To Russia with Love: An Alaskan's Journey

by Victor Fischer, Charles Wohlforth

Son of the famous American journalist Louis Fischer, who corresponded from Germany and then Moscow, and the Russian writer Markoosha Fischer, Victor Fischer grew up in the shadow of Hitler and Stalin, watching his friends’ parents disappear after political arrests. Eleanor Roosevelt personally engineered the Fischer family’s escape from Russia, and soon after Victor was serving in the United States Army in World War II and fighting opposite his childhood friends in the Russian and German armies. 
As a young adult, he went on to help shape Alaska’s map by planning towns throughout the state. This unique autobiography recounts Fischer’s earliest days in Germany, Russia, and Alaska, where he soon entered civic affairs and was elected as a delegate to the Alaska Constitutional Convention—the body responsible for establishing statehood in the territory. A move to Washington, DC, and further government appointments allowed him to witness key historic events of his era, which he also recounts here. Finally, Fischer brings his memoir up to the present, describing how he has returned to Russia many times to bring the lessons of Alaska freedom and prosperity to the newly democratic states.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Russia

425 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[John Hanscom · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for me, though probably 4 for others. First, I have met Vic Fisher, though we are hardly friends. Secondly, there is so mush ALASKA in this book, it resonated, though our experiences have differed. Should anyone want a "quick and dirty" on a number of subjects, that person could hardly go wrong here.

[Janice Banta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the interplay of significant historic events with Vic's personal story. Especially loved that Vic was gracious enough to join us at book group, along with his amazing wife, Jane Anvik. What a treat!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victor Fischer had a very interesting life, there is no denying that. As a Jewish child, traveling between Germany and Russia as World War II was brewing. His mother struggling to keep his safe and happy. Family and friends involved in the Spanish Civil War. Close childhood friends who ended up in the leadership of Russia and Germany. His father Louis Fischer, a famous journalist and author, his mother, Markoosha Fischer an activist and also a writer. Eleanor Roosevelt interceding to help bring Victor, his mother and brother to America. A front row view of the conflicts within the Soviet leadership, including the conflict between Trotsky and Stalin. Participating in World War II on the side of America. Then coming to Alaska, campaigning for statehood and helping write the Alaska Constitution. Later he worked at the University and in Government, and helped establish connections with Russia in the post-Soviet era. He saw the promise of the democratization of Russia and did what he could to foster cooperation between Alaska and the Russian far east, and saw that come to an end as mismanagement created and opening for Putin to come to power.

In his personal life I would say he was a bit of a jerk, enjoying his "dalliances" with little regret or sense of compassion for his wife and children, but also a giving and generous person in many ways. Perhaps a bit stuck on himself, as leaders like him often are. For me, the book slowed down a bit after the part about the Alaska Constitution, but Victor Fischer's interesting and eventful life continued on into his 90s. It's a pretty fascinating story.

I read an ebook version that I obtained via the Alaska Library Catalog. I'm attaching a link to Victor Fischer's obituary in the Anchorage Daily News.
https://www.adn.com/opinions/2023/10/...

[Milo Adkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vic Fisher is the last? surviving delegate of the Alaska constitutional convention. And that may be the least interesting thing about him. He grew up in Russia just after the revolution and his family knew all of the bigwigs. He and his childhood buddies fought on three different sides in WWII. His father wrote the biography that the film Gandhi was based on. And there’s lots more. If this was novel I’d pan it for its ridiculous plot. But it’s all true...

[Mike Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heckuva story and life. Grew up in Stalin’s Russia and Hitler’s Germany and likely survived only because his dad was a well known American journalist. A story of Alaska’s early years as a state. Most likely only of interest to Alaskans. Straightforward writing but not enough context for a broader audience.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘To Russia with Love’ is Vic Fischer’s autobiography written with the assistance of Charles Wohlforth. So who is Vic Fischer? Fischer, born in 1924 in Berlin, is a Russian/American, who as a boy, experienced Hitler’s brand of fascism in Germany and Stalin’s brand of communism in Moscow. His father was a famous american journalist and ner-do-well and his mother was a Russian writer. His family was rescued from self-destructing Europe in 1939 through the personal intervention of Eleanor Roosevelt. Fischer served in the U.S. Army during WW II, moved to Alaska in 1950, helped author the Alaska state constitution, served in the state legislature, was a key figure at the University of Alaska, and has a list of accomplishments as long as your arm. He has and continues to lead a most extraordinary life. His is a life that deserves to be told.
When reviewing a book, however, the first question for me is, ‘was this book an enjoyable read?’. ‘To Russia with Love’ was a tedious read. The book is not chronological, which would be fine, if it were not confusing and at time repetitive. There are various interesting stories in the book, but much of it reads like your uncle’s annual christmas letter - an exhaustive list of what he did when, where he went, and who with; to no obvious interest to a typical reader trying to glean the important facets of Fischer’s life. Fischer is a political figure, but he glosses over a lot of issues that could have used much more thought and explanation. He also excuses (briefly) a very flawed personal life which, to me, begs more explanation. This book is a good example of why I am dubious about autobiographies - the author unavoidably is way to close to the forest to see the trees.
Finally, the editing is poor, with sentences here and there in some sections that do not make sense. To me, Wohlforth’s job was to take care of things like that and to nudge Fischer into writing a more interesting and flowing life account.
I learned a great deal reading this book and no doubt, there are people who will like the book. I wanted to, but could not.

[Nola · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is amazing and inspiring in showing how much a person can cram into a lifetime. It gives a dedicated (later to be disillusioned) communist family's perspective on Russian history from the early 1900s on. The early parts of the book might have benefited from a little more sensory descriptions. When you hear there isn't enough to eat, it makes it more real to know what there was to eat. But it was a long time ago, and I understand that it was difficult for the author to piece together all the things that happens from such a long time ago. The second part of the book seems to jump around a bit with politics and career first and then stories of narrow escapes at the end. The description of the constitutional convention shows how time was allowed for thoughtfulness in its development. I think it might have been nice for the book to include more of the ideas and issues involved in the author's community planning career because these are probably still relevant now.

[Janice Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vic Fischer has led an amazing life. Lived in Berlin, Moscow, escaped the purges in USSR in 1939, served in WWII and helped write the Alaskan constitution and much much more. This was an engaging read, well written (and he generously give credit to the help he received from Charles Wolhforth). He gives the reader a glimpse into his childhood when he grew up around communism and fascism, the innocence of childhood but also some of the harshness from the time.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book # 1

Kaitlyn Bausler's choice.

Group Rating: 2.5 out of 5. Everyone seemed to like the beginning of the book, but became annoyed with Vic Fischer's high opinion of himself. Overall an interesting piece of Alaska history.

(Picked November 2013).

5 Year anniversary Nov 2018
10 year anniversary Nov 2023
15 year anniversary Nov 2028

[Bob Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating autobiography. Vic Fischer has a fascinating life, and Alaska is fortunate that he chose to live there. He helped write the best constitution any state could have.

[Bruth George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Includes an interesting account of Alaska's Constitutional Convention and other Alaska history.