After the Romanovs: Russian Exiles in Paris from the Belle Époque Through Revolution and War

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From Helen Rappaport, the New York Times bestselling author of The Romanov Sisters, comes a compelling narrative about Russian aristocrats, artists, and intellectuals who sought refuge in Paris after the Russian Revolution and the fall of the Romanov dynasty. Paris, a city of cultural excellence, fine cuisine, and fashion, also served as a haven for those fleeing persecution. Before and after the revolution, Russian aristocrats indulged in the luxuries of Belle Époque Paris, a hub of artistic innovation exemplified by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. However, the Bolshevik takeover forced many to flee, often with little more than the clothes on their backs. In this new life, former princes found themselves driving taxicabs, while their wives utilized their sewing skills in fashion houses, influencing designers like Coco Chanel with their unique Russian styles. Artists, poets, and intellectuals struggled in exile, taking on menial jobs to survive. Some, such as Bunin, Chagall, and Stravinsky, achieved remarkable success in the same city that embraced American writers like Fitzgerald and Hemingway. Political activists plotted against the Bolsheviks from afar, while double agents engaged in espionage. Many, however, fell into poverty, grappling with profound homesickness for the homeland they had been forced to leave behind. This narrative captures their poignant journey.