The Land of Riddles (Russia of To-Day)

📗 Ganz (1862-1922) was a German-Jewish political and literary writer and journalist for the German newspaper Frankfurter Zeitung which stationed him in Budapest, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in the 1890s. He took on Austro-Hungarian nationality and it was in Budapest that he met his wife with whom he had two children. Around the turn of the century the family relocated to Vienna and their home became a meeting place for members of state, notable scientists and prominent artists. During the first three months of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) Ganz was stationed in St Petersburg in Russia where he wrote 'Vor der Katastrophe' published in 1904. This English translation published in November of the same year was presented to American readers as an unbiased description of the real state of affairs in Russia at that time.