St Petersburg: Three centuries of murderous desire

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From Peter the Great to Putin, this narrative captures the essence of St Petersburg, a city steeped in magic and menace. Rising from the River Neva's marshlands, it emerged as a new capital in an ancient land, founded in 1703 by the formidable Peter the Great. This metropolis quickly gained a reputation shaped by the tyrannical rule of its early leaders. Known by various names—St Petersburg, Petrograd, Leningrad, and back to St Petersburg—it embodies contradictions: a gateway to Europe and the Enlightenment, yet the birthplace of Russia's rich cultural legacy in literature, music, and dance. It nurtured the talents of Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Pavlova, and Nureyev. However, beneath its opulent façade, the city has witnessed the bloodshed of countless lives on its snowy streets. It has been a crucible of war, revolution, siege, and famine, shaping the brutal legacies of Lenin and Stalin. This account weaves together the tumultuous history of three centuries, leading to the present, where the city's fate remains uncertain. It is a compelling tale of violence and beauty, encapsulating the spirit of a city and its resilient people.