The diary of a Russian lady : reminiscences of Barbara Doukhovskoy (née princesse Galitzine)

A young aristocratic woman records her life with the clarity of a practiced diarist, turning everyday moments into vivid snapshots of 19th‑century Russian society. From childhood games in elegant salons to her first formal appearances, she captures the subtle rituals, the chatter of the court, and the quiet expectations placed upon her. Her reflections are peppered with literary allusions, showing a mind shaped by both Russian classics and the broader European canon.

When travel beckons, her notebook expands into a roaming chronicle: a breezy journey through the Crimean hills, a startling glimpse of the Caucasus frontier, and the unsettling sounds of a distant war that brushes the periphery of her world. Yet she remains an observer, noting the colors of foreign markets, the cadence of local dialects, and the fleeting hospitality of strangers. Through her unassuming yet perceptive prose, listeners are invited into a living portrait of a woman whose heart beats at the intersection of personal sentiment and the grand sweep of history.