21 June 1917. Nikolay Gumilyov → Anna Akhmatova

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Nikolay Gumilyov Anna Akhmatova

London, United Kingdom

I’m living very well, every day I meet with someone interesting, laugh, write poetry and make new interesting literary connections.

Today I will be spending the evening at the house of one Yeats, an English Vyacheslav. I have also been promised a meeting with Chesterton, who, it turns out, is just over 40 but has written around 20 books. He is either greatly loved or utterly despised, but acknowledged by all.

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✍ Also today

Mathilde Kschessinska

P. N. Vladimirov's apart., 10, Alekseevskaya str., Petrograd, Russian Empire

My faithful DjibiThe beloved dog of Mathilde Kschessinska died after a visit to Tsarskoie Selo. This made me very sad. He had shared in our joys and sorrows; and I still remember one night during the terrible time we had just been through when, exhausted and near to nervous prostration, I flung myself weeping on my bed. Djibi had sprung towards me, with an expression of human compassion, whimpering that he could not comfort me. See more

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Maria Feodorovna

Ai-Todor, Crimea, Russian Empire

Very hot today, trimmed the roses. I have heard talk of riots in Sevastopol, of an admiral discharged. We sat by the river - it is our only comfort these days.

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Alexandre Benois

Petrograd, Russian Empire

The Congress of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies recently adjourned at the Cadets’ College has only deepened my pessimism. The meeting began with a discussion of the Dacha Durnovo. Pereverzev, Liber, Kamenev, Tsereteli with his histrionics, and Lunacharsky, all made speeches, the latter receiving reproaches from the Asiatic Chkheidze for addressing the congress without the reverence apparently accorded it. See more

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Alexander Kolchak Provisional Government

Petrograd, Russian Empire

I consider the decree of the committee of delegates to deprive officers of their weapons shameful, to the military command, to the officers, the navy and to myself personally. I believe that neither I nor any other officer has done anything that would cast doubts on their sincerity, or suggest the existence of any motives besides their desire to serve Russia’s armed forces. See more

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Leon Bakst

Paris, France

Dear Igor, alas, I cannot make my way to Paris until I have finished some urgent work here. I read your telegram to Ida Rubinstein and she said that such letters, no matter how detailed, are always open to interpretation. She bases this fear on her over-the-post experience with Sebastian and Salome (for which she ordered music from Glazunov). See more

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Paul Klee

at work on "Carpet pattern"

Summer school, Gersthofen, Bavaria, German Empire

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Alexander Zamaraev

Totma, Vologodskaya guberniya, Russian Empire

The Russian Army, it transpired, was one of the very worst. Entire divisions are refusing to engage. It is shameful, before our allies and before those who have already given up their lives. It seems the current army is in no condition to do anything of good; it is just of a horde of mouths to be fed. They lap up the dangerous words of some so-called Lenin and his accomplices.

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Alexander Kerensky

Petrograd, Russian Empire

The mood at Headquarters is serious. The new High Commanding General Brusilov, immediately adopted a more than unseemly and ingratiating tone with the Mogilyov Soviet of Workers and Soldiers. Under General Alekseev, this Soviet acted cautiously and never chose to openly present any demands to Headquarters. See more

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Rosa Luxemburg

prison, Wronki, Russian Empire

In such terrible heat all I want to wear is a white cotton dress. A few years ago I gave Clara a whole bunch of embroidered cambric, which she still has- she dared not use it. Could you ask that she give me a few meters and order a dress to be cut, as such fabric is impossible to get hold of presently. My usual style will do- just make sure the skirt is made a bit wider from below.

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Alexandra Feodorovna

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

Three months have gone by already!! The people were promised that there would be more food and fuel, but everything is worse and more expensive. They have been deceived, and I pity them. How we tried to help them, but now they are done for…

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Pathe News

King George V and Queen Mary at ceremony in Lancashire.

20 June

Krupskaya relates an argument about sexism

Naryshkina: "They eat their radish and think it’s wonderful"

"I'm not happy that Messrs Lenin and Trotsky are at large. They’ve committed plenty of sins against the Criminal Code"

1916: Year in Review.

From one revolution to another

Russia in 1917

+25

in Petrograd

+23

in Moscow