Iosif Krachkovsky, "The Watermelon Plantation", 1890s
Dr. Kelly O'Neill recounts the convoluted events of the so-called Watermelon Rebellion, a little-known episode in Russian imperial history full of intrigue, deception, espionage, personal animosities, and… watermelons.
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Wondering who's who in this story and how they're all connected? Find all the answers here:
About our Guest
Kelly O'Neill created and directs the Imperiia Project at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. She is a historian, a teacher, and - on good days - a teller of map stories. Kelly earned her Ph.D. in History at Harvard University, where she served as Assistant and Associate Professor in the History Department. She earned her B.A. in Russian at Amherst College.
If the world of Russianists must be divided into those who love Moscow and those who love Saint Petersburg, Kelly falls into the latter category. Crimea won her over long ago, however. Its landscapes and rich history continue to inspire her work.