In a sequence of poems in the dramatic monologue style, Charles Rammelkamp's Catastroika covers a century of Russian history from the late Nineteenth to the late Twentieth, in the voices of a fictional Russian Jew, Alexander Federmesser (Sasha) and Maria Rasputin, the sole surviving daughter of the "mad monk," Grigory Rasputin, the infamous spiritual advisor of the Romanovs, the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas, and his wife, Alexandra. Focusing on Grigory Rasputin largely through the eyes of his daughter, we read about the social turmoil in Russia that led to the Bolshevik Revolution, the war between the Red Russians and the White Russians, the excesses and cruelties of the Communist Party. We also learn, through Sasha's words, about the Anti-Semitism that pervades the whole era.

Both Maria and Sasha escape Russia and come to America. Sasha settles in Baltimore, where he meets his future wife, Riva, and makes a family and a life while always reliving the terrors of his early years. Maria dances in cabaret shows in Europe before becoming an animal trainer with the circus and later, after being mauled by a bear, a "Rosie the Riveter" for the United States during World War Two.

We follow both Maria and Sasha throughout their lives. Larger than life characters like Harry Houdini and Vladimir Nabokov make cameo appearances. While Maria dies in California in 1977, Sasha, an old man by then, survives through the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In so many ways, the sweep of Russian history mirrors his own life, and of course Maria's, and though murdered in 1916, Rasputin himself, his reputation, likewise undergoes change, like the city of Saint Petersburg itself, where so much of the drama in Catastroika takes place.

About the Author

Charles Rammelkamp is the author of The Secretkeepers, two collections of short fiction, A Better Tomorrow and Castleman in the Academy, and four previous collections of poetry, The Book of Life, Fusen Bakudan, Mata Hari: Eye of the Day and American Zeitgeist. Rammelkamp is is currently Prose Editor for BrickHouse Books in Baltimore and Reviews Editor for The Adirondack Review. He lives in Baltimore with his wife, Abby, to whom he's been married for about a million years. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

ThriftBooks is a fully independent seller of used books, having sold more than 160 million used and new books since we started in 2003. Each quality used book is sorted, graded, shelved and shipped by hand by our team of dedicated employees in our seven warehouses across the US. We have the best selection of books, in the right condition and format, at everyday low prices. We also have a dedicated, US-based Customer Service team, ranked in the top three by Newsweek for Best Customer Service in 2018 and 2019, so you can shop with confidence. We support and invest in our employees, appreciate and value our customers, and truly believe in the power of the written word to educate, energize, and engage readers of all ages and interests.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Thrift Books Global, LLC
18300 Cascade Ave S, Ste 150, Seattle, WA, 98188, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described
on the Abebooks website. If you're dissatisfied with your
purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the
order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30
days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your
mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the "Ask
bookseller a question link to contact us" and we'll respond
as soon as possible.

Shipping Terms

All domestic Standard shipments are distributed from our warehouses by OSM, then handed off to the USPS for final delivery.

2-Day Shipping is delivered by FedEx, which does not deliver to PO boxes.

International shipments are tendered to the local postal service in the destination country for final delivery – We do not use courier services for international deliveries.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	4 to 8 business days	4 to 8 business days
First item	US$ 0.00	US$ 0.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.