4 Comments
Feb 11Liked by Simon Haisell

Captain Tushin is described throughout the chapters in very feminine terms. I wonder what was the likelihood of women dressing as men, and whether Tolstoy based this character on a real life person? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadezhda_Durova

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Oh interesting! Thanks, I had not heard of this example. We do have one example of a man dressing and identifying as a woman later in the book. But not the other way around. Tushin is a lovely character, and I wish we saw more of him.

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Feb 17Liked by Simon Haisell

@ Mimi- He is the star of chapter 20! Despite his physical appearance and unimpressive shrill little voice he was a leader, and one who jumped in to help, encouraged his men and was “in touch with his feelings” using the words of my Dad 🥰 Interesting how he personified the big cannon.

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I am totally with you on this one @Simon Haisell. Tolstoy made the direct reports more real for me, especially with this character. I could totally relate to taking my footwear off after a gruelling march and running around in my stockings to relieve my aching feet. That, and the salute he describes more like a church ritual—of making the sign of a cross, it lead me to think that Tushkin’s is subconsciously conveying to his superior—God help us!

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