Empire and Odyssey: The Brynners In Far East Russia and Beyond

EMPIRE AND ODYSSEY: THE BRYNNERS IN FAR EAST RUSSIA AND BEYOND: Rock Brynner: Steerforth Press: Nonfiction: 331 pages

More than half of this biography of Yul Brynner is dedicated to the complex historical background in which the Brynner family, gifted entrepreneurs, founded a shipping empire in Vladivostok with branches throughout the Far East. Yul Brynner’s Swiss grandfather spoke English, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian. His father, Boris, attended the Mining Institute of St. Petersburg in the last days of Czar Nicholas and his wife Alexandra. Somehow Boris survived the five turbulent years of struggle for control of Russia, managing to preserve the family shipping company and negotiating the continued operation of the family’s mines with the earliest leaders of the Soviet Union.

Yul’s early years were spent in Vladivostok but events in Russia eventually forced his family to become part of the Russian diaspora. He spent the balance of his youth in Chinese controlled Harbin and then Paris. In Paris, Yul was an acrobat, circus clown, trapeze artist, and gypsy guitarist before immigrating to New York. His acting and musical talents were encouraged by his mother and stepmother, both of whom were actresses and singers trained in Russia.

Biography just doesn’t get any better than this – history ceases to be dry events when you get a fresh view through the lives of extraordinary people. The author is Yul Brynner’s son, Rock Brynner, who has a doctorate in history. He is well qualified to write a work with historical depth. His pride in his ancestors and his affection for his father are evident in this well-written book.

New works of nonfiction can be found in the New Nonfiction display on the first floor of the Provo Library when they are checked in. You can also call the library to have a hold placed on this title for you.

SH