Category: Decembrists

Two people in one

Post author By Jennifer Antill
Post date September 20, 2023
Categories In Decembrists, Small Acts of Kindness, writing problems
No Comments on Two people in one

Alexander Mikhailovich Murav’ev (1802-1853) Lithograph. (1822) Piotr Feodorovich Sokolov (1791- 1848) There can be problems when a writer tries to combine an engaging plot with historical truth. This can be particularly true when it comes to depicting characters who are ‘real’ people. Historical novels vary widely in their historical accuracy, ranging from books that are […]

Russia in North America

Post author By Jennifer Antill
Post date January 2, 2023
Categories In a novel, Decembrists, Peter the Great, Russian history
No Comments on Russia in North America

At least one scene in my novel, Small Acts of Kindness, a tale of the first Russian revolution, takes place in the offices of the Russian American Company. One of the principle characters, the radical Kondraty Ryleev, was office manager at the company in the months before the Decembrist uprising in 1825. The large building, […]

Dusk approaches…

Post author By Jennifer Antill
Post date December 4, 2022
Categories In a novel, Decembrists, St Petersburg
No Comments on Dusk approaches…

We are now moving deeper into December, and it is dark a little after 4 p.m. It was a little earlier, just after 3 p.m. in St Petersburg on December 14th 1825(Old Style) when Nicholas Pavlovich, newly created Emperor of Russia, ordered guns to be fired to scatter 3000 rebel troops. The soldiers had stood […]

Lockdown ,,,,a result!

Post author By Jenny Antill
Post date June 28, 2020
Categories In a novel, Decembrists, Small acts of Kindness, Travel
No Comments on Lockdown ,,,,a result!

Sadly due the the present circumstances what was to have been one of my busiest ever years speaking to different groups about Russia, has turned into one of my emptiest for a long time. All has not been a total disaster however. I have used the extra time afforded by lock down to try my […]