The Tarasov Saga: From Russia Through China to Australia Book

Tarasov, a colonel in the 'White' Russian army, his wife Aida and their five children suffered the traumas of the Revolution and the Civil War which followed it. The story details Aida's search for her husband across the vast expanse of Siberia, her separation from her five children during the turmoil, and the unbelievable events which led to the family's eventual escape into China in 1922. A new life began in the bustling city of Harbin, the 'Moscow of the Orient'. Years of hard work and deprivation brought them some semblance of a good life, only to have it shattered by the arrival of the Japanese aggressors in 1937. The War years followed, and then a few years of relative peace before the arrival of the Chinese 'Reds'. The consequent mass exodus of the 'White' Russians from China in 1949 to a Displaced Persons' Camp on the remote Philipine island of Tubabao is chronicled in startling detail. The final leg of this epic journey brings the whole family to Australia. The story gives a vivid description of life in the Chinese city of Harbin under strong Russian influence, the Foreign Concessions of Tientsin and Shanghai, and the exclusive resort of Peitaiho Beach. Richly illustrated with dozens of photographs, it also contains interesting, little known historical details about Russia and China. Author Nash writes: "The tough life, the deprivations - these are what made our parents and grandparents courageous and resilient. They had to fight for everything. They learned not to wilt under pressure, nor take anything for granted. They treated hardship as just a normal phase of life, a stepping stone to a brighter future."Read More