An illustrated history of Russian travesty culture in its various aspects: from frivolous court carnivals to female military formations of the First World War and difficult stories of people whose biological sex did not coincide with the psychological one.
From the male actor who played the role of Joan of Arc for the first time in history and the Russian uncle Max to Anna Lister's trip to Russia and the unusual wardrobe of Elizabeth Petrovna.
The author of "Fashion and Geniuses" Olga Khoroshilova gives examples from all spheres of culture — art, fashion, literature, theater, cinema and photography — showing how diverse, powerful and alive the Russian travesty culture was, which had its own history, traditions and talented stars, and how for three centuries (from the 18th to the first half of the 20th century) transvestism existed in all spheres of life. The book contains many illustrations, including rare and previously unpublished ones.
