Vladivostok from the eyes of Eleanor Lord Prey

Vladivostok from the eyes of Eleanor Lord Prey

Description

Walking tour of the old courtyards of Vladivostok described in the book "Letters from Vladivostok"

Route program

 

Following the guide during this walking tour, you can imagine the everyday life of the city, in the most beautiful and dramatic period of its history. You will learn a story about love for the city of a guest from faraway America who in her letters to homeland described Vladivostok. So now these letters are admired and treasured all over the world. Right near the main post office building, there is the sculpture of a woman who is in a hurry to drop a letter into the mailbox.

 

This is American Eleanor Pray, famous today in Vladivostok, who lived there for more than 30 years at the turn of the century, leaving only in 1930. In her letters to relatives in America and China, which have been published in several books along with her own photographs, she wrote about the city’s life for decades, creating its chronicle. She is even called Vladivostok’s first blogger.

 

A native of South Berwick (USA), she moved to the Far East in 1894 with her husband Frederick Prey. She sent letters to her relatives in different countries of the world. Subsequently, these letters were collected in a book and printed for the general public, “Letters from Vladivostok” (edited by Birgitta Ingemanson).

 

Russia was going through difficult years at the beginning of the 20th century. Eleanor was a witness to the development of the Russo-Japanese War, World War I, revolution and intervention. But even in such a difficult time, the Vladivostok American was not disappointed with her life in Russia and continued to love her new homeland. She refused to leave Russia even when in 1916 her relative Sarah Smith suggested she move to China (Shanghai) due to political events in Russia.


She worked at the Kunst and Albers trading house until 1930. The building has been preserved, in it for many years the Vladivostok GUM has been located. In 1930, due to the closure of the company and the loss of work, Eleanor was left without funds and left Russia. In Vladivostok, Eleanor Prey lived 36 years.

 

“It is unlikely that anyone loves this groomed place like I do. Everyone is laughing at me, but I can not help myself. The mere thought that you can live somewhere where I will not see this blue bay and two bays (Amur and Ussuri) terrifies me. " “With the exception of Paris, Vladivostok is probably the most interesting place in the world. How lucky we are to be here in Vladivostok! ”Wrote Eleanor in 1918.

 

Ms. Prey glorified Vladivostok all over the world with her letters, which she wrote over 36 years from the Far Eastern outskirts to relatives, friends and acquaintances in America, Europe and China.

 

     The fate of Eleanor Prey is an example of the life of one family in the context of a very difficult time; this is an opportunity to tell the story of Vladivostok at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries through the eyes of one person.


    Monument to Eleanor Prey, stands next to the building of the Vladivostok Post Office. The house and the fate of this lady are inextricably linked ... You will see Vladivostok through the eyes of Eleanor Lord Prey!

 

Meet Vladivostok by the eyes of Eleanor Prey!