Summary

Part 2 begins with Chapter 5, taking place in Sofya’s perspective in 1916. More than two years after Eliza left St. Petersburg, Sofya’s family shuttered their townhouse and fled the city. “At first Russia greeted the news of war with joy, sending soldiers off to cheers and marching bands on Nevsky Prospekt. But after our huge defeat and retreat from Galicia things had spiraled downward” (55). The war ruined Russia’s economy, and soldiers are increasingly deserting to join other Russians to protest the war. By autumn of 1916, “a rash of terrorist robberies” lead to the Finance Ministry urging Sofya’s father to “take important documents to the country for safekeeping” (55). The Streshnayvas move to their country house near the village of Malinov.

While leaving St. Petersburg, the masses recognized the family’s escape by their “showy carriage” (55). Sofya looks out into the crowd of...