Book Talk: Recording Russia

Recording Russia examines scenes of listening to "the people" across a variety of texts by Russian writers and European travelers to Russia. Gabriella Safran challenges readings of these works that essentialize Russia as a singular place where communication between the classes is consistently fraught, arguing instead that, as in the West, the sense of separation or connection between intellectuals and those they interviewed or observed is as much about technology and performance as politics and emotions.

Gabriella Safran, Senior Associate Dean, Humanities and Ars, Eva Chernov Lokey Professor of Jewish Studies, Stanford University