Description
Book SynopsisSince Tsarist times, Roma in Russia (known to others as Gypsies) have been portrayed as rebels, isolated from society and excluded from mainstream history. This title examines how Roma themselves have negotiated such dualities, in both everyday interactions and in stage performances.
Trade Review“The highlight of Lemon’s book is her discussion of the archival record of a Lovari Rom’s trial and the interpretation of it by his descendants, to whom she read the material. . . . [S]he is imaginative and insightful in her analysis of Pushkin. . . . [A] valuable contribution. . . .” - Judith Okely,
Times Literary Supplement“Lemon has produced an innovative and path-breaking analysis of some of the representational challenges facing Muscovite Roma. . . . It is not possible in a short review to do justice to the range of interests and concerns Lemon covers.” - Michael Stewart,
Slavic Review"[A]n insightful, engaging monograph on the Russian Romani experience. . . . [I]nformative, illuminating, and a major contribution to the study of Romani culture. . . . Lemon presents a sensitive, informed portrait of the Romani Theatre and Romani communities in today’s Russia.
Between Two Fires is a powerful, exquisitely researched monograph that contributed significantly to the study of Romani society, Russia, performance, ethnicity, and culture." - Margaret H. Beissinger,
Slavic and East European Journal"This is a ground-breaking work that engages with race and performance in the post-Soviet space. . . . Lemon's theoretical sophistication and political awareness, besides the obvious focus on performance, make this work appealing to performance/theatre studies readers." - Ioana Szeman,
Theatre Research International“
Between Two Fires addresses an important series of topics for anthropology in general and for the study of the Soviet Union and for postsocialist Russia in particular. Lemon weds current theoretical concerns to an understudied but significant community.”—Martha Lampland, author of
The Object of Labor: Commodification in Socialist Hungary“This is an extraordinarily insightful account of the performance of being ‘Gypsy’ in Russia. Theoretically sophisticated, it illuminates Russian as well as Romani culture, and delves into issues of naming, mobility, transgression, and authenticity. This book is a must for anyone interested in advances in anthropology as well as contemporary Russian culture.”—Caroline Humphrey, coauthor of
The End of Nomadism? Society, State, and the Environment in Inner Asia“Lemon has produced an innovative and path-breaking analysis of some of the representational challenges facing Muscovite Roma. . . . It is not possible in a short review to do justice to the range of interests and concerns Lemon covers.” -- Michael Stewart * Slavic Review *
“The highlight of Lemon’s book is her discussion of the archival record of a Lovari Rom’s trial and the interpretation of it by his descendants, to whom she read the material. . . . [S]he is imaginative and insightful in her analysis of Pushkin. . . . [A] valuable contribution. . . .” -- Judith Okely * TLS *
"[A]n insightful, engaging monograph on the Russian Romani experience. . . . [I]nformative, illuminating, and a major contribution to the study of Romani culture. . . . Lemon presents a sensitive, informed portrait of the Romani Theatre and Romani communities in today’s Russia.
Between Two Fires is a powerful, exquisitely researched monograph that contributed significantly to the study of Romani society, Russia, performance, ethnicity, and culture." -- Margaret H. Beissinger * Slavic and East European Journal *
"This is a ground-breaking work that engages with race and performance in the post-Soviet space. . . . Lemon's theoretical sophistication and political awareness, besides the obvious focus on performance, make this work appealing to performance/theatre studies readers." -- Ioana Szeman * Theatre Research International *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Notes on Orthography and Transcripts
Introduction
1. Pushkin,
The Gypsies, and Russian Imperialist Nostalgia
2. Roma, Race, and Post-Soviet Markets
3. “What is Your Nation?” Performing Romani Distinctions
4. The Gypsy Stage, Socialism, and Authenticity
5. The Hidden Nail: Memory, Loyalty, and Models of Revelation
6. “Roma” and “Gazhje”: Shifting Terms
7. Conclusion: At Home in Russia
Appendix A. Roma and Other Tsygane in the Commonwealth of Independent States
Appendix B. Dialect Differences
Appendix C. Vlax-Lovari Romani Glossary
Notes
Bibliography
Index
