The Russian Countess by Edith Sollohub
They all left the country, and she returned in the mistaken belief that she might be able to gain a little extra money by selling her house and the remaining possessions, but she couldn’t leave again. It’s winter, and she believes she wants to die. This book is set in Moscow in 1920 when she is in complete despair and thinks she will never be able to join her children and she’s cut off from her husband. She enters the forest on the outskirts of Moscow because she intends to die there, and a man approaching her from the woodland has a worn-out appearance.
The Russian Countess by Edith Sollohub
Amazon.com
God only knows what he’s been doing in the jungle, but it turns out to be a German. Half-starved and near death, he comes to her for assistance and is relieved that she speaks the language. Therefore, this unfortunate woman is forced to rescue this German rather than retreat into the wilderness to perish. They each save each other’s life by bringing him back into the town’s centre, where she helps him find a place to stay and food. It has a fairy-tale-like aspect.
The incredible tales of how the upper class managed to survive despite losing everything during the red takeover are filled with bravery and suspense. The author had so many “lives” since she lost her estate, her husband enlisted in the white army, she escaped to freedom with her children, and she went back to get everything. An unforgettable tale was woven over the course of three years by many astute strategies, secret locations, lives, and enemies. The author consistently provides in-depth descriptions of places, people, circumstances, sunsets, and even the sad destinies of horses that few others do. What a courageous lady! She always has a confident, well-thought-out plan, and her various skills come in handy. She still sees the beauty in her circumstances.
