Reviews for The Provincial Lady in Russia

The average rating for The Provincial Lady in Russia based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-05-04 00:00:00 Cody Pata Interesting to read as an impression of Russia in the 1930s. As we now know, life was far more terrible for many Russians than Delafield could have guessed, but she was probably typical of the western travellers of the time, and as a Russian pointed out to her, she could not possibly know and understand Russia without living there - preferably for at least one lifetime. Worth reading as a curiosity.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-02-11 00:00:00 Trevor Gray Although this nonfiction account by E.M. Delafield (pen name of Elizabeth Dashwood) of her six-month sojourn in the Soviet Union is not really part of the Provincial Lady series, it's packaged with the four true Provincial Lady novels in The Provincial Lady Complete Series (a steal at 99 cents!). The original title was I Visit the Soviets, and you'll know to not expect any adventures including Vicky, Robin, husband Robert, her household of demanding servants or Delafield's offbeat friends and neighbors. While less charming that the proper Provincial Lady novels, this book is eye-opening in his details of Stalinist Soviet Union (although, of course, no one knew the worst until the rise of Nikita Khrushchev). Even so, Delafield laments the shortages, drabness, incompetence, deprivations, extensive lines, undrinkable water, terrible restaurants and food, and worse transit. An enjoyable read; just don't go into it expecting humor, sweetness and light.