I am reading one book (of several I bought in St. Petersburg last summer) На языке улиц Рассказы о петербургской фразеологии because I so fell in love with that city when I visited as a student in 1984 (27 years ago.) There are many words and phrases which are trying my patience, but I am captivated with the city and I probably wont be back again in my lifetime. It seems like all the Gogol, Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Brodsky et al I have read have left an indelible mark. Alas.

So I'm wondering where the old-time language starts and ends for urbanites? This book is definitely about St. Petersburg. Maybe it all goes along with what Brodsky talked about with the strange light and shadows of the northern capital. It is all a bit mystifying. I've got a couple other books just like this one, also on St. Petersburg so I'm sure I'll have more of these. Thanks so much for your help.