TAMARA'S STORY

About the Book

Princess Tamara Zhorzhadze, a descendant of the ancient kings of Gruzia in the Caucasus, loves her cousin Shota, but their grandmother, the matriarch of the family believes in ancient traditions marries him to her other granddaughter Somi. Tamara leaves the family's estate and goes to St. Petersburg where she becomes a Maid of Honor to the Empress Alexandra of Russia and lives a life of luxury in the great palaces of nobility. Her beauty makes her the most popular debutante of the 1913 season. She develops a close friendship with Prince Felix and Princess Irina Usupov during the time when Felix is involved in the murder of Rasputin, who is enchanted with Tamara and tried to seduce her. When the Russian Revolution begins, the Usupovs beg Tamara to flee with them, but the circumstances beyond her control keep her in the dangerous city. The communist stake fever the royal palaces and Tamara is caught in a whirling storm of hate and bloodshed in he political upheaval. Being an aristocrat, she lives without knowing whether she will be dragged into the streets or thrown intoa dungeon. She exists only to care for the man she loves. Then a fateful decision confronts her: either sacrifice her true love or escape to Instanbul.

About the Author

Dr. Tom Berry is a retired Professor of Russian Language and Literature who still teaches one course ad year in the Continuing Studies Program of John Hopkins University. He is the author of eleven academic books, the last being "The Memoirs of the Pages of the Tsars" (Pavlovsk Press). His studies of Hindi at the University of Chicago while with the Ford Foundation led to considerable travel in India. His visits to China resulted in the book "Information Peking" (Well International). He has lectured Mediterranean, Caribbean, Java, Alaskan and Weddell Seas. His wife Valentina is a professional artist who specializes in Russian scenes and costume design.