Join Nadia Ragozhina as she talks about growing up Jewish in post-Soviet Russia, tracing her Swiss cousins online, reconnecting the family and what the journey has meant for her Jewish identity. In conversation with Samantha Simmonds.
Two brothers grow up on the Jewish streets of Warsaw. At the turn of the twentieth century, Adolphe leaves to seek work and start a family in Switzerland. Marcus moves east, inspired by his Communist beliefs. In Moscow, he is arrested and exiled. They would never see each other again.
A hundred years later, Marcus’ great-granddaughter, Nadia Ragozhina, rediscovers the missing part of her broken family. Could she piece together the stories hidden for generations?
Love and separation, hope and paranoia – the lives of the patriarchs, their daughters and granddaughters are set against the Russian Revolution, Stalin’s repressions, the persecution of Jews across Europe and the Second World War. Worlds Apart is a rare portrayal of the tumultuous events of twentieth century Europe, seen through the eyes of six women who fought for the survival and happiness of their families.
Nadia Ragozhina was born in Moscow and moved to the UK in 2000. She is a senior journalist at BBC World News and has also worked for BBC World Service Radio and France 24 in Paris. Worlds Apart is her first book.
Samantha Simmonds is a journalist and broadcaster with more than 20 years at the forefront of the news. She is currently presenting on BBC World News and Sunday Politics on BBC 1. She also presents on BBC Radio 4 – hosting their ‘One to One’ series and has her own podcast ‘It's a Grown up Life’.
