After the Romanovs

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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, known for its cultural excellence, fine cuisine, and fashion, also served as a sanctuary for those fleeing persecution. Before the revolution, Russian aristocrats enjoyed the lavish lifestyle of Belle Époque Paris, but the Bolshevik takeover forced many to escape, often with little more than the clothes on their backs. Upon arrival, former princes drove taxicabs, while their wives found work in fashion houses, inspiring designers like Coco Chanel with their unique Russian styles. Intellectuals, artists, poets, and writers faced the challenges of exile, often taking menial jobs to survive. Some, such as Bunin, Chagall, and Stravinsky, found remarkable success in the same Paris that welcomed American luminaries like Fitzgerald and Hemingway. Meanwhile, political activists plotted against the Bolshevik regime, and double agents engaged in espionage. Others fell into cycles of poverty, grappling with profound homesickness for the Russia they had to leave behind. This is their poignant story.