The St. Petersburg Connection: Russian-American friendship from Revolution to Revolution

Troubetzkoy, author of Imperial Legend: The Mysterious Disappearance of Tsar Alexander I and A Brief History of the Crimean War, turns his attention to early connections between the United States and Russia. This book revisits the period from the birth of the United States to the downfall of the Russian Empire when the relations between the two countries were amicable and supportive. Troubetzkoy traces episodes of the Russian-American encounters through the eyes of politicians, diplomats, engineers, travellers, and mere adventurists, often quoting their reminiscences of the events they witnessed. Some those people were engaged in well-known affairs, such as the American acquisition of Alaska or signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth that ended the Russo-Japanese War. Others participated in the developments that now are almost forgotten, including a Russian attempt to colonize Hawaii and the American exploration of the route of the Siberian telegraph. Voices of the past, embedded into the narrative, invite readers to step into this history, and Troubetzkoy's eloquent writing style makes their journey informative, entertaining, and memorable. Agent: Bill Hanna (Dec.)