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.
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