I Was Anastasia: A Novel

Romanisches Café, Berlin. January 1925: Anna has been living for three years with Baron von Kleist and his wife, Maria, Russian émigrés who are loyal to the old regime. Tanya Botkin gives her two gifts, one of which is a photo album of the imperial family. Anna thinks Tanya “does not know, cannot know the importance of what she has just given her” (233). The second gift is a paper knife bearing the emblem of the Empress Alexandra. Pierre Gilliard gave it to Tanya. He said he was sorry he had been so hard on Anastasia.

Three years earlier. Borough of Nettelbeckstraße, Berlin. June 6, 1922: Anna is enjoying breakfast in bed in her new home with the Kleists. She feels “this newfound comfort has weakened her resolve” (234). Anna dresses herself—she does not want the maid to see her scars—and goes to the drawing room, where she meets Gleb and Tanya Botkin. Gleb is handsome, and he and Tanya seem affected to meet her. Gleb says she could not be anyone but Anastasia.

One week earlier. Borough of Nettelbeckstraße, Berlin. May 30, 1922: Anna pretends to sleep as the Kleists drive her to their home in a neighborhood of Berlin with many Russian émigrés.