Africa in Russian imperial culture race, empire, and representation (1850-1917) Anita Frison

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Frison, Anita, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Russians--Attitudes.

Civilization.

Imperialism.

Sub-Saharan Africa.

Russia.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK Open Book Publishers [2026]

Summary:

"This volume uncovers how Sub-Saharan Africa was imagined in Russian culture from 1850 to 1917. Drawing on travelogues, ethnographic studies, fiction, and museum collections, Anita Frison reveals how Russia-though lacking formal colonies in Africa-nonetheless engaged deeply with Western colonial discourse. Organized around themes of Strangers, Lands, Bodies, Collectors, and Disguises, the book explores how Russians represented African peoples, landscapes, and artifacts to negotiate questions of race, empire, and national identity. Challenging the notion of Russian 'exceptionalism', this book demonstrates that imperial attitudes toward Africa often prefigured Soviet anticolonial rhetoric, whilst simultaneously relying on the colonial paradigm. Richly documented and interdisciplinary, this study offers fresh insights for scholars of history, literature, and postcolonial studies, while remaining accessible to curious general readers"-- Publisher's website

Contents:

Strangers. Russians discover Black Africa

Lands. Towards a virtual appropriation of the continent

Bodies. Black people under Russian scrutiny

Collectors. African material culture on display

Disguises. Black Africa at the service of the arts

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's website, April 8, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version: Frison, Anita Africa in Russian imperial culture

ISBN:

9781805117681

1805117688

9781805117704

180511770X

9781805117698

1805117696

OCLC:

1574808967

Access Restriction:

Some versions Open access versions available from some providers open access