Volga blues : a journey into the heart of Russia / Marzio G. Mian ; translated from the Italian by Elettra Pauletto ; photographs by Alessandro Cosmelli.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mian, Marzio G., Author.

Contributor:

Pauletto, Elettra, translator.

Cosmelli, Alessandro, 1972- photographer.

Standardized Title:

Volga blues. English http://id.loc.gov/resources/hubs/f4f050d8-113c-ee3d-f254-e3056c29d44e

Language:

English

Italian

Subjects (All):

Mian, Marzio G--Travel--Russia (Federation)--Volga River Region.

Mian, Marzio G.

National characteristics, Russian.

Volga River Region (Russia)--Description and travel.

Volga River Region (Russia).

Volga River Region (Russia)--History.

Volga River (Russia)--History.

Volga River (Russia).

Russia (Federation)--History.

Russia (Federation).

Russia (Federation)--Politics and government--21st century.

Russia (Federation)--Social conditions--21st century.

Russia (Federation)--Foreign relations--Europe.

Russia (Federation)--Foreign relations--United States.

Genre:

Travel writing.

Physical Description:

xii, 289 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm

Edition:

First American edition.

Other Title:

Journey into the heart of Russia

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : W.W. Norton & Company, 2026.

Language Note:

In English translated from Italian.

Summary:

In this work of reported nonfiction, an Italian journalist travels undercover along the Volga River to document contemporary Russian society following the invasion of Ukraine and restrictions on foreign media. Framed as a historical and cultural journey, the narrative combines travel reporting, interviews, and analysis informed by Russian history and literature. Through conversations with a wide range of individuals, the author examines public attitudes toward war, nationalism, religion, and relations with the West, as well as perceptions of Russia's past and future. The book situates present-day Russia within longer historical, ideological, and cultural contexts and includes a map and black-and-white photographs.

Contents:

Part one: Passionarnost ; 1. The abbess at the source: "God does not suffer cowards" ; 2. The evil stepmother: "Death explains it all" ; 3. The philologist of the dead city: "The past is unpredictable"

Part two: Smuta: time of troubles ; 4. Dinner with the Chechen: "Fuck the '90s!" ; 5. The widow's izba: "Damn you, Pavel" ; 6. Among mercenaries: "Now let's take care of the Poles"

Part three: Na grani ; 7. The sausage oligarch: "Thanks for the sanctions!" ; 8. The Tatar merchant: "Allah roots for Putin" ; 9. In Lenin and Oblomov's neighborhood: "Today we ask ourselves again: What do we do?" ; 10. The island of pacifists: "Boys don't cry" ; 11. The batyushka of the steppe: "Let's burn it all down" ; Closing Credits.

Notes:

Original title: Volga Blues: Viaggio nel cuore della Russia.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-264) and index.

ISBN:

9781324111030

1324111038

OCLC:

1519450569