Summoned into their presence, I found Maria Fyodorovna weeping uncontrollably in her seat; he, meanwhile, was on his feet, stock-still, gaze fixed on the floor, cigarette (naturally) in hand. We embraced. I didn’t know what service I could render him. His calmness testified to the fact that he was firmly convinced of the rectitude of his decision, although he did reproach his brother Mikhail Alexandrovich for leaving Russia without an Emperor when he refused the throne. See more
Receiving in the post a book from Switzerland, I guessed that I’d find a letter inside the cover… And so it proved. I found a little note penned by Ilyich... as well as a photograph of him. See more
The third session of the Provisional Government. We met at the ministry of internal affairs, the location of Prince Lvov’s residence. We sat, sensing the grave glances of a dozen of former ministers of the old regime, whose portraits were hanging on the walls. I believe that it was there, surrounded by the portraits of former rulers and not by the excited mob in the Duma, that each of us suddenly realised for the first time the full degree of his involvement in what has happened in Russia in the last couple of days, and the horrible weight of responsibility that lay on us. See more
The meeting of artists at the Gorky's place
Dear friends, what an exciting time! . . . We’re all "going crazy" here. We don’t sleep. We don’t sit still. We run around encouraging the Norwegians to rebel. It's hard not to immediately go to Russia! Your slogan "civil war" has fully paid off! I see it everywhere. I want to tightly, firmly shake your hand. Anyway, you must be high spirits. Rejoice! All the best to both of you!
From the very first minutes, as soon as the news of the February Revolution came, Ilyich began to rush to Russia. It is necessary to go illegally, there are no legal ways. But how?Ilyich couldn’t sleep from the moment the news of the revolution came, and at night the most improbable of his plans were built. You can fly on an airplane. But this could only be conjured up in a sleepless, hallucinating state of mind. When it was said out loud, the impossibility, the unreality of this plan became clear. It is necessary to get a passport of some foreigner from a neutral country, a Swede is the best: a Swede will cause less suspicion. See more
Sweet, beloved Treasure.
What relief and joy it was to hear your precious voice only one heard so badly and one listens now to all our conversations. This morning only read the manifest and later another from M. People are beside themselves with misery and adoration for my Angel. A movement is beginning amongst the troops. Fear nothing from Sunny, she does not move -- does not exist. Only I feel and foresee glorious sunshine ahead. See more