For those of you who can’t read in Russian…

My book “Chelsea. The rules of the Game” (published in 2009 by AST Moscow) is a travel diary with a bit of romance. The story stems out of my own experiences in London, but it is not an autobiography. I blended a few people into the main character, and shifted things around. I describe real life situations – without naming anyone – in an attempt to help the newcomers see through London social fog. I also hope to ruin the ever so popular myth of a noble-hearted English Gentleman…

The romance in the book sparks between Sam, an old-school English guy in his twenties, and Sokolova, young foreign girl who has just arrived in London. Sokolova lives in Chelsea and meets Sam on a night out.

Sam has a pretty standard public school background: Eton (obviously), and then Edinburgh (why not; “E” is an Elegant letter). He is a sophisticated Chelsea boy, so suave that it borders on being emotionally unhealthy and informationally obese. The argument here is: should sophistication, to which many of us strive in our society, be it England or anywhere else, be something to be proud of and a condition to base our actions upon? Is it preferable to listening to your heart and instincts, like Sokolova does? Is a more complex society necessarily superior?

The book also describes the favourite pastime of Chelsea folk (drinking, hunting, racing, and a bit of other naughtiness).

Enjoy! xxx