The Provincial Lady in Russia
The Provincial Lady in Russia is a humorous travelogue by E.M. Delafield, first published in 1930. It follows the adventures of an Englishwoman, the Provincial Lady, as she travels through Russia in the 1920s. The Provincial Lady is accompanied by her husband, the Colonel, and their two children, and they are accompanied by a Russian guide, M. Kostrov. As they travel through the country, they experience the sights, sounds, and culture of Russia, from the grandeur of St. Petersburg to the poverty of the countryside. Along the way, they encounter a variety of characters, from the eccentric aristocrats of the old regime to the revolutionary zealots of the new. The Provincial Lady in Russia is a light-hearted and often humorous look at a country in transition. Delafield's observations are both insightful and entertaining, and her descriptions of the people and places she encounters are vivid and engaging. The book is a delightful read for anyone interested in Russian history and culture.
By E.M. Delafield · First published 1937 · Genre: Travel Literature, Humor, Fiction · 10 chapters · 13,408 words
First lines
Tourists in all the Intourist hotels in all the principal towns of Soviet Russia exchange the same fragments of conversation.
"Have you done Moscow yet?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Provincial Lady in Russia is listed on Textopian as a novel by E.M. Delafield, dated 1937 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: E.M. Delafield
- Date: 1937 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Travel Literature, Humor, Fiction, Romance
- Length: 13,408 words
- Structure: 10 chapters, 548 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Provincial Lady in Russia by E.M. Delafield
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Provincial Lady in Russia?
- How does this novel by E.M. Delafield fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Travel Literature first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Travel Literature — The book follows the journey of a provincial lady in Russia, and thus is a travelogue of her experiences.
- Humor — The book is written in a humorous style, with the protagonist's observations of the people and places she encounters providing comic relief.
- Fiction — The book is a work of fiction, as it is a narrative of the protagonist's experiences in Russia.
- Romance — The book contains elements of romance, as the protagonist meets a potential love interest during her travels.
Tags
travel · humor · diary · satire · British literature · women's fiction · early 20th century · cultural observations · expatriate life · social commentary · Russia · adventure