Out of the Past

by Alexandra Tolstoy, Catherine Wolkonsky (Editor), Katharine Strelsky (Editor)

Includes material reprinted from: I worked for the Soviet. New Haven : Yale University Press, 1934. Various translators.
Foreword
A Note on the Author
Editor's Note
The Tolstoy Family
Russia 1884-1917
I Worked for the Soviets 1917-29
From Moscow to Tokyo 1929-31
First Steps in America 1931-39
Appendix: The Tolstoy Foundation
Publications of Alexandra Tolstoy
Index

474 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Alexandra Lvovna Tolstaya, also known by her nickname Sasha, was the youngest daughter and secretary of the noted Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy.

Although Alexandra Lvovna shared with her father the doctrine of non-violence, she felt it was her duty to take part in the events of World War I. For her courage, the Russian government awarded her three St George Medals and the rank of colonel.

The Bolsheviks imprisoned Alexandra in 1920, but she was installed as the director of the Tolstoy museum in Yasnaya Polyana the next year. She left Russia in 1929, and settled in the United States, where she founded the Tolstoy Foundation.

Reviews

[Sarah]

What a cool memoir! This is by the youngest daughter of Tolstoy, who took on the task of preserving his legacy (and without whom, I think Tolstoy's influence in Russia would have been muddied from his original intention a lot). Imprisoned by the Soviets more than once; in correspondence with high-ranking Soviet officials, including Stalin; deeply motivated by her father's religious faith in how she ran his estate and school: Alexandra was a woman of courage. She never married, emigrated from the Soviet Union for the sake of her conscience, which she felt was "stretched like a rubber band," lived in Japan and talked to Japanese feminists, and finally moved to the US, where she met Jane Addams, wrote letters to Eleanor Roosevelt, and tried to communicate the urgency of suffering in the Soviet Union to an American public disinclined to believe her.

[Dianne Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating on so many levels. Yes, she is the daughter of the great author, so the fun of getting insight into his family and private life is a given. But she was an incredible woman in her own right. It is always so interesting to get an inside peek at the Russian mindset. For instance, when she lived in the US during the great depression and saw the people panicking at the bank closures, she was astounded that these people had never experienced loss of property to the state. She had a hard, productive life and there is not a hint of whining, or of entitlement. She was a nurse on the Russian war front. She was imprisoned. She defected to Japan, and her experiences there are insightful into yet another culture. She met with E Roosevelt, and was befriended by the founder of the Hull House. She wondered if she overreacted to being pursued by Russian henchmen. She spoke and worked tirelessly against anti-religious propaganda, our country's recognition of the Russian state and communist mentality. Her voice should continue to be heard. We still have things we can learn from her- this is how history ought to be taught.

[Rwildfon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly interesting book written by Leo Tolstoy's daughter. She tells mostly of events after his death when she volunteers for the Crimean war, Bolshevik revolution and its affect on the family, the homeplace "Yasnaya Polyana" which still exists as a museum (I want to go there!), her work at Yasnaya Polynana under the Soviets, her stay in Japan (wonderful descriptions) and defection to the United States and how difficult it was for them living here, until the Tolstoy Foundation became a reality in Valley Cottage, NY. (which also still exists)

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Composite memoir by Leo Tolstoy's youngest child. Sections on 1884-1917; working with the Soviets 1917-1929; escape to Japan 1929-1931; moving to the U.S. 1931-1939; also brief notes on her post-WW II period. Not terribly memorable, but seemed worth reading at the time. Good info on Leo T.'s last years.