Paul Keenan

Experience Keywords

18th century; Russian cultural history; Russian history; St Petersburg; early modern Europe; history of court culture

Research Summary

My research deals with Russia during the eighteenth century and, in particular, the role of St Petersburg in the relationship between Russia and other contemporary European states. The focus of this work is primarily on the cultural life of the city, given its role as the seat of the imperial Russian court from the early eighteenth century onwards, and the influence of European fashions or trends on both its physical development and the lives of its populace. The broader theme of Russia''s ''Europeanisation'' in this period, both culturally and intellectually, is also part of longer term research plans - a joint project on the relationship between Russia and the Bentham brothers (with Professor Roger Bartlett) and the activities of ''enlightened'' governors in Russia''s provincial capitals (e.g. Aleksei P. Mel''gunov in Iaroslavl'').

Research Countries

Russia

Languages

French [Spoken: Basic, Written: N/A]; Russian [Spoken: Intermediate, Written: Intermediate]