The Weeping and the Laughter

A Woman of Cairo

by Noel Barber

This story describes the dramatic lives of Prince Dmitri Korolev and his family caught up in the upheavals of European revolution and war.

They flee Russia in 1919, escape to Switzerland and then Paris, but, with the Second World War, they come under further pressure from the Communist police.

The author worked for many years in Paris as a foreign correspondent and has written several novels including "Tanamera", "A Farewell to France", "A Woman of Cairo" and "The Other Side of Paradise".

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Romance, Russia, France, War

512 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1984

About the author

Noel Barber was a British novelist and journalist. Many of his novels, set in exotic countries, are about his experiences as leading foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail. He was the son of John Barber and his Danish wife, Musse, and had two brothers: Kenneth, a banker, and Anthony Barber, Baron Barber.
Most notably he reported from Morocco, where he was stabbed five times. In October 1956, Barber survived a gunshot wound to the head by a Soviet sentry in Hungary during the Hungarian revolution. A car crash ended his career as journalist. He then began writing novels: he became a best-selling novelist in his seventies with his first novel, Tanamera.

Reviews

[Razvan Banciu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, although destined mostly for ladies. Interesting facts, some pieces of history almost made me give four stars. But too many coincidences, some unnecessary pathos mostly around Rudy's story and my dislike about Nicky's behaviour against Major Ullmann have reduced them to three.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rudi, my twin brother, and I were twelve years old when, one day early in 1919, Rudi overheard Papa talking to Mama and Aunt Olga in the next room.

Whilst the writing here has no specific élan, there are some fun moments where the ploy is to up the ante by name dropping who was in Paris and/or Monte Carlo back then:

Ernest Hemmingway
Gertrude Stein
Diaghilev
Chagall
Goncharova
Stravinsky (and later Nijinsky)
Princess Edmond de Polignac
Picasso

Yep, the things that happen when authorial verve is slightly lacking. 3.5*

[Jessica Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book. There was just something about the story that still haunts me. I read it as often as i can.

[Salla-Maria L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books from my auntie's collection keep surprising me. This story of the Korolev family, fleeing from Russia and struggling to start a new life in France during the second World War, is filled with interesting characters and surprises. At its best this is a great and exciting novel of adventure and survival, only occasionally falling to slight pathetism. The Korolevs are priviledged and rich, and despite the fact that this is a fictional story, I couldn't help but think of how different things were to so many others at that time... All in all, to me the novel seems to want emphasize how there are always more than two sides to a war, and that is a good thing to remember.

[Jill Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping story, beginning in 1919 in Russia, shortly after the murders of Czar Nicholas and his family. Personal friends of the Czar, the Korolev family, are planning to escape Russia to get away from the Bolshevik regime. They disguise themselves as peasants and travel in 2 wagons to the port of Kronstadt, where a boat awaits them to take them to Denmark. Unfortunately the 2 wagons are separated, and only those in the 2nd wagon succeed in reaching the boat safely. The other family members are either killed or disappear in the riot. From that point, the story follows those who escaped and their ensuing lives in Paris. There are triumphs and tragedies throughout the narrative, which continues on to the 2nd World War, and the occupation of Paris by the Germans. The ex=pat Russians are safe until Germany declares war on Russia, when the Nazis start rounding up the Russians to send them to concentration camps. More successes and failures ensue, even after the war finally ends, as there are a lot of loose threads which still need to be tied off. It is a book which is hard to put down, as one crisis after another occurs. A good read!!

[Rachelle Seymore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully written novel that spans over almost thirty years. It starts with the aristocratic Korolev family preparing to flee a Russia that is in turmoil and on the brink of revolution. The family gets seperated and only some of them make it to France. They continue with their unusual lives, slotting into the decadence of the time. As life continues surprises come their way as their aunt, lost in their attempt to flee the revolution, arrives on their doorstop with young Tasha, whom she claims is her daugter. Then many years later after Prince Korolev's death, information reaches them that Nikki's twin brother, Rudi, who was also seperated from them while fleeing, was in fact alive, but his whereabouts unknown. After a war-torn Europe they discover he is held as a POW, on the verge of being sent back to Russia, now under Stalin, which would certainly mean death. Although a novel, it is set in historical fact and well worth reading.

[Gloria Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit heavy going story Didnt enjoy the first part of the book but then the story became quite good

[Pia Lahti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lopulta tarina olikin mielenkiintoinen, uskomattomia tapahtumia; rikkaiden venäläisten elämää sodan Ranskassa, Sveitsissä.

[Panashe Nyoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is good for me

[Lois Condon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides interresting insights on the life of noble Russians who flee in the early 1900's to Paris. Very interresting especiatlly to those of eastern european heritate.

[Tawfiq elBastaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story takes place during the last days of the Romanov royals of Russia ...

[Anny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reading it in estonian language

Sad story about after the war, the story of one family.

[Donna Boultwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite Noel Barber, but still a good story.

[Stefan Salonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trevlig läsning under tid av flunssa.

[Marion Aranjo · Rating 3 out of 5]

fairy tale history