Comment by m0zg

It's not "ancient", really. Things are largely the same in Russia as they were 150-200 years ago, they even have something like a Tsar now: Putin. People are largely the same, too. Sure, there are cars and cell phones and internet now, but at a deeper level the people haven't really changed, and they can still imagine the life of a 19th century Russian aristocrat or commoner much better than, say, someone from the US or Western Europe, perhaps with the exception of France, owing to the cultural affinity between the two countries' aristocracies in the 19th century.

>> is one of the most enriching things you can do short of traveling

I agree with you there. I was just explaining to the OP the likely reasons why he didn't enjoy what I consider to be one of the best novels ever written.