The Land of Names. How We Name Streets, Villages and Cities in Russia

On the bank of the Moskva River, the village of Mars still stands—named so by the Bolsheviks—and Catherine II massively renamed places whose names sounded “shameful” and “improper.” Place names, toponyms—not only our guide in space, but also a way to move through time. In every name lie the hopes, ambitions, and aesthetics of different eras. Appearing and changing under the influence of historical events, toponyms became bearers of memory, an instrument for asserting power and ideology. With captivating enthusiasm and an incredible number of interesting and amusing facts, Sergey Nikitin deciphers the meanings and tells the stories hidden in the present and former names of Russian cities, villages, and streets.

Sergey Nikitin is a historian, cultural scholar, urban planner, creator and head of the international educational project “VeloNotte” (VeloNotte), known for nighttime bike rides with scientists and architects across the cities of the world.

About the book:

“This book is more engrossing than any detective. It has the history of the country, humor, and absurdity. It contains everything needed to acquire knowledge with pleasure.”

Andrey Bilzho, artist