This is a fabulous read and I’m surprised there hasn’t been more notice taken of it. To my puzzlement it’s not listed either on Amazon UK or Goodreads (Dec 2024) and I’d be interested to know why. It certainly deserves a wide readership, as it’s a truly compelling story written with verve, humour and an appealing dose of self-deprecation. The author Yuri Radzievsky was a major media star in the Soviet Union, and “captain” of the enormously popular TV game show KVN, a show often watched by as many as 100 million viewers, He was a household name, recognised wherever he went. But at the height of his fame he was forced to flee his homeland, and take refuge in America. Where he immediately set about reinventing himself, and with his wife Anna at his side, soon forged a new spectacularly successful career in advertising, becoming wealthy and influential in his adopted country. It’s an amazing rags to riches tale, an immigrant success story, as well as the story of a family adapting to their new circumstances. A great read.

This is like most immigrant stories, hard to put down. EVery page makes me want to cheer for him and his wife.