Caviar and Commissars: The Experiences of a U.S. Naval Officer in Stalin's Russia

There are numerous funny stories in this book. Tolley, who spoke (perhaps present tense; word is he's still around) fluent Russian and adapted to Russian culture rather than attempting to bend it into something Americanesque, genuinely liked the people of Russia. He has done a fine job of separating this from his views on the Soviet political system, giving us a very fair portrayal of Russians (and to a lesser degree other USSR ethnic groups).

This would be a fine read for anyone planning to visit Russia. While the politics have changed a lot, the culture has changed far less, and this book would help the visitor to appreciate it.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Narrative of a US naval officer's experience in WWII USSR  Apr 15, 1998
Admiral Tolley writes from his personal experiences in wartime Stalist USSR. He spent two years as a naval attache dealing with the Soviet government and supporting the Allied efforts to supply the USSR with needed material. He met, wooed and wed his wife there. Later, following his transfer back to the fleet he enlisted the intervention of senior Soviet official to obtain an exit visa for his wife long after his own departure. Various wartime travel to Murmansk, Vladivostok, and other ports add spice to this excellent book. Also included is a brief sketch of the author's experiences as a Russian language student in Shanghai and Riga before WWII and a trip across Russia by train to Western Europe. A good read.