Caviar and Commissars: The Experiences of A U.S. Naval Officer in Stalin's Russia

by Kemp Tolley

Book Overview

Gifted storyteller Kemp Tolley guides readers through the lively world of a young naval attach in Moscow from 1942 to 1944. His absorbing tale describes the adventures of a thirty-day journey on a trans-Siberian train, the success of a long-sought-after inspection of a Soviet warship viewed through the haze of innumerable Vodka toasts, and the unease of state banquets with Stalin and Churchill. It also provides dramatic evidence of the contrasts of Soviet life with descriptions of elegant nights at the ballet accompanied by a beautiful agente provocatrice and memories of starving stevedores wolfing down scraps of raw meat thrown out by American ships. Filled with clever one-liners and complemented by numerous period photographs culled from the author's own collection, this reminiscence has enjoyed great appeal, since first published on 1983, with readers who like adventure and have an interest in the behind-the-scenes activities of the U.S. Navy and Soviet Union in the early 1940s.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557504075
• ISBN13: 9781557504074
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press
• Length: 289 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Caviar and Commissars:

This is a first class book about Naval Service as an American in Soviet Russia during World War Two. At the time many Americans thought that communism may be the way of the future. Anyone who served as a career US Naval officer in Russia saw how murderous and corrupt the Russians really are. The Russians are basically a corrupt people and the Communist system fed that corruption.

much to enjoy and appreciate here

Kemp Tolley was an attache to the Soviet Navy during WWII. He wrote this book during the late Cold War, which makes its general fairness all the more impressive. Don't be fooled by the title, which sounds like some sort of role-playing game--this is a keeper.There are numerous funny stories in this book. Tolley, who spoke (perhaps present tense; word is he's still around) fluent Russian and adapted to Russian culture rather than attempting to bend it into something Americanesque, genuinely liked the people of Russia. He has done a fine job of separating this from his views on the Soviet political system, giving us a very fair portrayal of Russians (and to a lesser degree other USSR ethnic groups).This would be a fine read for anyone planning to visit Russia. While the politics have changed a lot, the culture has changed far less, and this book would help the visitor to appreciate it.

Narrative of a US naval officer's experience in WWII USSR

Admiral Tolley writes from his personal experiences in wartime Stalist USSR. He spent two years as a naval attache dealing with the Soviet government and supporting the Allied efforts to supply the USSR with needed material. He met, wooed and wed his wife there. Later, following his transfer back to the fleet he enlisted the intervention of senior Soviet official to obtain an exit visa for his wife long after his own departure. Various wartime travel to Murmansk, Vladivostok, and other ports add spice to this excellent book. Also included is a brief sketch of the author's experiences as a Russian language student in Shanghai and Riga before WWII and a trip across Russia by train to Western Europe. A good read.