Soul to Soul: A Black Russian American Family, 1865-1992

by Yelena Khanga

Book Overview

Yelena Khanga tells the compelling story of growing up black in Russia and journeying through cultures to learn about her forebears and meet relatives she had never known. From the days of slavery in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393034046
• ISBN13: 9780393034042
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 317 Pages
• Weight: 1.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Amazing story of African-Russian-Jewish-American lady!

Do you know there were Americans and African-Americans who long time( in 20-s and 30-s) ago traveled to Russia for a job opportunity during Depression? Some of them come back and some stayed. This story about family which stayed. Why? Do you know what could happened to the people at that old time if one of them were White and another Black? There were other reasons too. You are the Lucky ones to get that book and read it because people in Russia can't! I checked it out. I am same age and grow up in the same place with the Author Yelena Khanga, I can relate pretty much to that story. Yelena is a celebrity in Russia. Her family were friends with Stalin's daughter. I was amazed of her family story and how she learned what it means to be African-American in US in 90-s. You might better appreciate your ancestors after you reed this book. I would love to have a cup of Tea with her one day too. Soul to Soul: A Black Russian Jewish Woman's Search for Her Roots

Great multi-racial family history

I read this book as a book club selection a few years ago. I had doubts about it -- but after I read it--I loved it. Ms. Yelena Khanga is a Black Russian women who discovers her heritage and her love of jounalism. Khanga has such a rich family history, American (Black and white), Russian and African. As she tells her story she is unashame and relentless in detailing the facts - good and bad. Her family leaves New York in the early 1900's and lives in Russia. As the story unfolds, the family has been involved in Russian and African politics, her grandparents and father-- which is an inexpected twist. She is a very strong woman who comes to American as a journalist and rediscovers the life her family left behind. This story is unusual and unpredictable. After reading the book, I felt absorbed in family history-- not only American history, but Russian and African history.If you are a fan of family history as I am - you will like this book.

Yelena's Story

I have read Yelena Khanga?s story several times in the past several years. Leaning something different each time that I read it. Her wit and her humor are outstanding given the time she was writing about. It was a time of great history for both nations as well as both cultures. She looks through the eyes of an individual of great wonder. A person ho looks around and sees a world change. Meeting her new ?family? that under given circumstances would have been the enemy was a great delight to read.I encourage her to write a sequel to the book. I hope to meet her one day. Sit down in a café and drink Chi.

A story that would have much interest to anyone.

Really learned a lot about a subject that I knew nothing about. All history is family history. A fascinating story that puts you inside a Russia we never hear about.