FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLER "DIARIES OF THE PRINCESSES OF THE ROMANOVS".FASCINATING AND TRAGIC STORIES OF RUSSIAN EMIGRANTS IN FRANCE — THROUGH THE MOUTH OF ITS EYEWITNESSES.At the turn of the century, Paris was a favorite vacation spot for Russian aristocrats, who spent fabulous sums in local restaurants and cabarets. But just a couple of decades later, it became a refuge for tens of thousands of Russians — and at the same time a curse city, where they suffered from poverty and longing for Russia. Hereditary princes and illustrious generals became taxi drivers, workers at Citroen and Renault factories, or even janitors and dishwashers. And their wives are models and seamstresses.Russian Russian culture flourished even in Paris, despite all the hardships — the hand embroidery of talented aristocrats found its way to the Chanel fashion house, introducing the "Russian style" into fashion for a whole decade. The names of Diaghilev, Chagall, Stravinsky and Bunin were thundering; the Russian press, schools, trade unions and charity houses were being created. But not all emigrants managed to integrate into French society: some ended up in poverty, and some fell victim to Chekist recruitment...Written on the basis of hundreds of archival sources, the book by historian Helen Rappaport is a colorful report from the past, telling the tragic story of Russian emigration through the mouth of its eyewitnesses.-----------------------------" Interesting, eh at times, it's heartbreaking... Rappaport, a prolific historian and respected expert on the Romanov dynasty, paints Paris, in which Russians have long played a prominent role." — Wall Street Journal"On every page, Helen Rappaport, an unsurpassed historian, demonstrates her in-depth study of the era, the city and its inhabitants. A culturally vivid study of the Russian emigration who left their native country in a turbulent time." — Kirkus Review"Full of colorful stories and colorful characters, this book about life in exile is very interesting." — Publishers Weekly