Review of the book written by the grandson of Mykhail Terestchenko (1886-1956), one of
The First Oligarch, written as a personal life account, is fascinating reading from a number of viewpoints. First of all, it merges the voices of the grandfather, Mykhail, with that of his French-born grandson and the author of the book, Michel, thus creating a dual discourse. One can’t resist wondering who in fact speaks and whose opinion is voiced by the narrator. As if this is not enough, the author states that the story of his grandfather’s life is told the way his “grandmother would have told it.” In a word, if you would like to argue with the author, ‘cherchez la femme”.
Secondly, the writing itself is easy on the reader and is always on target providing an exciting and eventful life story of a man whom the author places on the pedestal and whose moral values he openly admires. After all, what’s not to admire – a graduate of Leipzig university well versed in French, German, Portuguese, Czech and Italian; a darling of artistic circles of Petrograd and a great supporter of the arts who followed the family tradition of giving eighty percent of the family profit to charity, Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Provisional Russian Government after the March 1917 Revolution (he was the youngest minister of the government at the age of 31); a distinguished banker who built up his career from scratch after loosing his immense fortune to revolutionary Russia, a highly respected businessman and an ardent patriot.
And, finally, the book includes the details which would make romance novelists wishing they knew them first – a Cartier necklace – the biggest order in its history – as a gift of love and later as a tool of escape from a tsarist prison, evenings spent in a posh Parisian restaurant rented out just for the two lovers, a boat covered with red roses on the way to pick up the beloved, etc. Was this man for real?
Even though the book, with its numerous family photographs, is very personal and focused on the history of one Ukrainian family, it will present interest to a broad reading public – historians, art lovers, social workers, politicians, etc. One could only hope that at least some of the so-called Ukrainian oligarch’s of today could realize what the young Terestchenko and his family realized more than hundred years ago having created a motto “Striving toward the public good” under the family crest of the blue-and-yellow which stood for Ukraine. Michel Terestchenko’s book is yet another reminder that one is remembered not for his wealth but for the good that one created.
Hi Natasha-An excellent review which makes me want to read this book! Is there an English translation ?