BEARS IN THE CAVIAR

by Charles W. Thayer ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 18, 1951

A lively, jaunty autobiographical account of a diplomat, who entered the Foreign Service via West Point and when Army glamor was dimmed by an oppressive preoccupation with shoe polish, decided to go to Russia, learn the language, and join the Embassy -- in 1933. Flying into Russia at a treetop ceiling, faced by the ubiquitous mud and Intourist guides (""at least you could scrape the mud off""), Thayer secured his appointment as an interpreter to Ambassador Bullitt. There is the outfitting of the new Embassy; problems in house-keeping and entertaining in a country where the lighter side of social progress was ignored; his introduction of seals- and bears- in the ballroom, and polo to the Red Army; a temporary transfer to Berlin when the war broke out; back to Moscow for the evacuation to Kuibyshev; an assignment in Afghanistan where he took up falconry; and then more active duty in the O.S.S.-- A disarming, debonair narrative- which even in high places- does not stand on ceremony.

Pub Date: April 18, 1951

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Lippincott

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1951

Categories: NONFICTION