After the Romanovs: the extraordinary lives of Russian exiles in Paris between the wars

Thousands of Russians fled their homeland after the fall of the Romanov dynasty in 1917, seeking refuge in Paris. They included aristocrats, artists, intellectuals, and writers who struggled to make a living in exile. Some became trapped in a cycle of poverty and homesickness, while others plotted to overthrow the Bolshevik regime from afar.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2023
Publisher: Scribe Publications

The captivating tale of Russian aristocrats, artists, and intellectuals who sought sanctuary in interwar Paris unfolds in this enthralling book, hailed as a TLS and Prospect Book of the Year. In the aftermath of the fall of the Romanov dynasty in 1917, a staggering number of Russians found themselves compelled to leave their homeland, carrying with them only the clothes on their backs. Many sought refuge in the dazzling capital of France, Paris. Former princes took to the streets as taxicab drivers, while their wives found employment in the glamorous fashion houses. Intellectuals, artists, poets, philosophers, and writers, faced with financial hardships, eked out a meager existence through menial jobs, some finding fleeting success until the onset of the economic downturn in the 1930s. In their exile, White Russians tirelessly worked to overthrow the Bolshevik regime from afar, while double agents plotted from both sides, creating a complex web of intrigue and treachery. Trapped in a cycle of poverty and profound homesickness, many Russians found themselves consumed by their circumstances, their hopes for a return to their homeland dashed by the harsh realities of exile. This is their remarkable story, a testament to the resilience and creativity of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914484766