Russia has a rich, huge, unwieldy cultural tradition. How to engage it? This pathbreaking classroom reader was designed to respond to that challenge. The literary works selected for inclusion in this anthology introduce the core cultural and historical themes of Russian civilization. Each text has resonance throughout the arts - in Rublev's icons, Meyerhold's theater, Mousorgsky's operas, Prokofiev's symphonies, Fokine's choreography, and Kandinsky's paintings. They are supported by introductions, helpful annotations, bibliographies of resources, and a companion multimedia CD that brings the anthology's cultural references to life. Intended for courses in Russian literature, Russian culture and civilization, and comparative literature, the anthology; introduces Russian literature from the Igor Tale to village prose; integrates literature into the larger fabric of history, culture, and the arts; presents both new and classic translations, with helpful annotations; elucidates historical and cultural contexts and thematic continuities and variations; features useful resource guides to related works in all media; includes an interactive multimedia CD with a background narrative, historical and biographical information, and vivid excerpts from "great performances" of Russian film, music, dance, theater, and graphic arts