A Book, a Flower, a Grave, and Others: Signs of Same-Sex Unions in the Late 18th-Century Russia

• In Event: Early Eastern European Queer: Sources, Interpretation, Visibility

Abstract

There are many ways of tracing queer history in pre- and Early Modern Russian empire. Most of them rely on textual evidence predominantly derived from the archives of Moscow/Russian courts or investigative authorities. To evade the oppressive biases inherent in these sources and explore alternative materials, options are limited. Shifting from textual to material evidence emerges as a potentially fruitful avenue, particularly for late 18th-century Russia, where it offers ample material for further research.

Author

• Andrei Kostin, U of Grenoble-Alpes (France)