The Family That Tried To Escape History

The Family That Tried To Escape History

In 1978, a team of Soviet geologists working deep in the Siberian taiga came across something they never expected to see: a house. As it turned out, they had stumbled on a family that had lived in complete isolation for decades – they weren’t even aware of World War Two.

Sophie Pinkham, author of the new book “The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and Its Empires,” tells us the story of the Lykov family and what drove them into the forest.

Check out Sophie’s book about how Russia’s vast forests have shaped its history and culture: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324036685
There’s also Sophie’s longread about the Lykovs in The Guardian, adapted from her book: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/22/forty-years-in-the-siberian-wilderness-the-old-believers-who-time-forgot

We always want to hear from you! If you have a question or story for us, give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message, or send an email to hello@atlasobscura.com.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(1334)

Off Assignment: To the Boy on the Night Bus

Off Assignment: To the Boy on the Night Bus

A stranger on an overnight bus ride causes a woman to contemplate her future. This essay originally appeared in Off Assignment.    Plus, Off Assignment is offering a writing course this spring, called...

27 Jan 12min

AO Mailbag: What Can I Do With Guests When I’m Short on Cash?

AO Mailbag: What Can I Do With Guests When I’m Short on Cash?

Co-host Kelly McEvers and producers Johanna and Amanda answer questions about places that exceeded expectations, finding yourself in dicey situations while on the road, and what to do when you have a ...

26 Jan 16min

Caring for Canids (Classic)

Caring for Canids (Classic)

Welcome to the Judith A Basset Canid Education & Conservation Center, where a California couple has dedicated their lives to showing folks man has even more best friends than previously thought.READ M...

23 Jan 14min

The Belt and the Berm (Classic)

The Belt and the Berm (Classic)

Today, we go on a special journey told in two parts, beginning with the world’s largest conveyor belt in the Western Sahara and ending on your dinner plate.We always want to hear from you! If you have...

22 Jan 28min

Following the Painted Ladies

Following the Painted Ladies

Have you heard of the Painted Lady butterfly? Scientists say this small speckled beauty – no more than 6 cm across – endures the longest migration path of its species. Photographer Lucas Foglia dared ...

21 Jan 16min

Your New Year’s Travel Resolutions

Your New Year’s Travel Resolutions

Listeners share their travel resolutions for 2026. Plus, we want to hear stories about interesting or unusual places where you’ve stayed the night. How did you find it? Who did you go with? What made ...

20 Jan 8min

Tell Us: Wonders in Your Backyard

Tell Us: Wonders in Your Backyard

We’re taking the day off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But in the meantime, we want to hear from you. Tell us about the wonders in your backyard. Is there a strange, unusual or surprising place in y...

19 Jan 44s

Little Lambs, Big Back Story (Classic)

Little Lambs, Big Back Story (Classic)

Spring is a popular time to visit Colonial Williamsburg, not least because it’s “lambing season,” the time of year when baby lambs are born and take their first steps (which is obviously very, very cu...

17 Jan 15min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
konspirasjonspodden
alt-fortalt
popradet
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
min-barneoppdragelse
synnve-og-vanessa
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
bokmerket-2
fladseth
frokostshowet-pa-p5