Soroka (Emile d'Audiffret)

Overview

"Soroka" is Marie Bashkirtseff's Russian-language nickname for Emile d'Audiffret, a young Niçois nobleman. The full form is "britaya soroka" (Russian: shaved magpie / pie rasée), shortened to "soroka" in daily use. The name was adopted by Marie's entire household in Nice and abroad.

See main entry: AUDIFFRET

Origin

Marie explains the nickname's adoption in early 1876: "à présent tout le monde chez nous à Nice et ici donne un nom affreux à ce pauvre garçon, on le nomme britaya soroka ce qui veut dire Pie rasée et par abréviation on dit soroka simplement" (carnet 053).

Extended Usage

Marie also uses "soroka" (plural "sorokas") generically for admirers/suitors who stare at her at the opera or on the promenade -- flashy men attracted to shiny things, like the magpie of Russian folklore. In Rome (1876), she writes of "le Soroka de Rome" who "rappelle en laid Soroka de Nice" -- a Roman admirer who resembles Audiffret, only uglier.

References in Diary

• Used from late 1875 through 1877 (carnets 049--068)
• Generic "sorokas" for admirers at San Remo opera (Dec 1876) and Rome (early 1876)
• See AUDIFFRET glossary entry for full context