Author(s): Boris Frankel

Biography

This book is a dramatic account of the making of a family of 'subversives' in Australia and the USSR during the Cold War. It also captures the texture of everyday life in Australia and Russia, with humour and insight. Importantly, it is much more than a tale of dreams and deceptions. It is an unflinching chronicle of love and courage in the face of concerted opposition by both the Menzies' authoritarian government of 'illiberal democracy' and the Soviet dictatorship. Above all, it is a story of idealism, illusions, resistance, and radicalisation. No other Australian family went through the extraordinary experiences detailed in this unconventional historical memoir.

Robert Manne: "It is truly a fascinating, vivid, and singular story."

Peter Chistoff: "A gripping tale of devotion, idealism and folly that spans the globe. It provides a unique insight into dissident and migrant life in Australia."