Co-Author: Wendy Leyn, Zandvoorde (Zonnebeke), West Flanders, Belgium
Marbles in Russia?
If you have been following the story line about Russian marbles, you will understand that there is a lot behind this story in addition to researching their history. You can catch up with the story line at Has Nikolai Lost His Marbles? and Searching For Nikolai’s Marbles
For some time we have worked with Wendy Leyn to answer two questions:
1. Are marbles found in Russia today?
2. Are marbles a part of the cultural fabric of Russia like they are in the United States of America and in the United Kingdom?
As our earlier research was drawing to a close, Wendy wrote an email to Mr. Michael Freilich, Federal Member of Parliament (N-VA),. Brussels, Belgium. He made a simple request: Referencing the two previous posts, “I would be pleased to receive any feedback and comments from you.”
What We Hear from Mr. Freilich
Thank you very much for your email and sharing your extensive research on the phenomenon of marbles in Russia. I am genuinely impressed by the depth and scope of your study, which goes beyond simple child’s play and touches on cultural history, social norms and even political changes.
Your work raises intriguing questions about how something as simple as a marble can be absent from a culture, and what that absence might mean. The historical context you have provided, particularly with regard to the Russian Revolution and its aftermath, adds a layer of complexity to the subject that I had not previously considered.
It is an exciting invitation for scientists and enthusiasts alike to delve deeper into this topic, perhaps even reintroducing the fun of marbles to places where it has been forgotten or overlooked.
While I find the subject fascinating, I regret to say that it is beyond my expertise and competence.
In any case, I wish you the best of luck with your further research and hope you find the right people to explore this interesting topic further.”
Thank You
We all appreciate the time and thought that Mr. Freilich invested in his evaluation. This is the most comprehensive, analytical, thoughtful, and insightful response received to date on any of our marble stories. Thank you, Mr. Freilich.
