{"product_id":"yashka-my-life-as-a-peasant-exile-and-soldier-a-biography-and-history-of-russia-in-ww1-and-the-bolshevik-revolution","title":"Yashka: My Life as a Peasant, Exile and Soldier; A Biography and History of Russia in WW1, and the Bolshevik Revolution","description":"\u003cp\u003eYashka is the autobiography of Maria Botchkareva, a young Russian woman who bravely took up arms first against the Germans in World War One, and then opposed the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution of 1917.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMaria describes a hard upbringing as a member of the Russian peasantry. Married at sixteen to her first husband Afanasy, it wasn't long before his charms were replaced by physical abuse; Maria soon fled. She applied for work as a servant girl, only to discover that the man advertising actually owned a string of brothels; she was promptly sent to the town of Sretensk to work in one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSuch harsh experiences in youth nevertheless built a certain determination and toughness in the young Maria. When war broke out in 1914, she applied to join as a soldier - facing verbal abuse and sexual harassment from the outset, she nevertheless took to military life with eagerness and courage. The soldiers nicknamed her 'Yashka', and a measure of respect was slowly gained as she demonstrated great bravery.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maria Botchkareva","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44225825538209,"sku":"9780359022670","price":33.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0462\/1120\/3233\/files\/1rvq479r-front-shortedge-384.jpg?v=1748219627","url":"https:\/\/bookswholesale.myshopify.com\/products\/yashka-my-life-as-a-peasant-exile-and-soldier-a-biography-and-history-of-russia-in-ww1-and-the-bolshevik-revolution","provider":"BooksWholesale","version":"1.0","type":"link"}