Russian Paints America

A Russian Paints America presents the first complete English translation of Svin''in''s fascinating memoir. Thirty-one original watercolours complement his provocative views on topics such as slavery, religion, politics, and the fine arts. Introductory essays by Marina Swoboda and William Whisenhunt examine Russian-American relations, consider Svin''in''s life and particular role in Russian history, and set his work in the context of the genre of picturesque travel - Svin''in clearly did not set out to produce a scholarly account of the United States but a work of literature, at a time when Russian literary language was in its earliest stages of development.