There's a short story by Chekhov called "Peasants" -- which will give you an idea of what they did the rest of the time. Like nearly everything Chekhov writes, it is an exceptionally good story.
Joanna
Chris Doss wrote:
Oh yeah. But there is little question as far as I know that the Russian peasantry worked in a cycle of frenzied activity alternating with relative lethargy. Actually there has been a lot of speculation that this is the reason for Russian culture's non-existent work ethic and tendency toward heavy drinking (which, though not as pronounced as you would think judging by the Western stereotype -- I personally know almost zero Russian alcoholics, and I'm in Moscow -- does exist). Actually the peasantry drinks 24/7. I used to live right by a collective farm, and a lot of the men would start drinking at 10 a.m.
I don't think "peasantry" is really the right word to use for Russian farmers in 2004, but I'll let that stand.
-----Original Message----- From: "Devine, James" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 06:40:53 -0700 Subject: Re: [PEN-L] capitalism = progressive?
Chris wrote: >Russian peasants in the quasi-feudal tsarist era would work intensively for the three months or so of the year when the ground was usuable for agriculture, and then sit around on their asses the rest of the year, in any case.<
I bet that during the 9 months off they spent a lot fo their time fixing equipment, making clothes, salting food, etc. Of course, it was at a much more leisurely pace than during the 3 months on.
Jim D.
