Black Russia By Ruth Pierce: Book Review

Ruth Pierce was an American citizen who found herself in Kiev during the time of the Soviet Union. In her book Trapped in “Black Russia” Pierce collected the diary entries and letters she wrote to her parents and Peter, between the time of June 30, 1915 to sometime in November 1915. Though her stay in Kiev she was arrested for espionage, forcing her to delay her travels in the fight to get her passport back. In these letters and diary entries she explains what is going on in Kiev, the movement of the German front line, and the struggles she faced. Remarkable personality traits are revealed from Pierce in her writing from her humanity, her significant other, Peter, and her constant update on war time needs without focusing the war going on around
In a letter to her parents, Pierce told them not to worry about her being in Russia by noting: “I am in Russia – without Peter. Don’t be frightened, dearest. I came with Marie, and we will go back to Bucharest together in a week. Only a week in Russia” (Pierce, 1). Throughout the weeks Pierce explores the town of Kiev, with her most eventful journey being to the Jewish detention camp. In a letter to her parents, Pierce described what she witnessed at a Jewish detention camp: the beaten Jews, starvation, and their hideous living conditions. Because of this letter it got Pierce and Marie arrested for espionage by the Russian secret police. They were held for three months for questioning until Pierce was able to convince the officers that the letter was just a letter, and not a report for an American newspaper. After a few more months, and several meetings with government officials, who were trying to still trying to find proof that Pierce was a spy, but only evidence was the letter. Pierce demanded the officers to return her and Marie’s passport as she stated: “It’s outrage keeping our passports. I’m an America and I demand them” (Pierce, 137). With that outburst Pierce was able to attain her and Marie’s passports and leave Kiev. Throughout her stay in Kiev, the first world war was still
Peter was separated from her when she went to Kiev, as he had to stay behind in Bucharest for his business. She still wrote to him, making sure he felt loved no matter how many miles apart, they were as she wrote: “I only want to be telling you love much I love you and miss you? But it is almost unbearable to write you a love-letter. So many miles between us and so many months separate us” (Pierce, 38). When Pierce was arrested, she was afraid Peter might be arrested too, thus when she was allowed to send out telegrams she told Peter that she was going to be delayed and not to come to Kiev. Despite being told not to come to Kiev, Peter went to see what was delaying Pierce and Marie. When Peter arrives in Kiev, Pierce thought she was in a dream, using Peter’s arms to support herself, as she and Marie began to tell Peter about their arrest as fast as they could (Pierce, 80). Pierce was worried for Peter, wondering what he could do, to convince the officers of their innocence, as she expressed her thoughts in her writing: “He was talking and acting like a rational human being, which was sure proof he was in no position to cope with the Russian Secret Service” (Pierce, 81/82). Peter helps Pierce and Marie to get their passports back from the government, and get them out of the Soviet Union by sending them money and supporting from the outside as he soon had to leave Kiev and go back to his business. Pierce relied