Folio Archives 195: The Berlin Diaries of Marie “Missie” Vassiltchikov 1991

The Berlin Diaries of Marie “Missie” Vassiltchikov 1991

This is a fascinating insight into life in Berlin during World War 2 from January 1940 to September 1945, from the height of Nazi power, to its crumbling disastrous end, as seen through the eyes of a young woman. How life changed, became steadily more difficult, and how the local civilians coped in both the good, and extremely bad times. Missie is very open about everything from her love interests and parties to obtaining food and accommodation in the latter years, all outlined in a day by day account.

This is almost the exact antithesis to another FS book, Mass-Observation; Britain in the Second World War (see here.), where the British perspective was investigated during the blitz.

Geaorge Vassiltchikov (Missie’s brother) has written a foreword and edited the book, while the introduction has been written by Christable Bielenberg. Missie died in 1978 in London from leukaemia.

There is a frontispiece photo of a young Missie, and 20 pages of bound in monochrome photos, most coming from Missie’s own collection.

The xix + 296 page book also has an epilogue, glossary and an extensive index. It is bound in black cloth blocked with a red pattern and gilt spine title. The endpapers are plain grey and there are three pages of maps. The slipcase is plain mid-grey and 25.9x16.6cm..



















































An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.

I have problems again with the displaying of the pictures. It's not showing for me. Win10/Edge Browser.

>1 wcarter:

One of my favourite Folio reads. It starts off as a wartime autobiography of a Russian living in Berlin within a circle of expatriates, and a very interesting and enjoyable one. But somewhere along the line we realise we are close to the people involved in the conspiracy to kill Hitler and the tension builds. We know it's going to end badly ...

>3 folio_books: wow, that's one of the best sales pitches for a book I ever read.

>4 ubiquitousuk:

Thank you :) Actually, I found mysef struggling to describe the experience. It's one of those barely heralded Folios that make a huge impact on the reader - well, on me, at least. And very highly recommended.

>5 folio_books: well, to be fair, when the guy with 2000 Folio books and the username folio_books starts a post with "One of my favourite Folio reads", you kind of want to pay attention : ) Anyway, I have been duly enabled. Thanks, curses, &c.

>6 ubiquitousuk: You're welcome ;) I don't think you'll be disappointed. In the interests of accuracy I must point out that I'm currently a little over 150 Folios short of the 2000 mark and as my purchasing has slowed down this year it's not at all certain I'll ever get there. But it won't be for the want of trying ...

>7 folio_books: In the interests of accuracy I must point out that I'm currently a little over 150 Folios short of the 2000 mark.

In the interests of accuracy and from viewing your library in your LT profile, I think you will find that you are pretty close to the 2000 mark, probably more than, if you were to list the individual titles in the sets you own eg. Wodehouse, D.L. Sayers, Graham Greene, Conan Doyle amongst others, rather than the boxed sets as just one book/title!

>3 folio_books:
A word from the master and I picked up a copy today on my weekly raid at the local bookstore. Hope I won't be crying into my Macallan over the reckless expenditure of $15. Barely heralded indeed.

It's interesting to contrast the story of German resistance between this book and William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.

>8 bookfair_e: if you were to list the individual titles in the sets you own eg. Wodehouse, D.L. Sayers, Graham Greene, Conan Doyle

Ah, but that would be cheating. Anything sold as a set I count as one, The best example I can think of is my Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, eight volumes, two slipcases, sold as a set, counts as one. The Barbarian Invasions of the Roman Empire, sold as individual volumes over a period of years, eight volumes, counts as eight. Simples.

>9 Jayked: I picked up a copy today on my weekly raid at the local bookstore

I truly hope you are not disappointed. I don't think you will be.

Not often I'm actually enabled nowadays - but this is one. Exactly my sort of Folio edition. Great review, as ever - thank you!

This sort of book used to be a major attraction of Folio for me here in the States - the thrill of a discovery.

I hadn't realised (should have) that the events in this book are covered from a quite different perspective in The Past is Myself, by Christabel Bielenberger, who wrote the Introduction for this one. Slightly Foxed brought out an edition of Bielenberger not long ago, and still have a Plain Foxed edition for anyone interested.

Just received my copy from the book seller, and am already dipping in. I do like the older style FS editions (although not that old - only 1991, but there definitely seems to have been a shift in their style of late) ; really pleasing addition to the collection at not much more than the price of a paperback.

>1 wcarter: Consider me enabled. And these Folios are so affordable. My copy is on the way for $20 including shipping.

Is there a record for number of members enabled by a single Folio Archives post?

>17 ubiquitousuk: count me amongst those who were enabled! My copy is on the way $28 with shipping.

I would definitely be interested in reading this one. I'll keep an eye out for it in my bookish peregrinations. I just finished Knausgaard's My Struggle and the last volume has a lengthy discourse on Hitler, his rise to power, and Mein Kampf, which is frankly frightening, especially with what is going on in the U.S.A right now.

>19 jveezer: What did you think of My Struggle? I've been wary of starting it, given its length.

Interesting note about Mein Kampf, given that (according to Google translate) the Norwegian title would be Min Kamp. Being in the U.S., I am eager for spring.

I don't understand it. I have 500+ FS books, >1 wcarter: has 700+ FS books; yet, I don't have 75% of Dr. Carter's choices for the Folio Archives (before I'm enabled to buy ~20% of those I don't already own).