Latest news with #RussianLiterature
Russia Today
17-05-2025
- General
- Russia Today
Mikhail Bulgakov: How a terrible Russian tragedy shaped this legendary writer's fate
On May 15, 2025, we commemorate the 134th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Bulgakov, one of the most enigmatic and precise chroniclers of the Russian tragedy of the twentieth century. Today, he stands as a literary giant, but in 1919, Bulgakov was merely a young military doctor, wading through blood, mud, and despair. His journey into literature didn't begin quietly in an office, but amid the chaos and flames of Russia's Civil War. In the twilight of a collapsing empire, Bulgakov the writer was forged. Bulgakov was born in Kiev into the cultured family of a theology professor at the Kiev Theological Academy. His early years were filled with intellectual curiosity, warmth, stability, and a comfortable upbringing. After earning his medical degree in 1916, the young doctor and his wife Tatyana were immediately thrust into the brutal realities of World War I. Bulgakov found himself on the front line during the Brusilov Offensive, where he encountered mass human suffering for the first time. The experience left an indelible mark on him, as he tirelessly treated countless wounded soldiers. Later, assigned to an isolated rural outpost, he endured prolonged boredom, loneliness, and despair, which was vividly captured in his works 'A Young Doctor's Notebook' and 'Morphine.' The February Revolution of 1917 reached Bulgakov during a brief return to Kiev. At first, he saw only minor changes, but soon, the familiar world he cherished began to collapse. When Bulgakov returned again to Kiev in February 1918, he found his city transformed into a violent arena engulfed by civil war, starkly different from the peaceful haven of his youth. In a brief, chaotic span, Kiev witnessed fourteen changes of power, ten of which Bulgakov personally experienced. The bloody Bolshevik invasion under Commander Muravyov in February 1918, which resulted in thousands of deaths, cemented Bulgakov's profound hostility towards Bolshevism. Following the Bolshevik retreat, German troops occupied Kiev, bringing temporary stability until the armistice at the end of World War I. Immediately afterward, Kiev became a battleground contested by multiple factions: the Ukrainian nationalists led by Simon Petlyura, pro-German Hetman Skoropadsky's government, the Bolsheviks, and the Russian White Guards. These chaotic and tragic events later became the backdrop for his novel 'The White Guard.' Bulgakov and his brother Nikolai fought as part of the Russian volunteer forces, attempting to protect their beloved city from Petlyura's advancing troops. Kiev eventually fell to the Ukrainian forces, forcing the Bulgakov brothers underground. When Bolshevik forces returned and attacked Petlyura's troops in February 1919, Bulgakov was forcibly mobilized by the retreating Ukrainians as a military medic, narrowly escaping amid gunfire back into Kiev. Now under Bolshevik rule, Bulgakov again was forced into hiding, spending half a year living cautiously under Soviet control. When the Bolsheviks withdrew in August 1919 under pressure from advancing Whites and Ukrainian forces, Bulgakov was conscripted by General Denikin's Volunteer Army, which he sympathized with. Soon afterward, he was dispatched south to the Caucasus, where another brutal conflict awaited him. In the autumn of 1919, severe fighting erupted in the North Caucasus between the White Army and the newly declared North Caucasus Emirate, led by the local warlord Uzun-Haji. This Islamic monarchy, under the influence of the Turkish Sultan, also collaborated with the Bolsheviks, who skillfully exploited Islamic sentiment with slogans such as 'For Soviet Power and Sharia.' Serving as chief medical officer for a Terek Cossack regiment, Bulgakov experienced firsthand the intense fighting between Denikin's forces and separatist fighters. Each village turned into a brutal battlefield. He vividly recorded his emotions in his story, 'The Extraordinary Adventures of a Doctor': 'The darker it gets, the more frightening and oppressive it feels… In the velvet darkness, uncertainty reigns. There is no rear area.' This narrative was not literary embellishment but an authentic record of his trauma. During one particularly fierce battle for the village of Shali, Bulgakov attempted to save a colonel who was mortally wounded in the abdomen. Beneath an oak tree amid the chaos of gunfire and exploding shells, the dying officer said simply, 'Don't bother comforting me. I'm no child.' Moments later, a shell exploded nearby, concussing Bulgakov and knocking him unconscious. When he awoke, it was to the grim realization that war had permanently altered him. Driven by a profound need to process his experiences, Bulgakov turned to writing. In November 1919, he published his first article, 'Future Prospects,' where he vividly described Russia's tragic state. He portrayed the revolution as catastrophic, cautioning that the country faced years of immense struggle ahead. Despite the bleakness, Bulgakov called for sustained resilience, cautioning his comrades against premature optimism and arrogance. Thus began his career as a wartime journalist. He saw his role as fostering a realistic perspective among soldiers and officers of the White Army, striving to eliminate false bravado and self-deception. Meanwhile, he continued treating wounded soldiers at the Vladikavkaz military hospital, remaining acutely aware of the human cost of the conflict. Bulgakov was never militaristic; in fact, he despised war profoundly. Both the First World War and the Civil War were heavy burdens for him. Yet, his deep love for Russia and his profound sense of duty compelled him to remain committed despite his personal aversion to war. By March 1920, the White Army, once advancing victoriously toward Moscow, was retreating chaotically toward the Black Sea under relentless Bolshevik pressure. During the disastrous evacuation of Novorossiysk to Crimea, Bulgakov and Tatyana were still in Vladikavkaz, preparing to evacuate alongside the army hospital. However, fate intervened cruelly. Bulgakov contracted typhus, a deadly disease rampant during the Civil War. A doctor sternly warned Tatyana that transporting him would certainly result in his death. Knowing full well the risks of staying behind under Bolshevik rule, Tatyana nonetheless made the courageous decision to remain and nurse her husband back to health, ultimately saving his life. When Bulgakov recovered, Vladikavkaz was already under Bolshevik control – a harsh reality that devastated him deeply, causing him initially to blame Tatyana for their entrapment. Thus, in March 1920, Bulgakov found himself trapped in Soviet Russia. After recovering from his illness, Bulgakov realized that escape was impossible and turned wholeheartedly to writing. Concealing his past as a White Army supporter, he carefully navigated Moscow's literary circles, determined to build his literary career. His harrowing wartime experiences – Kiev's tragic downfall, the horrors of the Caucasus, and witnessing death firsthand – profoundly influenced his literary works. These became the foundations for pivotal pieces like 'Morphine,' about addiction and fear; 'A Young Doctor's Notebook,' about isolation; 'The White Guard,' depicting a besieged home; and ultimately, 'The Master and Margarita,' exploring the fate of individuals crushed by the machinery of power and history. Thus, out of the chaos and tragedy of the Civil War, emerged Mikhail Bulgakov – one of Russia's greatest literary figures, whose voice continues to echo powerfully, capturing the profound struggles of an era still felt 134 years after his birth.
Russia Today
16-05-2025
- General
- Russia Today
How a terrible Russian tragedy shaped this legendary writer's fate
On May 15, 2025, we commemorate the 134th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Bulgakov, one of the most enigmatic and precise chroniclers of the Russian tragedy of the twentieth century. Today, he stands as a literary giant, but in 1919, Bulgakov was merely a young military doctor, wading through blood, mud, and despair. His journey into literature didn't begin quietly in an office, but amid the chaos and flames of Russia's Civil War. In the twilight of a collapsing empire, Bulgakov the writer was forged. Bulgakov was born in Kiev into the cultured family of a theology professor at the Kiev Theological Academy. His early years were filled with intellectual curiosity, warmth, stability, and a comfortable upbringing. After earning his medical degree in 1916, the young doctor and his wife Tatyana were immediately thrust into the brutal realities of World War I. Bulgakov found himself on the front line during the Brusilov Offensive, where he encountered mass human suffering for the first time. The experience left an indelible mark on him, as he tirelessly treated countless wounded soldiers. Later, assigned to an isolated rural outpost, he endured prolonged boredom, loneliness, and despair, which was vividly captured in his works 'A Young Doctor's Notebook' and 'Morphine.' The February Revolution of 1917 reached Bulgakov during a brief return to Kiev. At first, he saw only minor changes, but soon, the familiar world he cherished began to collapse. When Bulgakov returned again to Kiev in February 1918, he found his city transformed into a violent arena engulfed by civil war, starkly different from the peaceful haven of his youth. In a brief, chaotic span, Kiev witnessed fourteen changes of power, ten of which Bulgakov personally experienced. The bloody Bolshevik invasion under Commander Muravyov in February 1918, which resulted in thousands of deaths, cemented Bulgakov's profound hostility towards Bolshevism. Following the Bolshevik retreat, German troops occupied Kiev, bringing temporary stability until the armistice at the end of World War I. Immediately afterward, Kiev became a battleground contested by multiple factions: the Ukrainian nationalists led by Simon Petlyura, pro-German Hetman Skoropadsky's government, the Bolsheviks, and the Russian White Guards. These chaotic and tragic events later became the backdrop for his novel 'The White Guard.' Bulgakov and his brother Nikolai fought as part of the Russian volunteer forces, attempting to protect their beloved city from Petlyura's advancing troops. Kiev eventually fell to the Ukrainian forces, forcing the Bulgakov brothers underground. When Bolshevik forces returned and attacked Petlyura's troops in February 1919, Bulgakov was forcibly mobilized by the retreating Ukrainians as a military medic, narrowly escaping amid gunfire back into Kiev. Now under Bolshevik rule, Bulgakov again was forced into hiding, spending half a year living cautiously under Soviet control. When the Bolsheviks withdrew in August 1919 under pressure from advancing Whites and Ukrainian forces, Bulgakov was conscripted by General Denikin's Volunteer Army, which he sympathized with. Soon afterward, he was dispatched south to the Caucasus, where another brutal conflict awaited him. In the autumn of 1919, severe fighting erupted in the North Caucasus between the White Army and the newly declared North Caucasus Emirate, led by the local warlord Uzun-Haji. This Islamic monarchy, under the influence of the Turkish Sultan, also collaborated with the Bolsheviks, who skillfully exploited Islamic sentiment with slogans such as 'For Soviet Power and Sharia.' Serving as chief medical officer for a Terek Cossack regiment, Bulgakov experienced firsthand the intense fighting between Denikin's forces and separatist fighters. Each village turned into a brutal battlefield. He vividly recorded his emotions in his story, 'The Extraordinary Adventures of a Doctor': 'The darker it gets, the more frightening and oppressive it feels… In the velvet darkness, uncertainty reigns. There is no rear area.' This narrative was not literary embellishment but an authentic record of his trauma. During one particularly fierce battle for the village of Shali, Bulgakov attempted to save a colonel who was mortally wounded in the abdomen. Beneath an oak tree amid the chaos of gunfire and exploding shells, the dying officer said simply, 'Don't bother comforting me. I'm no child.' Moments later, a shell exploded nearby, concussing Bulgakov and knocking him unconscious. When he awoke, it was to the grim realization that war had permanently altered him. Driven by a profound need to process his experiences, Bulgakov turned to writing. In November 1919, he published his first article, 'Future Prospects,' where he vividly described Russia's tragic state. He portrayed the revolution as catastrophic, cautioning that the country faced years of immense struggle ahead. Despite the bleakness, Bulgakov called for sustained resilience, cautioning his comrades against premature optimism and arrogance. Thus began his career as a wartime journalist. He saw his role as fostering a realistic perspective among soldiers and officers of the White Army, striving to eliminate false bravado and self-deception. Meanwhile, he continued treating wounded soldiers at the Vladikavkaz military hospital, remaining acutely aware of the human cost of the conflict. Bulgakov was never militaristic; in fact, he despised war profoundly. Both the First World War and the Civil War were heavy burdens for him. Yet, his deep love for Russia and his profound sense of duty compelled him to remain committed despite his personal aversion to war. By March 1920, the White Army, once advancing victoriously toward Moscow, was retreating chaotically toward the Black Sea under relentless Bolshevik pressure. During the disastrous evacuation of Novorossiysk to Crimea, Bulgakov and Tatyana were still in Vladikavkaz, preparing to evacuate alongside the army hospital. However, fate intervened cruelly. Bulgakov contracted typhus, a deadly disease rampant during the Civil War. A doctor sternly warned Tatyana that transporting him would certainly result in his death. Knowing full well the risks of staying behind under Bolshevik rule, Tatyana nonetheless made the courageous decision to remain and nurse her husband back to health, ultimately saving his life. When Bulgakov recovered, Vladikavkaz was already under Bolshevik control – a harsh reality that devastated him deeply, causing him initially to blame Tatyana for their entrapment. Thus, in March 1920, Bulgakov found himself trapped in Soviet Russia. After recovering from his illness, Bulgakov realized that escape was impossible and turned wholeheartedly to writing. Concealing his past as a White Army supporter, he carefully navigated Moscow's literary circles, determined to build his literary career. His harrowing wartime experiences – Kiev's tragic downfall, the horrors of the Caucasus, and witnessing death firsthand – profoundly influenced his literary works. These became the foundations for pivotal pieces like 'Morphine,' about addiction and fear; 'A Young Doctor's Notebook,' about isolation; 'The White Guard,' depicting a besieged home; and ultimately, 'The Master and Margarita,' exploring the fate of individuals crushed by the machinery of power and history. Thus, out of the chaos and tragedy of the Civil War, emerged Mikhail Bulgakov – one of Russia's greatest literary figures, whose voice continues to echo powerfully, capturing the profound struggles of an era still felt 134 years after his birth.
Emirates Woman
09-05-2025
- Business
- Emirates Woman
How I got my job as... founder of The Bowery Company
This week, we speak to Christiane Nasr, founder of The Bowery Company. Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ' How I got my job as… ' where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they'd give to those starting out; and the hurdles they've had to overcome. Masterminded by the visionary entrepreneur, this go-to home decor destination is home to an exclusive portfolio of sought-after Scandinavian brands such as GUBI, Audo, &Tradition, Ferm Living, Verpan, and Louis Poulsen. With her chic curatorial eye and commitment to sustainability, Christiane has successfully filled beautiful homes and spaces with modern decor and scaled the business, including a recent opening of the Riyadh showroom. Here, Christiane shares her journey having embarked on a career change, her lessons learned as an entrepreneur, and her future goals. What was your favourite subject at school? Literature. I've always been drawn to stories, the emotion, the nuance, the perspectives. That ability to connect with ideas beyond your own reality has served me in every chapter of my life, whether I was structuring investment portfolios or curating design collections. I ended up studying at economics, mathematics and a minor in Russian Literature! What was your first job? I began my career in finance in Geneva as an investment advisor for UHNWI in the GCC and Europe and worked my way up to be an Investment Director for a leading European bank heading their investment office in Dubai, spending over 13 years in Geneva and the UAE. It was a high-pressure and high-stakes job, but it gave me discipline, resilience and the confidence to lead, take calculated risks, and trust my vision. What eventually brought you to Dubai? The bank I was working for in Geneva sent me to Dubai to head regional investments. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the city's energy and ambition it was in 2012. Dubai welcomes big dreams and fuels entrepreneurship, and that mindset is contagious. It sparked something in me and planted the seed for what would eventually become my next chapter. What inspired you to enter the interior and retail space and launch The Bowery Company? In 2014, I was in New York, walking down The Bowery Avenue, when I noticed a wave of industrial lighting and design shops, bold, raw and inspiring. That moment sparked something. Back in Dubai, I couldn't find furniture that was both design-driven and accessible. So I started The Bowery Company with a mission to 'Bring Design Home.' At first it was a side project, but in early 2018, I left banking entirely to pursue it full-time. It was the scariest and most liberating decision I have ever made. What are the key elements of your role? At its core, my role is rooted in vision and strategy, shaping the long-term trajectory of The Bowery Company while remaining deeply anchored in purpose. I am not just bringing design home, I am building a movement centered on timeless aesthetics, sustainability, and cultural relevance. It means making bold, forward-thinking decisions, whether it is entering new markets, as we did in Saudi Arabia, or redefining what affordable luxury looks like in the region. Above all, I lead a passionate, talented team, and my responsibility is to inspire, challenge, and foster a culture where creativity, innovation, and accountability thrive. Talk us through your daily routine. I wake up at 6am, spend quality time with my kids, then head to Barry's Bootcamp to set the tone for the day-I train there seven days a week. After that, it's coffee and straight into work mode. My days are a dynamic mix of strategic meetings, project development, curating new collections, and staying closely connected to our community of clients and collaborators. I work hand-in-hand with our Saudi team as we pursue major hotel, F&B, and commercial projects, while also reviewing marketing campaigns and planning our next launches. I usually head home around 7pm for dinner, homework, and bedtime routines with my kids 5 and 7 year olds then, I'm often back at my laptop for a few more hours to wrap up the day. I'm a hardcore entrepreneur; my workdays can stretch 12 to 16 hours. But I also believe deeply in work-life harmony. Some weeks allow space to recharge, while others demand focus and intensity. It's all part of building a business I am a firm believer in. What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps? Take risks. Don't listen to the noise. Take a leap of faith, and don't look back. Most importantly, embrace failure, because every setback brings you one step closer to success. Don't be afraid to pivot, I walked away from a 13-year career in finance to start from scratch in an entirely new industry. It is never too late to follow a calling but do it with clarity. Know your why, stay consistent, and never underestimate your inner power. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? No one else will write your story for you, you have to write your own recipe for success. Mine involved courage, discipline, a relentless belief in my vision, and a willingness to start over, even when the odds weren't in my favour. Once you realise that you don't need permission to begin, everything shifts. Tell us more about the brands and styles offered. We are the exclusive GCC representative for some of the world's most respected Scandinavian brands: Audo Copenhagen, Ferm Living, GUBI, &Tradition, Louis Poulsen, and more. These brands champion timeless aesthetics, ethical production, and enduring materials. The Bowery Company bring design home, offering warm minimalism with soul pieces that balance beauty, function, and sustainability. And what is the worst advice you ever received? 'Play it safe. Give up. Don't open in Saudi Arabia. You're over 40 years old, it is not time to take risks. Think of your kids you don't need to take bold moves now. Stay in your comfort zone.' If I had followed that advice, I'd still be in banking, comfortable, maybe, but constantly wondering 'what if?' Playing it safe doesn't build dreams. Growth comes from taking risks, leaning into discomfort, and saying yes to the things that scare you. That's where real transformation begins. What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome? The transition from banking to design was a radical shift, but the real challenge came in 2019, I faced another major challenge that pushed me completely out of my comfort zone. It was a pivotal moment where I made the conscious decision to give my last push to the business, and that was the turning point in my transformation. Since then, we have experienced double-digit growth, turning The Bowery Company into a multi-million dollar business. Today, our 10,000 square-feet flagship showroom in Riyadh stands as a symbol of that success. But none of it came easy, it came from showing up, again and again, and trusting in the magic of your dreams. Never give up. You're stronger than you think. What are your goals for the future? To expand across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, deepen our collaboration with Vision 2030 projects, and keep driving the conversation around sustainability in design. I also want to mentor and support other women taking the leap into entrepreneurship. Ultimately, The Bowery Company is about more than bringing design home and beautiful interiors, it is about living courageously, consciously, and beautifully. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied
