Bookshelf

Von Zürich nach Kamtschatka. Schweizer im Russischen Reich. Chronos, 2008.

Mit dem fall des eisernen Vorhangs und der Erweiterung der Europäischen Gemeinschaft beginnt Europa sich wieder als Kontinent zu verstehen, der eine gemeinsame Verganhenheit mit zahlreichen Berührungspunkten besitzt. Die Schweiz ist Teil dieser europäischen Ost-West-Geschichte, die von Krieg und Frieden, von Handel und Wirtschaft, nicht zuletzt von persönlichen Kontakten geprägt war und ist.
Unter den Russlandschweizern bafanden sich auch Zürcherinnen und Zürcher. Statistisch gesehen eine kleine, wenig homogene Gruppe, waren sie in allen Bereichen anzutreffen und hinterliessen als Wissenschaftler wie als Künstler, als Kaufleute wie als Pädagogen, als Industrielle wie als Musterlandwirte ihre Spuren. Auf der Suche nach solchen Spuren lädt das reich illustrierte Buch ein zu einer Entdeckungsreise in eine Welt, die 1917 ein abruptes Ende fand.

About the author

Nadia Sikorsky

Nadia Sikorsky grew up in Moscow where she obtained a master's degree in journalism and a doctorate in history from Moscow State University. After 13 years at UNESCO, in Paris and then in Geneva, and having served as director of communications at Green Cross International founded by Mikhail Gorbachev, she developed NashaGazeta.ch, the first online Russian-language daily newspaper, launched in 2007.

In 2022, she found herself among those who, according to Le Temps editorial board, "significantly contributed to the success of French-speaking Switzerland," thus appearing among opinion makers and economic, political, scientific and cultural leaders: the Forum of 100.

After 18 years leading NashaGazeta.ch, Nadia Sikorsky decided to return to her roots and focus on what truly fascinates her: culture in all its diversity. This decision took the form of this trilingual cultural blog (Russian, English, French) born in the heart of Europe – in Switzerland, her adopted country, the country distinguished by its multiculturalism and multilingualism.

Nadia Sikorsky does not present herself as a "Russian voice," but as the voice of a European of Russian origin with the benefit of more than 30 years of professional experience in the cultural world. She positions herself as a cultural mediator between Russian and European traditions; the title of the blog, "The Russian Accent," captures this essence – the accent being not a linguistic barrier, not a political position but a distinctive cultural imprint in the European context.

Events
Most read

That is how the name of the artist María Sol Escobar (1930-2016) is generally understood today. The first European retrospective of her work is now on view at Switzerland’s largest fine arts museum. The exhibition has been organised in collaboration with Denmark’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum in the United States.

At the Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny, an excellent exhibition organised by the Musée Rodin in Paris is now on view under the patronage of the President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin. Do not miss it.

Very soon, on 16 July, the famous Swiss mountain resort of Gstaad will welcome the opening of the Menuhin Festival. I hope you have already booked tickets for all the concerts that interest you. If not, read on and act quickly. In fact, read on anyway.