Besedy o russkoi kulture. Byt i traditcii russkogo dvorianstva (XVIII - nachalo XIX veka)

Iu.M. Lotman (1922-1993) was a well known researcher of the Russian culture. This book is based on a series of TV lectures on the same topic. It is profusely illustrated. Provided with comments and bibliographical references it describes many sides of the life of the nobility: women's life and education, promotion, matchmaking, marriage, divorce, card games, duels, etc. A separate chapter is devoted to the Decembrists and their life stories.