Terribly Interesting Russia. Folk Superstitions, Romanov Kittens, and the Prophetic Bird

Do you want to learn about the history of what is not written in textbooks? This book — a dive into the past of Russia, where each page reveals incredible facts, ancient myths, and bold scientific hypotheses. From Ancient Russia to the Russian Empire — you will see how the country, its people, language, and culture were actually formed.

Natalya Seregina and Nadezhda Adamovich — ethnographers, authors of the popular blog "History. Interesting!" and bestsellers "Intimate Russia" and "The Middle Ages in Russia" — have explored what typically remains beyond the bounds of official history:

Superstitions, rituals, and the "hand magic" of ancestors.
Genetic secrets of the Russian people and their connection with the Finno-Ugric, Scandinavians, and even Scythians.
Real rituals and beliefs: from hysteria to burials under the threshold.
The language that was called "incorrect" and the appearance that has changed over centuries.

The authors show that Russian history is not a single linear process, but a complex, often contradictory path where myths, legends, scientific hypotheses, and ideological concepts intertwine.