Price: $17.00 - $9.99
(as of Feb 06, 2025 07:26:07 UTC – Details)
The Black Russian is the incredible true story of Frederick Bruce Thomas, born in 1872 to former slaves who became prosperous farmers in Mississippi. After his father was brutally murdered, Frederick left the South and worked as a waiter in Chicago and Brooklyn. Seeking greater freedom, he traveled to London, then crisscrossed Europe, andin a highly unusual choice for a black American at the timewent to Russia.
Because he found no color line there, Frederick settled in Moscow, becoming a rich and famous owner of variety theaters and restaurants. When the Bolshevik Revolution ruined him, he barely escaped to Constantinople, where he made another fortune by opening celebrated nightclubs as the “Sultan of Jazz.” However, the long arm of American racism, the xenophobia of the new Turkish Republic, and Frederick’s own extravagance landed him in debtor’s prison. He died in Constantinople in 1928.
Publisher : Grove Press (April 8, 2014)
Language : English
Paperback : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 0802122299
ISBN-13 : 978-0802122292
Item Weight : 13.6 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 1 x 9 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book an engaging read with accurate historical details. They praise the well-researched and detailed account of the era. The writing style is described as articulate and vivid. Readers appreciate the authenticity of the true story and the author’s ability to make history come alive in a compelling way. The characters are described as interesting, though not fully developed. Overall, customers find the book a rich depiction of resilience and determination.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
