December 30, 2024
I had the great good fortune to learn of and read Stephen Saletan’s memoir, To the Midnight Sun: A
Story of Revolution, Exile and Return. The prose is sparkling and engaging. It deftly captures the
dreamy attraction of the young Stephen to his grandmother’s recounting of her role in the Russian
revolution, his family’s life in dangerous times, their escape to safety. It was Stephen’s
grandmother who maintained the bond of relationships and culture in a new country. She worked
tirelessly to maintain connections with family remaining in Russia so that a sense of wholeness
survived the political upheaval and the scattering of individuals across the world.
I loved this book. Even if you are not a fugitive from political unrest, this work will engage you
as to the nature of family, how we preserve our sense of self and heritage in uncertain times.
