Writer Leo Tolstoy in a relaxed position at the railway station, 1909. Russian literature of that time is busy clarifying the relationship between a man and a woman (with a dog, or not) in high society. The worker, the peasant, the soldier are presented as passing, insignificant figures. In the noble nest, the young lady reprimands her husband, “Well, why, why didn’t you know how to understand me?” – at that time, one must assume, a peasant child dies nearby, without medical assistance. The latter simply falls out of sight of the literary aristocrats. The young nobleman bypasses the homes of “his” peasants, criticizes them for the wretchedness of life and morals. Definitely, Leo Tolstoy himself is indignant when an elderly and sick peasant, that’s terrible, asks for permission to sit down in the presence of the landowner. The topic of the centuries-long enslavement of Russians by Russians is considered not so forbidden, but definitely not comme il faut. Silence awakens the terrible Beast
Grocery store of pre-revolutionary Russia. It seems now earlier morning. In the foreground – fish and canning departments. Next – groceries and fruit. Come in, we have everything for you. Or do you not like the smell of fish? Catfish, kilogram 20 kopecks., Salmon 80 kopecks., Black granular caviar, kilogram 3 p. 50 kop., Red 2 p. 50 kopecks If you are a good worker, a liter pot of first-class caviar is the essence of your two-day salary. In addition, across the road is the Venskoye draft beer, 10 kopecks a liter. Today is a day off, you can walk
Shop of the Russian electric society “Dynamo”. Department of lamps. Fontanka Embankment 65, 1911. The look pleases the abundance of electric lamps of various designs. After 10 years, the Bolsheviks create a legend about their exceptional role in the electrification of Russia. The so-called “Illich lamp” is an incandescent lamp whose cartridge is attached to the ceiling and hangs down. The lampshade of such a lamp is missing. The switch, if any, is located in the body of the cartridge
Petersburg, Liteyniy Prospekt 43, 1914. As can be seen, with taste, high-quality outdoor advertising does not spoil, as they say now, the “historical appearance of buildings”. The appearance of Russian stores, their quite rich content is not inferior to the same establishments in London, Paris, Berlin or Vienna… Let’s walk here with an attractive man of the opposite sex? Dear young lady, do you know that I am from the future? Yes, the year 2019. Would you like to ask me anything? About the revolution?
The Russian national bourgeoisie before the October Revolution of 1917 were, in general, quite good, prudent and hard-working people. But the Russian bourgeois are not the vanguard of the revolutionary movement, as in Europe. Some of them are trying to direct the process of social transformations, donating money to terrorists, Social Revolutionaries, Bolsheviks. However, steel is stronger than gold. In such an interaction, the one who holds a revolver or bomb in his hand soon becomes the main one. The offspring of Russian industrialists, merchants do not want to get involved in the intrigues of intrigue. They do not have their own, secret or explicit organization. The purpose of life is to meet a lady from high society, go to a restaurant, organize a chic party, and the like. Photography – bourgeois of Chelyabinsk, 1910
The king, who was fenced off from the people, his closest circle, the family, subconsciously, nonetheless, are looking for some common points with common people. At this time, Grigory Rasputin, a native of Tobolsk Province, the son of a driver and, perhaps, not an ordinary person, travels a lot around Russia, visits Mount Athos and Jerusalem. He arrives in Moscow, where the bishops accept him. They spread a rumor about the abilities of “God man.” The good news reaches the ears of the Empress. At the tea party, November 1, 1905, the first meeting of the emperor and ladies of high society with Rasputin takes place. Further meetings with the entire imperial family are held once a month. Not that the king loved the pilgrim with all his heart, but he is the only one who can calm Alix’s tantrums with his power. Gregory publishes readable works for his time – “The Life of an Experienced Wanderer”, “My Thoughts and Thoughts”. Among the prophecies of 1916, the most important thing is the testament: “… I feel that I must die before the New Year. But I want, nevertheless, to reveal to the Russian people, the Father, Mother Russian and the Children, what they have to do. If I will be killed by simple robbers, by my brothers, Russian peasants, then you, Tsar of Russia, do not be afraid, stay on the throne and rule, and do not fear for your children, for they will reign for another hundred years and beyond. If the nobles kill me, then my blood will remain in their hands, and they will not be able to wash it off for 25 years (until 1941). They will have to leave Russia. Then the brothers will kill the brothers, and kill each other. And 25 years will not be nobles in the state. … If your relatives lead to my death, then no one from your family – neither children nor relatives will survive in two years. They will all be killed by the Russian people …». Photography – Rasputin in the aristocratic circle
In 1912, the Second Balkan War begins. Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro push the Great Porto, strive to pinch off a piece and from each other. The forces of the parties – Turkey 475 thousand people, the Balkan Union – 620 thousand. Battles are fierce. In the course of the first time go combat aircraft; they drop bombs on ships. The Balkans besieged the native Turkish cities, approaching Istanbul, bring turmoil into the souls of the Ottomans, give rise to a political crisis. The losses are 30 thousand people killed on each side. Turkey is losing its possessions in Europe. Serbia never gets access to the sea. Now it is hampered by Albania, which was formed from the “nobody’s” territory, as well as Austria-Hungary, which has entered for this newly formed country. Russia collects donations, provides the Balkan Union of volunteer pilots, makes diplomatic efforts, but, by and large, does not interfere in the conflict. The reason for this – the influence of Grigory Rasputin on the king. Exhortations of the “common man” put off the beginning of the First World War for two years. Photography – Serbian guns in a combat position
Serbia and its surrounding countries in 1913. More recently, on the site of Albania and Macedonia, the possessions of the powerful Ottoman Empire extended. Serbia is freed from the protectorate of Porta, seizes land inhabited by recollected peoples, but, at the insistence of Austria-Hungary, stops at some distance from the coveted Adriatic Sea. This situation is very, very disliked by the Serbs. Radical sentiments are ripening in society. The government cannot and does not seem to want to fight the ubiquitous terrorist organization Black Hand.
Peter L. Bark (1869—1937), ethnic Balt, the last Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire, the initiator of the introduction of the inhuman “Prohibition”. What should he say if it suddenly became possible? It is a pity, he probably will not hear you, now he will turn around and tapping with a cane, podachaet in the restaurant “Maxim”. Since 1920, Peter L. is in perpetual emigration. Next, the ex-minister accepts British citizenship, is awarded the title of knight and baronet. Photography – Peter Bark, Paris, 1915
On July 12, 1914 in the village