Moscow Stories

by Loren R. Graham

The distinguished American historian of Russian and Soviet science Loren R. Graham recounts with warmth and wit his experiences during 45 years of traveling and researching in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia, from 1960 to 2005. Present for many historic events during this period, Graham writes not as a political correspondent or an analyst, but as an ordinary American living through these years alongside Russian friends and critics. Graham befriended some of the leading scientists and politicians in Russia, but his most touching stories concern average Russians with whom he lived, worked, suffered, and exchanged views. Graham also writes of the ethical questions he confronted, such as the tension between independence of thought and political loyalty. Finally, he depicts the ways in which Russia has changed―visually, politically, and ideologically―during the last 15 years. These gripping, sometimes humorous, always deeply personal stories will engage and inform all readers with an interest in Russia during this tumultuous period of history.

Genres: History, Russia, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2006

About the author

Loren R. Graham was an American historian of science, particularly science in Russia.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moscow Stories is a surprisingly good way to learn about Russia in the last half of the twentieth century. Author Loren Graham visited Moscow over sixty times, beginning in 1960 when he was one of the first American exchange students with that country. Later, as a historian of science, especially science in Russia, he visited to further his research. This book is a chatty telling about his life in Moscow.

While reading his stories, I felt that I was sitting around a fireplace, with a glass of red wine, and listening to him tell about his adventures. His experiences are unique and always interesting. While Graham is an academic, his stories are relaxed and often ironic and humorous.

Taken as a whole, Graham gives his reader an easy history of the Soviet Union and then Russia over his life time. We see the oppressive atmosphere of the regime and then the gradual changes. Among other stories, I enjoyed the vodka caper and his tale of jogging around Moscow, in the cold and ice, just to give the KGB minion, that was apparently following him, a hard time.

I was hesitant to read Moscow Stories, but enjoyed it much more than I expected. I did read it slowly, a chapter or two every once in awhile.

[Sol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moscow Stories
By Loren R. Graham

Review
By Sol Tetelbaum

There is nothing more exciting and enjoyable for a reader than a good book. I felt such enjoyment while reading Moscow Stories by Loren R. Graham. It is a truthful book. I emphasize the truthfulness because, as a former Soviet citizen, I remember what kind of effort was necessary (especially for a foreigner) to get truthful information in the USSR. The Soviet rulers made lying a norm of Soviet life. Someone mentioned sarcastically that Soviets need “ear – eye” doctors, because their eyes don’t see what their ears hear.
The book is a memoir written as separate stories about different people and events. These stories cover the period from 1960 till the present during which the author visited Moscow many times. I left the USSR in 1988, living there more than 50 years, and witnessed many events described by the author.
One of the author’s first impressions of the country was the people’s fear of terror by authorities, of KGB tyranny. Some of his stories sounded very familiar: I experienced similar situations. The author describes many phenomena of Soviet reality, such as their electoral system – the phenomenal invention of the Soviet “totalitarian democracy” (election of one out of one), secret KGB informers, widespread alcoholism, heartlessness of the Soviet authorities, etc.
Although the book is a memoir of a scientific historian, Graham makes it more interesting by including stories of his relationship with the FBI and CIA and several humorous episodes. I would like the author to tell us about his observations of other Soviet phenomena; some of them were extremely ugly, however a memoir isn’t a fiction, and one shouldn’t blame the author for lack of recollections.
The book is entitled Moscow Stories because it is mainly about Moscow. The Soviet rulers made Moscow a special city, concentrating there the best of everything and everybody: scientists and engineers, theaters and actors, writers and journalists, food and goods supply, etc. And if one adds that many diplomats and foreigners lived in the city, all of this made Moscow like a Potyomkin’s village of the country.
Russia is a complex and contradictory country, and reading the book, one has to be very careful judging the whole country by Moscow only. I believe the reader will enjoy the chapter An Ambiguous Funeral, where the author analyzes the political situation in Russia. Maybe his prognosis about it sounds too optimistic, but a truly democratic Russia is everybody’s wish.
Russia’s history is a history of totalitarian regimes. It is scary even to think that Vladimir Putin could become a new edition of Russian dictators. Post-Soviet Russia is a crucial period for the country which is very interesting for the readers; unfortunately, in his book, the author tells too little about Putin’s rule.
Summarizing my impressions, I recommend the book to all who are interested in Russia and politics, but I am sure that those who like to read smart, interesting books will read the book with great pleasure.

Solomon (Sol) Tetelbaum

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of this book was one of the first grad students to go to Russia as an exchange student. This is in the late 50s and early 60s and he is studying the history of Russian science. He goes back a bunch of times throughout his career. The "stories" are of his various experiences and people he meets. The book is not overtly political, but he does describe the privations of the society and the terrible goverment bureaucracy that makes everything difficult. In some cities, visitors walk around with toilet seats because they get stolen! And forget about tp in public restrooms. A big problem when MacDonalds came to town. There are more serious topics, such as when his friend dies because he can't get paperwork to leave the country and get medical care....It is a pretty good book.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's an often funny, sometimes sad, but always interesting account of one man's experiences in Russia from the 1960s through the early 21st century. I would recommend it to anyone, especially people interested in Russia, scientific history, or personal memoirs.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again a non-fiction because of Bridget...(though, I never did actually read the whole thing, but I got close).