In 1904, author Sergie Waisman's grandparents, Bella Feinberg-an exotic seventeen-year-old Jewish maiden-and Russian officer Sergei Naryshkin met, fell in love, and married, over both their families' objections. When Sergei was assigned to the Russian military post at the tip of Manchuria, China, they established the roots of both Waisman's Russian heritage and his birth country, China. Following the Russian Revolution, Sergei and Bella raised their children in Harbin, China, where their grandson was born in 1944. Sergie grew up during the Chinese Civil War and under communism. His father was...

In 1904, author Sergie Waisman's grandparents, Bella Feinberg-an exotic seventeen-year-old Jewish maiden-and Russian officer Sergei Naryshkin met, fell in love, and married, over both their families' objections. When Sergei was assigned to the Russian military post at the tip of Manchuria, China, they established the roots of both Waisman's Russian heritage and his birth country, China. Following the Russian Revolution, Sergei and Bella raised their children in Harbin, China, where their grandson was born in 1944. Sergie grew up during the Chinese Civil War and under communism. His father was...