In Oscar Wilde’s story, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, the main character wanted to blow up one of his relatives.
Because he didn’t know anything about bombs, he decided to turn to someone with experience.
Who in London could he ask for advice?
A Russian nihilist, of course!
In the late 19th century, Russians were always thought to be associated with revolutionary struggle and political terrorism.
There is nothing surprising about that.
Crowds of Russian anarchist intellectuals living in exile filled European cafes, while in Russia, revolutionaries periodically attempted assassinations of the…