This is one of the most entertaining travel books you will ever read but you will learn some British and Russian history along the way. It is the story of the English women who left their homes to find employment as governesses to wealthy Russian families. Most were well educated and from good families but through circumstance needed to actually earn a living. There were few occupations suitable (or even available) to these women other than teaching as a governess and many went to Russia if employment was not available at home. Their stories are fascinating. There is a novel by Piers Paul Read called Alice in Exile (see my review) which is the story of one such woman and also a great thriller. ( )