Giselle Botanical

The book features a remarkable tale by Edward Kochergin - a renowned writer and the chief artist of the G. A. Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater. This story was first published in Kochergin's first collection of works titled "Angel's Doll" (2003). The compellingly authentic story from the lives of the "ladies of the half-world" of Petrograd provides the reader with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the vanished world of the subculture of post-war Leningrad. A cycle of illustrations by G. A. V. Traugot was created specifically for this book in 2023. An article by art historian Anait Oganesyan and an interview with artist Alexander Traugot, dedicated in particular to the history of the illustrations' creation, are included in the appendix.