Russian Madness: Insanity in 19th century Russia
Your Instructor
PhD Candidate in Russian Studies
Princeton University
Being an incorrigible bookworm and a night owl with a penchant for foreign languages, it was but a matter of time that I would land in some literature department. I was born in Barcelona, Spain, where I graduated with a BA in German and Russian literatures. After a few years in industry, I moved to Chicago to earn a MA in Digital Humanities from uChicago, before going back to Europe for a MPhil in Slavonic Studies at the University of Oxford. Currently, I am earning a PhD in Slavic Studies at Princeton. In my doctoral research, I focus on translation, intertextuality, Symbolism, and literature and the scenic arts. I believe that there is no better observatory of mankind than literature, and I enjoy welcoming others into that observatory.
What you'll learn
Acquire an overview of the main authors of the Golden Age of Russian Literature by engaging directly with their texts
Understand the idiosyncrasies of Russian literature and their connection with the Russian context in which it emerged
Explore some of the main devices and strategies employed by literature to comment on our social, political, economic or existential reality
Russian Golden Age: Sentimentalism, Romanticism, Realism (from early to late), early Modernism
Course Schedule
Our first madman is not a madman, but a madwoman: the young and naive peasant Lisa, the protagonist of the homonymous sentimental novella, Poor Liza by Nikolay Karamzin (1766-1826), a writer, poet, critic, and historian. Written right at the turn of the century, in 1792, Poor Liza introduced Sentimentalism to Russia. The novella was first adored, and then mocked by successive Russian writers.
What You Get
Live interactive sessions
Engage in real-time discussions with expert instructors
Small discussion groups
Maximum 15 students for personalized attention
Session recordings
Review and revisit class content anytime
Dedicated platform
Track progress and organize your schedule
Frequently asked questions
Your Instructor
PhD Candidate in Russian Studies
Princeton University
Being an incorrigible bookworm and a night owl with a penchant for foreign languages, it was but a matter of time that I would land in some literature department. I was born in Barcelona, Spain, where I graduated with a BA in German and Russian literatures. After a few years in industry, I moved to Chicago to earn a MA in Digital Humanities from uChicago, before going back to Europe for a MPhil in Slavonic Studies at the University of Oxford. Currently, I am earning a PhD in Slavic Studies at Princeton. In my doctoral research, I focus on translation, intertextuality, Symbolism, and literature and the scenic arts. I believe that there is no better observatory of mankind than literature, and I enjoy welcoming others into that observatory.