The Crimson Oak by E.M. Almedingen
Historical fiction for children – Russia 1739 A.D.

Set in a village quite remote from Moscow, the story revolves around Peter, a peasant’s son. In 1739, Tsar Peter the Great, the Empress Anna and her oppressive regime ruled the Russian land. Most of the people, however, favored the Princess Elizabeth (Peter the Greats daughter) who had been exiled. Our peasant Peter by chance meets the banished princess and does her a great favor. In turn she promises a reward, should her power be restored to her.

This is a delightful book that I read aloud to our children. Some phrases naturally had to be explained. I enjoyed reading the book as an adult as well due to the author’s fine writing style and simple descriptions of everyday Orthodox life in the 1800’s.

The author was born in St. Petersburg and immigrated to England in her twenties, following WWI. A few of her other fine youth books include One Fir Tree (A Christmas story set in Finland during WWI), Young Pavlova about the great ballerinas childhood, and Land of Moscovy, which chronicles Russian history up to the time of the first Romanov ruler. Her book Young Mark, is based on an account of her great grandfathers fantastic venture and will be in our church library soon. I have also read the author’s autobiography, Tomorrow Will Come. Her love for Russia and Orthodoxy, shine through all her writings. The Crimson Oak manuscript was discovered after her death in 1971.

Ms. Almedigen’s books are widely available in our County library system and probably yours as well. Just ask your librarian to search for them in the computer system. This book is in our Church library as well. I hope to have several of her children’s books available here soon. Since they are out of print they must be found on the Internet.