and want to visit all the best sites. In preparation for my Russian adventure I’m going to be doing a lot of reading. Below is a rather ambitious Russia reading list (the only one I’ve tackled thus far is Anna Karenina–so good!). Any additions you’d suggest…? Have you been to Russia? As always, I would love to hear your tips on what to see and do!
Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman
A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel
Natasha’s Dance: A Cultural History of Russia
Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia
The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra
St. Petersburg: Architecture of the Tsars
The Girl from the Metropol Hotel: Growing Up in Communist Russia
Peter the Great: His Life and World
Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing
The Hermitage Museum: Treasures from the Complete Collections (the malachite!)
The Empress of Art: Catherine the Great and the Transformation of Russia
The Madonnas of Leningrad: A Novel
Bolshoi Confidential: Secrets of the Russian Ballet from the Rule of the Tsars to Today
Nicholas and Alexandra: The Classic Account of the Fall of the Romanov Dynasty
