Poustynka

Overview

A house, probably a country house or dacha, that Marie knew in her childhood in Russia, with walls covered in bark. The word is Russian, пустынька, a diminutive of пустынь (a hermitage, a place apart); the diary uses it as a proper name. The Mon Journal t.2 index has no entry for it.

Relevance to Marie

It appears once, in a dream of 15 November 1873: she dreams of the villa Gioia being refurnished for Lord Hamilton, and «toute la maison était couverte d'écorces de bois comme Poustynka» (012.0221). So the house had a bark-clad exterior (or interior) that the dream borrows. The context of the dream is Marie's grief for the Duke of Hamilton (DUKE_OF_HAMILTON) after the Nice winter.

Identity uncertain

We do not know where Poustynka was or whom it belonged to; the diary mentions it only in passing, as if the reader knew it. If you can tell us, we would be glad to hear from you.

References in Diary

• 1873-11-15 (012.0221)

Sources

Diary 012.0221; meaning of the Russian word from general Russian usage (not a dated source).