Daily Life in Ancient and Modern Moscow (Cities Through Time)
Gr 5-8-This book tries to carve out a niche for itself by presenting information on the city at different times throughout its history. Readers learn, for example, how the boyars, clergy, and peasants dressed in the early tsarist period. Information on housing and trade is also provided. However, modern-day Moscow is sketched rather perfunctorily. At times the writing is engaging, but the historical narrative occasionally becomes confusing. For example, in the chapter on the Revolution, Toht incorrectly states that the Red and White Armies were fighting in Moscow in October 1917. There are also a few mistakes in the spelling of Russian terms; the early collection of household rules was the Domostroi, not the Domostoi and the acronym for the security police is the Cheka, not the Checka. The illustrations include reproductions of paintings, photographs, and many drawings, some of which are overlaid with text, making it hard to read when the background colors are dark. Most of the reproductions of Russian art are well chosen, with the exception of the avant-garde painting selected to introduce the "weary lives of Russia's peasants" in the past. Deborah Kent's Moscow (Children's, 2000) is a better introduction to the city and its culture, but Toht's title could be a useful supplement for readers wanting descriptions of life in earlier times.-Elizabeth Talbot, University of Illinois, ChampaignCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.