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The Long View

In this episode of The Long View, literary scholar Sophie Pinkham discusses her book The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and Its Empires. Pinkham explores how forests have shaped Russia’s cultural imagination, imperial expansion, and literary tradition. From the symbolism of the oak and the larch to the role of forests in warfare and state-building, she traces how nature is woven into Russia’s political and cultural history. The conversation examines: • The oak and the larch as symbols of Russian identity • Russian expansion and comparisons to American Manifest Destiny • The forest as both protector and enemy • Chekhov, Tolstoy, and the literary landscape of nature • The forest as a refuge from state power • The Bialowieza forest and the collapse of empires • The continued role of natural landscapes in modern warfare Pinkham argues that the forest is not merely a backdrop to Russian history but a central actor, a repository of memory, myth, and cultural meaning. Watch the full conversation for a deeper exploration of how nature and empire intersect in Russian history. #LongView #SophiePinkham #RussianHistory #CulturalHistory #Literature #Forests #Chekhov #Tolstoy