Latest Q & A
Dear Andrew, I believe my great-grandfather was a member of the Peoples Will and attempted a ill fated attack on the life of Tsar Alexander III. However, I'm having a hard time finding out any information about him. We don't know his real last name but we think the original last name was Bojarski. His first name was Victor and my great-grandfather had to leave Russia, because he was treasonous. How can I find out information about him and if he was a member of The Peoples Will how can I find that out? Any information you can give me would be appreciated. Thank you, Bethany
Dear Bethany,
Sorry slow getting back to you, have just returned from holiday. Bojarski.... There are certainly very good records in Moscow for those involved in 'criminal activity' in Tsarist times. Do you speak Russian? There is a lot of study material in Russian on this subject. A friend sifted through Russian volumes for me at Cambridge. I used an academic in Petersburg who is an expert on this period, a friend of a friend. He was invaluable. If you don't speak Russian, I think it might be worth approaching a student of Russian history or language to help you out here first. The trail may very well require some digging in Moscow, depending on how prominent a figure your great grandfather proves to be. But, as I say, the Russian-Soviet histories are pretty good and include reproductions of many original documents, so there is a respectable chance you might find something in them. Sorry, that is all a bit vague. As you can imagine, there is a good deal of material in English and Russian relating to The People Will members involved in the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, rather less for Alexander III.
Sounds like a fascinating history to uncover.
Best wishes
Andrew
what is it like being an author?
First of all, apologies for not getting back to you sooner Jen, I've had some trouble accessing the Q and A section of the website.
What's it like being an author?
It's customary for authors to say 'it's a privilege' and stop there. It is certainly a privilege to see your story between covers and on the shelf at Waterstones [although the table is always better!]. Sometimes writing is satisfying, even fun, but a lot of the time, actually most of the time, it's hard frustrating graft and a lonely business. I've heard authors say, 'I'm never alone, there are my characters'. I don't buy that, but then, I used to work in television which is a very collaborative enterprise. That said, I've got used to the routine now and it would be difficult to go back to something else. It's a compulsion. It's very nice to get feedback from readers who've enjoyed reading your book[s], of course. That really does give you a lift. Nice to get a cheque too!
Best Wishes
Andrew
Hi I realy enjoyed The Interrogator. Any more Novels in the pipe line? Regards Mark
Thanks Mark. Sorry I've been slow getting back to you, but I managed to lock myself out of the Q and A section. Yes, I'm working on the first of a trilogy - spy thrillers set at the beginning of the 20th century. Currently on chapter 6 of the first, and trying to pick up some pace with the writing. It's set in Germany and America during the First World War. I have to deliver it in the summer and I think it will be published in March of next year. To Kill A Tsar comes out in paperback at the end of the summer.
Thanks for reading The Interrogator and for the positive feedback. I'll up date the website with a date for the next one [still struggling with the title], and hope you manage to catch it.
Best Wishes
Andrew
After "The Interrogator" got such good reviews, I read it myself and then proposed it as the choice for the November 2010 meeting of my book group of 12 ladies. I will introduce the book and as I have also read "The Battle of the Atlantic", I feel I will be able to give a comprehensive account with lots of background information. I loved both books.
Dear Pamela - that is very kind of you. I'm grateful. Apologies for taking so long to get back to you. Unfortunately, I managed to lock myself out of the Q and A section on the website, and its taken the production company this long to retrieve it for me. I'm sure it was something simple, but I'm not very good with web stuff, although grateful for the chance to get feedback from readers.
It was so nice of you to write. Thank you for encouraging others to read The Interrogator. I would be most interested in their views.
Best Wishes
Andrew
Dear Mr Williams I greatly enjoyed your book “To Kill A Tsar”. Your book helped me to imagine the world in which my ancestors lived. I found the detail of life in St Petersburg , the plotting of the conspirators and the work of the police brought the story to life for me. My reason for writing is that in researching my family history I find that my great grandfather, Esper Alexandrovitch Serebriakoff, was a lieutenant in the Russian Navy stationed at Kronstadt in March 1881. He is quoted in a history of Vera Figner as commenting on her stay at Kronstadt after her escape from St Peterburg after the assassination of Tsar Alexander. He escaped from Russia in 1883 having been tipped off that he was about to be arrested, arriving in Paris in 1884. He lived in England from about 1886 to 1905, returning to Russia some time before the 1917 revolution, leaving my grandfather behind, and was employed recording the history of Norodnaya Volya. He died in 1921. I wondered if during your research for your book you came across any material which might be useful to me. Mark Serebriakoff
Dear Mark - first of all, apologies for being so slow getting back to you. Somehow, I managed to lock myself out of the website's Q and A facility. Thank you for your kind remarks about the book, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Your great grandfather sounds like a most fascinating man. Off the top of my hand, there was a very active cell in the navy, that Zhelyabov and the naval lieutenant, Sukhanov had recruited. As I recall, there was quite a purge of the navy after the assassination of the tsar. But I expect you know all that? Further details I'll need to check in a couple of books. Have you checked Vera Figner's memoirs? I'll have a look in these too. I have a list of the contemporary sources, somewhere. The best sources are in Russian, because academics were encouraged to study The People's Will in Soviet times, but there are also some good memoirs in English and French.
Will have a look at what I've got and will get back to you.
Best Wishes
Andrew