Tsar Alexander II had done his best to modernize the Russian motherland. Dissidents made attempts on his life despite all the advances.Two young men meet on an auspicious day at the St. Petersburg Palace in 1880. Over time they develop a relationship that persists through the tumultuous times around them. As they get to know each other, they also explore the burgeoning Gay culture of St. Petersburg through concerts at the Conservatory of Music, art exhibits at the home of a wealthy socialite, and White Night celebrations along Nevsky Prospekt. They socialize with the greatest artistic people of the time while serving the House of Romanov.Ultimately, the tale concludes with the death of the Royal Family in 1918, but I wanted to make this first part available in the meantime.Discover a time and place mostly forgotten. St. Petersburg drew many creative souls to it during the end of the 19th Century. Learn about this amazing period and its inhabitants. Wayne Goodman has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area most of his life (with too many cats). He hosts Queer Words Podcast, conversations with queer-identified authors about their works and lives. When not writing, Goodman enjoys playing Gilded Age parlor music on the piano, with an emphasis on women, gay, and Black composers.
