The Tarasov Saga: From Russia Through China to Australia

by Gary Nash

Release Date: 15 September, 2002

Edition: Paperback

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A family brings to life events that shaped a century

The Tarasov Saga is much more than a family history, although the author may well have set out with that outcome in mind. We begin in the days of the Russian Tsars and end in the suburbs of modern Australia.

What lies between is a remarkable story of the courage and unfailing will of a talented matriarch and her family, enduring through a world-shaking revoution and the little understood wars and struggles that enveloped the expatriate Russian community in China during the middle years of the 20th century.

I learned more about the fascinating history of these times, particularly the internal and external struggles of the Chinese with the Russians, Japanese and other foreign occupiers, than I ever imagined I could glean from the experiences of one family.

It's an easy and great read - I finished the book as I travelled through Russia from Moscow to St Petersburg and that added an extra dimension to the experience.

Survival and history

The Tarasov Saga is a very absorbing book, not only because of its account of a remarkable journey over 25 years of the extended Tarasov family, initially fleeing from Russia through China and the Phillipines to Australia, but also for the historical perspective of life in Russia and China in the first half of the 20th century.
I have known the author, both as a work colleague and a friend for over 30 years but, Gary being a very private person, all I knew of his background was that he was of White Russian origin and had lived in China before coming to Australia! The to read this book and discover the astonishing story of all that happened from the time of the Russian Revolution and its effects on the Tarasovs, individually and collectively, until the first of them arrived in Australia in 1949, made for compelling reading.I am not qualified to comment on Gary's literary style or technique, but the way he has portrayed each member of the family, their strengths and their weaknesses brought them to life so that, not only were they believable, but one could visualise their individual contributions to this saga.
This book is about courage, determination and resilience, and what can be achieved by people who are single-minded and motivated to seek a better life after many years of deprivation
and hardship.
In particular, the reader is left in no doubt of the author's great affection and admiration for his Grandmother Aida and her monumental efforts to ensure that the family survived their epic journey and, bar one member, all be reunited in Australia.
I thoroughly commend this book which is not only an enjoyable read but in an age where the refugee problem is a world-wide one, provides an understanding of the hardships and traumas that constantly confront refugees on the move.
It is an intensely human story which reinforces basic values and beliefs, in an era where many consider these things to be unimportant.
It would be nice to think that an enterprising producer might think that there is enough meat and drama in The Tarasov Saga to provide the basis for a film or TV series. It certainly has all the ingredients.