This is very true; French was the language of the aristocracy, throughout Europe. It was also a lingua franca (pun intended) among merchants, travellers, and pirates.
One of the amusing things about Anna Karenina is the extensive use of nicknames throughout the book. I have encountered a few readers who have confused by that!
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Date: 2012-08-20 02:29 am (UTC)One of the amusing things about Anna Karenina is the extensive use of nicknames throughout the book. I have encountered a few readers who have confused by that!