27 December 1917. Alexandre Benois

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

Alexandre Benois

38, 1st line of Vasilyevsky Island, Petrograd, Russian Republic

I found out that all banks had been sequestrated. It was only yesterday that a baker I know assured me that there was no reason to be worried and advised me against withdrawing money! It's quiet in the streets (I went to the theatre mostly to see "what was going on").

On my way back I heard three hollow gunshots coming from the Admiralty, and then two more, coming from the Stock Exchange building, but nowadays no one pays any attention to it. The show (opening night of the revival of "Snegurochka") was bland. There was no speech before the opening.

, and others

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✍ Also today

1, Poshingerstrasse, Munich, German Empire

If God is watching, I would be happy if my soul were set free from this time of politics, and returned to merely observing humanity. I could better save my spirit if the nations of the world lived side by side in peace and harmony, and gave each other the best of what they have. The English - beauty, the French, glamour, the Russians - humanity, the Germans - knowledge.

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Sergei Yesenin

2, Panteleymonovskaya street, Petrograd, Russian Republic

is reading poetry at the Dekabrist Memorial Night

Also going: Blok, Akhmatova, Sologub, Teffi, Ivnev, ZamyatinMarine engineer, writer, Mandelstam.

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Marina Tsvetaeva

Borisoglebsky lane, 6, Moscow, Russian Republic

Word is akin to second flesh for a human. It's a triunity: soul, body, and word. Which is why only poets are perfect.

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Alexander Kerensky

Bologoe, Tverskaya oblast, Russian Republic

I spent six days in a hospital, not experiencing any discomfort at all. The Chief had a great library and received all newspapers. I read during the day, and talked to the Chief in the evening. See more

, and others

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Ottokar Czernin

Brest, Belorussia

Joffe told me about the Tsar and his family, and the state of things said to exist there. He spoke with great respect of Nicolai Nicolaievitch as a thorough man, full of energy and courage, one to be respected even as an enemy. The Tsar, on the other hand, he considered cowardly, false, and despicable. See more

, and others

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Vladimir Lenin

Petrograd, Russian Republic

Two questions now take precedence over all other political questions—the question of bread and the question of peace. The imperialist war, the war between the biggest and richest banking firms, Britain and Germany, that is being waged for world domination, the division of the spoils, for the plunder of small and weak nations; See more

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26 December

The Chinese Seize Harbin

Yasnaya Polyana remains intact

«I was interested to see what the authorities that had to save the Russian state could do»

Nightmare before Christmas

Death of Rasputin. Murder conspiracy and its consequences

1916: Year in Review.

-3

in Petrograd

-13

in Moscow