History of Russian Immigration in East China in the First Half of the 20th Century, a monograph by Viktoria Sharonova, well-known orientalist and senior research scientist with the Center of Comparative Studies of East Civilizations at the Russian Academy of Sciences, has just been published. Viktoria Sharonova has lived in Shanghai for over 10 years, working at Russia’s Consulate General and teaching at universities in Shanghai, Xi’an and Wuhan. She has studied the history of Russian immigration in the first half of the 20th century, which helped her become a member of the academic board of the Center of Russian Studies at the Shanghai University.
The monograph tells the story of Russian immigrants who went to a different country after the October Revolution and the civil war, surviving thanks to assistance from the locals and becoming some of the major drivers of economic development in the region.
In her book, Ms. Sharonova discusses how immigrants managed to preserve not only their religion, but also the Russian language and culture abroad. Writers and poets, journalists and artists spoke the Russian language, taught it in schools, established Russian-language clubs and associations.
“Shanghai and Harbin are tragic landmarks of the 20th-century Russian history. Russian expatriates who came there never lost touch with their homeland, making a special contribution to preserving Russian culture in their places of residence,” noted Igor Domnin, Deputy Director of the Home of the Russian Abroad (HRA), at the book presentation that took place at HRA.
Viktoria Sharonova’s monograph is the result of a seven-year-long research. It was published with financial support from the Russkiy Mir Foundation.
“I am extremely thankful to the Russkiy Mir Foundation for consistently supporting my research,” the author said at the presentation.
