Did the Russian aristocracy speak French?
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Did the Russian aristocracy speak French?
The Russian nobility of the 19th century quickly became extremely fluent in French. For many of them, just like for Prince Dmitry Golitsyn, French was more comfortable than Russian. They also looked up to French culture. About 70 percent of books in a Russian nobleman’s library were in French.
When did Russian aristocracy speak French?
18th century
In the 18th century French “conquered” Russia, becoming the unofficial language of the aristocracy.
What language did the nobility of Russia speak?
The Russian nobility spoke French naturally, because that was the language they were taught as children; often, it was the Russian language that they had a difficulty with.
Why was French the language of aristocracy?
French was an aristocratic language for at least 2 centuries probably because of its centralized location in the region (Western Europe) and relatively large number of speakers. The German, Spanish, Occitan, Italian, and English-speaking lands all shared borders with French-speaking lands.
Did Tolstoy write in Russian or French?
The novel chronicles the French invasion of Russia and the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society through the stories of five Russian aristocratic families….War and Peace.
| Front page of War and Peace, first edition, 1869 (Russian) | |
|---|---|
| Author | Leo Tolstoy |
| Country | Russia |
| Language | Russian, with some French and German |
Did Tolstoy write in French?
4. It wasn’t all written in Russian. In Imperial Russia, French had become the preferred language of the aristocracy, who had adopted European customs and manners following reforms introduced by Peter the Great and Catherine the Great.
What was the official language of the Russian nobles?
I am currently reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace. In the book and on wikipedia it is stated or implied that French was the language of the Russian nobles, sometimes to the point of only knowing enough Russian to command their servants.
How important is the French language in Russian culture?
The importance of French in Russian high society did cause some cultural critics to rise to the fore and defend Russian as a European language.
Why is French considered an aristocratic language?
Answer Wiki. French was an aristocratic language for at least 2 centuries probably because of its centralized location in the region (Western Europe) and relatively large number of speakers. The German, Spanish, Occitan, Italian, and English-speaking lands all shared borders with French-speaking lands.
What happened to the French language in Russia after the Enlightenment?
French continued to be a major internal language in various state bureaucracies such as the foreign service. The Entente and the still glowing embers of cultural prestige attached to France ensured that the French language remained an important aspect of Russian elite education long after the Enlightenment.