The St. Petersburg Connection
Russian-American Friendship from Revolution to Revolution
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
A history of Russian-American relations from 1776 to 1917, when these two states, mostly antagonists since, were warm friends.
A compelling account of Russian-American relations from the American Revolution of 1776 to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917. Long before the Cold War, there was a seemingly unlikely connection between the two countries — one a champion of liberty and progress; the other an absolute monarchy and defender of tradition. Indeed, following Russia’s refusal to help Great Britain put down the rebellious colonists, there developed a relationship of warm friendship, robust trade, and mutual support between Russia and the newly formed United States of America.
Over the course of the next century and a half, the relationship between Russia and America flourished and matured. The St. Petersburg Connection brings to life the events and figures that played a crucial role in that history, drawing a picture of a time when two of the great nations of the last century, often enemies since, were friends.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
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.
