In 1894, Eleanor L. Pray left her New England home to move to Vladivostok in the Russian Far East with her husband, a merchant apprentice . Over the next thirty-six years-- from the time of Tsar Alexander III to the early years of Stalin's rule--she wrote over 2,000 letters chronicling her family life and the tumultuous social and political events she witnessed. Vladivostok, 5,600 miles east of Moscow, was shaped by a rich intersection of European and Asian cultures, and Pray's witty and observant writing paints a vivid picture of the city and its denizens during a period of momentous social change. The book offers highlights from Pray's letters along with illuminating historical and biographical information.<p><b>Birgitta Ingemanson</b> is professor emerita of foreign languages and cultures at Washington State University. <b>Patricia D. Silver</b>, Pray's granddaughter, preserved and organized the letters.<p>"Pray's letters are a treasure trove." <b>ÐHelen Hundley</b>, Wichita State University<p>"A magnificent collection of documents." <b>ÐSteven Marks</b>, Clemson University