Moscow, 1914. A country heading relentlessly towards a revolution. And a world about to plunge into war. George Munnings is the son of a fabulously successful Edwardian speculator – one of the richest men in the City of London. He is sent to Moscow by his father to tie down his first business deal. Alexandrite is a rare and precious gem found only in a small area of the Ural Mountains. There’s a fortune to be made – if they can get there in time. But in his new and strange surrounding, it is not just affairs of business George will have to learn about. It is affairs of the heart as well. In Moscow, George meets Vera, a beguiling young Russian woman, as beautiful as she is headstrong. And George Munnings is about to embark on an epic adventure. It will take him from Moscow’s luxurious Metropole Hotel, to the notorious Butyrka Prison and to the dreaded Lubyanka of the Bolsheviks’ secret service. Along the way he encounters financial fraudsters, professional courtesans, wealthy art collectors, revolutionaries and well-meaning fellow-travellers. But as Russia is thrown into turmoil, and his father faces financial ruin, revolution and bankruptcy threaten to separate George from the love of his life. And he will have to decide whether he is willing to risk everything – even life itself – for Vera. ‘Red Fortunes’ is brilliant historical romance that captures Russia both before and after the Revolution. It combines real and fictional characters, and detailed historical research, to create a sweeping story of love, finance, war and revolution that will captivate readers from the first page to the last. It is perfect for fans of Sebastian Faulks and William Boyd. 'An enthralling tale of love and revolution that can give you pause - and also make you keep turning the pages.' - Richard Foreman, best-selling author of 'Warsaw'. 'Takes you right into the Russian Revolution. I loved it.' - Tom Kasey, best-selling author of 'The Dante Conspiracy'. Hugh Fraser is a former journalist who now runs the Storynory website, which publishes audio stories for children. He was educated at Hampton School and Oxford University, where he studied Classics. He lived in Moscow from 1990 to 1993. He covered the end of Communism and the momentous events of the Gorbachev / Yeltsin period for numerous publications including the Financial Times and the Independent. On his return to London he joined the BBC where he worked mainly for the World Service.