Journey from St. Peterburg to Moscow by Alexander Radishchev Translated by Andres Kahn and Irina Reyfman

 I have read many book of the Russian Library by Columbia University Press but Journey from St. Peterburg to Moscow

by Alexander Radishchev Translated by Andres Kahn and Irina Reyfman is incredible if you want to think a lot socially, politically trying to reach thanks to the deep thoughts of Alexander the essence of life this book is so recommended dear reader. 

The postal route through St.Peterburg to Moscow is the main protagonist, the best set Alexander could have thought at: why? Because many encounters with different people for social status and experience are more than probable, with the luggage of life that very person brings with him/her: this one is a voyage in the society, exploring social and political problems, virtues and sins of people but also good feelings. 

Every chapter means a new city or town, a new tale, a new story, a new place to discover with great intensity and emotion. 

I think at the chapter where an old father says good-bye to his children wishing them the best and at the same time explaining to them and to the readers what it means to be a parent. A decent parent. Enchanting pages and enchanting words.

Humane nature is complicated: close to the best father of the world that two children could have had, in the following chapter we discover a father, who is burying his son, but that in this case has been the responsible for the failures and illnesses and death of his son, because he poisoned his existence in many different ways, also before his arrival in this world. So putting this new life in danger.

I found interesting the chapter of freedom of press, where Alexander analyzes the various european countries with their own differentiations thanks also to internal or external tumults  and what it means to them freedom of press and so censorship. The author in fact tells that he had signed a petition for a free press.

We find fairy-tales told by third people met along the way: there are several interesting tales: the one of the man and oysters, the one of the vessel but also other stories; in a chapter  the interview with a peasant and their difficult conditions. The peasant and his relationship with the landlord; a chapter is dedicated to poetry: another one to a blind poor man. He donated him a ruble not just some kopecks and that poor man, now old, blind, once a soldier, refused that money. He asked for a scarf, because they spent a cold winter and he didn't have a scarf...

The peasants conditions return often.Why this? Because there was too much difference between the landlord, rich and powerful and the poor peasants. Peasants who were starved, like their own children, and treated without any kind of dignity.

Alexander Radishchev born in 1749 after the publication of this book in 1790 was arrested and sentenced to death: instead of being killed was deported in Siberia. Tsar Paul allowed him to return, Alexander I pardoned him. Alexander killed himself in 1802.

Highly recommended-

I thank Columbia University Press for the physical copy of this book.

Anna Maria Polidori