As I haven’t got my cards sorted according to seasons (or colour), I just randomly flickered through one of my postcard albums to see if anything caught my eye…
RU-2004202 (2013)
RU-2602689 (2014)
Both these cards are from the estate Yasnaya Polyana in Russia, about 200 km south of Moscow, where the Russian author Leo Tolstoy was born (in 1828). It was also here that he wrote his famous novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina. (Yes, I have read them both!) Tolstoy called the place his “literary stronghold”. His grave is also nearby (he died in 1910). The estate is now a museum – including his library of 22,000 volumes. (He can’t have read them all, can he??)
(The name Yasnaya Polyana means “Bright Glade”.)
love the name Bright Glade and it is perfect for that spot. the fall color is beautiful to....
ReplyDeleteI agree on both points, Sandra!
DeleteNo, he could not have read them all. But I bet he wanted to. Shame on me, I have read neither! Very pretty postcards!
ReplyDeleteNothing to do with post cards but War and Peace is probably, apart from C P Snow's Strangers and Brothers novels that I have read three times (and in the case of War and Peace in three different translations). I only reed Anna Karenina twice.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed. I'm pretty sure I never read War and Peace more than once; and that was in this century, and mostly as audio book (although I bought a second-hand printed copy of the text as well). I also rencently watched a British TV series based on it, though. Anna Karenia I probably read twice. The copy in my bookcase was again bought 2nd hand not too many decades ago; but I think I recall reading it far back in my teens as well.
DeleteNo wonder Tolstoy was able to write, living in such surroundings as the frst card shows. I often wonder how many books I have read - if you count books dipped into for reference purposes. If I am re-incarnated I must make a note from the beginning!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat would be impossible, John! I also would like how many books I've read in my whole life. I started to count them only two years ago.
DeleteWell, of course if you count "dipping into"... hmm... I never even considered keeping note of that! (I'm hoping for a huge library in heaven including all the good books I've not had time to read yet...)
DeleteI like the postcards and also the information you shared. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Monica! I'm sorry my visit is late and thanks so much for participating :)
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame that I haven't read any Tolstoy! I have always been curious about his books so I'm taking a mental picture of his literary stronghold (thanks to your postcards) and will think of these the next time I come across his books.