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Recollections of Imperial Russia

by Meriel BUCHANAN (1886 - 1959)

The Mother of Russian Cities

In this memoir, Meriel Buchanan (9-5-1886 to 2-6-1959) links the history of Russia to powerful, lingering memories of her years living there. She was the daughter of the man who turned out to be the last British ambassador to Imperial Russia. As a young adult, in her role as the ambassador’s daughter, she had regular access to the court of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, providing her with unusual experiences and impressions. She describes first hand the sights, sounds, and some of the activities she remembers from this elevated and sheltered vantage point. The family left Russia in 1918, and the author’s memories are filled with nostalgia and longing for the Russia she experienced. - Summary by Jan M.

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Listen next episodes of Recollections of Imperial Russia:
Moscow: Ivan the Terrible , Other Memories of Moscow , Religion, Mysticism, Melody and Color , The Cossacks , The Legend of the False Dimitri , The Shores of the Black Sea , The Spirit of Bolshevism