Living in the Shade - A Memoir - by Anthony James Leiker (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The grandfather left Russia, with his wife, their extended family, and their son under the reign of Tzar Alexander III. The grandfather had served six years in the military and to escape additional military service, they escaped to Western Europe. They suffered the terrible loss of their first seven children before reaching adulthood. Additional losses were caused by the Stock Market Crash, the Depression, and the Dust Bowl. It is of the author growing up during a time of harsh recriminations whose "innate feelings" were unacceptable, were repressed, resulted in abuse, potential of serious injury, and damaged psyche! The author had a history of in the private sector, the public sector, and spent decades in private practice as a Clinical Social Worker in West Texas. He published hundreds of book titles on Volga German Ancestors and Descendants. The data covered the migration from Germany to the Volga German Region of Russian and then immigrated to Western Kansas for the past 111 years. Many Napoleanic soldiers were left behind and placed in the Volga German Villag during the War of 1812. His Great-grandfather was a British sailor who was captured during the Crimean War of 1854 and placed in a Volga German Village. "The Charge of the Light Brigade" is a famous ballad, related to this war, popularized in England and made into two films. The Author experienced the tragedy of the Alzheimer's Disease process in his wife and her untimely death. An exciting tale of great times and less than ideal times, but a life well-lived!