This is an interesting and inexpensive little book ~ about 'postcard' size, hardback, and containing pictures of around 50 postcards on Russian topics from about 1904 to the early 20's. They are a small fraction of an immense collection, on every subject imaginable, gathered together by one man (John Fraser) over a period of sixty years or so. He finally presented the whole lot to the Bodleian Library, Oxfod. In his introduction, Andrew Roberts reminds us that the postcard was the early 20th Century's equivalent to the email ~ written and sent quickly to make a point, share an item of news, or remind someone of an important theme or thought. The selection reproduced here is of interest on many levels. The reverse side of the postcard (on which the message is written) is also shown in each case, and is often just as interesting as the picture itself. It is true a few of the cards are lurid, cruel and unkind, and portray the Romanovs in a way we are not accustomed to seeing (on this forum at least), but we have to remember this is how the revolutionary groups perceived them. Others, however, are tender reminders of how the Imperial Family was portrayed to the Russian populace in the first decade of the 20th Century ~ a postcard of the five children in sailor suits in August 1908 on holiday at Shkery, Finland, is a fine example. The most poignant postcard, in my view, is a view of the Governor's House, Tobolsk, written (in Russian) on 2nd November 1917, and addressed to Peter Sergeivich Tolstoy in Odessa. The card says : 'I send you my warmest thanks for your message and your good memories, O.' Almost worth buying the book for that one item alone ~ although it has been published before. Details at
www.bodleianbookshop.co.uk
