Atkins, Peter and Ian Bowler. Food in Society. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Chapter 18 discusses some ways that food is linked to ethics and the role that food plays in the society at large. It also discusses the trend in vegetarianism and its effect on societal norms.
Burke, Michelle Y. "International Vegetarian Food Relief: Soycows in Russia and Prasadam in Mozambique." Vegetarian Journal v20 i2 (2001) :35.
This is a modern article about Prasadam, a sanctified, vegetarian food distributed freely by Food For Life. It relates to modern day poverty of peasants in Russia and the vegetarian food that is distributed to them.
Frierson, Cathy A. "Forced Hunger and Rational Restraint in the Russian Peasant Diet: One Populist's Vision." Food in Russian History and Culture. Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1997.
In this chapter, the passages of Aleksandr Engelgardt, which drew attention in 1872 to the "hungry village" are analyzed. Emphasis is placed on the subsistence economy of the Russian village along with the "rational" nature of peasant society and the "irrational" nature of the elite Russian society. Food as an element of subsistence is central.
Goldstein, Darra. “Is Hay Only for Horses? Highlights of Russian Vegetarianism at the Turn of the Century.” Food in Russian History and Culture. Bloomington, Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1997.
Goldstein explains many of the factors surrounding the vegetarian movement started in many ways by Tolstoy, but carried on by many of his followers. It highlights the attempts to influence the culture of the educated and elite classes by appealing to a wide range of interests including religion, health, morality, and self-improvement. This chapter helps discover the different motivations of elite/religiously-motivated vegetarianism and its effect on the culture of Russia at the turn of the century.
Heretz, Leonid. "The Practice and Significance of Fasting in Russian Peasant Culture at the Turn of the Century." Food in Russian History and Culture. Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1997.
Heretz writes about the cultural role of food in Pre-Revolutionary Russia, and the important religious practice of fasting. The fasting laws and teachings of the Orthodox Church are described, and the chapter also includes a section about the peasant society's traditions of fasting.
LeBlanc, Ronald D. “Tolstoy’s Way of No Flesh: Abstinence, Vegetarianism, and Christian Physiology.” Food in Russian History and Culture. Bloomington, Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1997.
LeBlanc writes about the connection between Tolstoy and vegetarianism in Russian culture from the 1880s until today. Although vegetarianism is a healthy diet, Tolstoy’s decision to convert to vegetarianism is seen in a humanitarian light that LeBlanc tries to explicate in this chapter.
Lunt, Horace G. "Food in the Rus' Primary Chronicle." Food in Russian History and Culture. Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1997.
This article describes specific references to food in the Primary Chronicle. The individual words denoting food and drink in the Primary Chronicle are examined, and these words and their roots give clues to the lifestyle and diet of this time period in twelfth-century Rus.
Russian Foods.com. Savara Group, Inc. 2001. <http://www.russianfoods.com>.
This website contains many Russian recipes (both vegetarian and meat) and also contains cultural information.
Smith, R.E.F, & David Christian. Bread and Salt. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1984.
This resource describes the importance of Bread (and Salt) in the Russian peasant diet. Part one is about the "early diet", farming and gathering. Part 2 and 3 deal with established eating patterns over time throughout Russia, and grain allowances.
Spencer, Colin. The Heretic’s Feast. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1995.
In chapter 7 the history of vegetarianism is related to the Orthodox Church and the religious/moral aspects of eating meat. One of the many reasons for the spread of the vegetarian movement in historical Russia was its appeal to the religiously devout communities. This book examines the varied influences for people to choose vegetarianism in history before the exact health benefits were understood.
Vershinina, Polina. “Moscow firm looks to push Russia to healthier appetite.” The Russia Journal. June 12-18, 2000. <http://www.russiajournal.ru/weekly/article.shtml?ad=3049>.
This online article discusses the company Sovie Produkti’s aim to sell more vegetarian and health-conscious foods in Russia.
Vucinich, Wayne S. The Peasant in
Nineteenth-Century Russia. California: Stanford University Press, 1968.
This book portrays the history and culture of the Russian peasant in the 19th century. The chapter "The Peasant Way of Life" depicts the hardships of a peasant lifestyle including their diet. The food section describes the most common foods, primarily bread and vegetables, and the fact that meat was usually eaten only on holidays.
Walters, Kerry and Lisa Portmess. Ethical
Vegetarianism. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press, 1999.
This book compiles the thoughts and writings of many famous or strong proponents of vegetarianism. It also includes Leo Tolstoy’s “ The Immorality of Carnivorism.” The thoughts of many historical figures in the vegetarian movement are invaluable to this essay because it puts the Russian Vegetarian movement in an historical context.