Marusha

About the Book

Marusha is born into a secular Jewish family in Liverpool England. It is 1893 and while anti-Semitism lies below the surface, it is not officially promoted. Thus she is shielded from prejudice that will come to taunt her as she grows into a beautiful and talented young woman who travels the world.

From the beginning she is challenged by the inconsistent outbursts of a psychotic mother and an insensitive father. In spite of the families failures, Marusha is awarded a scholarship to the Sorbonne, in Paris, France. She is just eighteen when she falls in love with Raoul Romanov, bringing her both ecstasy and despair. She is shattered when upon his departure to the university at Oxford, he says, “I’ll miss my hot little Jewess.”

Working part time as a singer in a Paris Café, a famous impresario books her for Moscow. Marusha learns that Jews are not welcome in the city, so she decides not to tell anyone about her Jewish background. She is adored in Moscow, singing in the palace of Nicholas II, witnessing the bizarre antics of Rasputin, meeting the famous ballerina, Matilde Kssechinska, who was the mistress of Nicholas II. On learning this ballerina is Jewish, Marusha confides to her that she is Jewish. As mistress of the Czar, Matilde is accepted, but she discourages Marusha from letting it be known that she is Jewish.

During this period letters from a family friend offer her consolation. As a child she’d thought Philip handsome and worldly. When he proposes to her, she accepts. But Philip is not the man she thought he was. He leaves for America promising to send for Marusha and their baby daughter, Nadya. Impatient after two years, Marusha books passage to America. In steerage she meets and befriends a young woman, Polzcia.

Philip struggles to earn a living playing the violin. He takes ill and is sent to a sanitarium for tuberculosis patients. Now Marusha must take care of herself and Nadya and pay toward Philip’s treatments. She along with Polzcia start a business which proves to be highly successful.

Discharged from the sanitarium, Philip is jealous of Marusha’s success. He rages and his womanizing almost destroy her. She continues to try to have a loving relationship, and gives birth to another baby, Tanya.

She finally divorced Philip, but now she is alone and lonely. She is a very wealthy woman.

World War II is upon them. Rumors circulate that Jews are being exterminated in Hitler’s Germany and spreading to those nations he conquers. Marusha is convinced that mentally healthy people do not tyrannize others. She uses her wealth to establish an institute for emotional healing.

A long-time friend, Lucien Silverberg, has become very important in Marusha’s life. A composer he renames his symphony, “To Marusha.” She finds true love at last.

About the Author

Helen Kolodny’s articles appeared in regional and national magazines and newspapers. After forty-one years as an award-winning sculptor, she decided to sculpt with words. She has written“Marusha,” a historical novel. Mrs. Kolodny resides in southern California where she is writing her autobiography “The Miracle Child.”