After the Romanovs: Russian Exiles In Paris From The Belle Époque Through Revolution and War, Rappaport - B

           "By the beginning of the new twentieth century, Paris was fast becoming the capital of Russia out of Russia - for those with plenty of money." "The Russian aristocracy fitted in perfectly with Le Tout-Paris of the Belle Époque...." At the turn of the century, Paris' most charming and well connected Russian aristocrat was Grand Duke Paul, fourth son of Alexander II, and Paul's wife, Olga. They introduced one of the most important Russian emigres to Parisian society in the person of Sergei Diaghilev. His mission in life was to bring Russian art to the world. In 1908, he presented the opera Boris Godunov to rave reviews and the following year, the Ballet Russes. Within a few years, the annual visit of the ballet was the height of the Parisian season. Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov were the musicians, Michel Fokine the choreographer and Vaslav Nijinsky became the first international male star. It was so successful that Diaghilev decided to replace the make-shift traveling ensemble with a permanent company in Paris. 'Rites of Spring'  made the ballet company the toast the city. The wealthy were not Paris' only emigres. Those opposed to the regime who had fled flocked to the City of Light. Artists like Chagall, and Soutine and the writer Ehrenburg came. The outbreak of war changed everything. Many returned home. Approximately 10,000 Russian Jews who had left the Pale were stateless and were told to enlist in the French army or depart. They went to Spain or America. 

           The Revolution came in 1917. Kerensky confiscated the Romanov's assets, but the real threat was the Bolsheviks, who revoked the private ownership of property. The aristocrats and intelligentsia were now enemies of the people. Many were able to escape, and France was the number one destination. However, most of the Romanov's were killed in 1918, and early 1919.  One emigre aristocrat said, "Before us darkness and terror. Behind us - horror and hopelessness." Impoverished, they left Russia and fled to wherever they could go, hoping against hope for the chance to go home. The White Army collapsed in late 1920 and 146,000 people were evacuated from the Crimea. Many went to Constantinople where one saw "former generals working in laundries or kitchens; countesses, princesses, and their kind scrubbing floors and washing dishes or ...trying to sell a blouse, a uniform, a handful of medals, a pair of boots, or an old fur coat." Obtaining a visa or passport to leave Turkey was very difficult until France signaled that it was willing to accept the Russians because it needed to replace the many men it lost during the war.

        The forced sales of their jewelry at maddeningly low prices compelled the aristocrats to seek immediate employment. The most successful endeavors were led by the woman who "with sewing, millinery and knitting" established twenty-seven fashion houses between the mid-20's and 30's. Few of the men were as fortunate as  'forced proletarianism' reduced them to menial jobs. Generals and admirals  washed cars and drove taxis. The emigres retained their affection for their church and established the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral just off the Champs-Elysees. Wealthy members of the community created La Maison Russes, as a gathering place of refuge. "There is no greater pervading sense of Orthodoxy in exile than at the now famous Russian cemetery at Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois, which today contains the graves of more than ten thousand emigre Russians...several Romanovs, Prince Yusupov..." As the Russian community in Paris solidified, strengthened, and became the place where Whites congregated, it attracted the attention of the Bolsheviks. 

      After France recognized the USSR, it was easy for the Soviets to spy on the locals. Infiltration and intimidation were the primary techniques, but what the Soviets really wanted was to kidnap Romanovs and return them to the USSR. But the aristocrats began to die out, and by the end of the decade, there were few left who could be conceived as a monarchist threat. Indeed, the idea of defeating the Bolsheviks by arms faded away. As time went on, Paris began to resent the Russians presence, particularly after a deranged emigre assassinated the French president. Many began to leave for America. The ranks of those who were still therein 1940, were reduced when the Nazis took away the Jews and socialists. "By the end of the war, there were only 55,000 Russians left in France..." They too slowly faded away. 

     The concept of royalty working as doormen has been around for a long time. That which makes this book a fascinating read is putting together the details and specificity of people, wealthy and not, losing everything to revolution.