The king of vodka : the story of Pyotr Smirnov and the upheaval of an emp77ire

In this sweeping history of vodka scion Pyotr Smirnov and his family, distinguished journalist Linda Himelstein plumbs a great riddle of Russian history through the story of a humble serf who rose to create one of the most celebrated business empires the world has ever known. At the center of this vivid narrative, Pyotr Smirnov comes to life as a hero of wonderful complexity—a man of intense ambition and uncanny business sense, a patriarch of a family that would help define Russian society and suffer from the Revolution's aftermath, and a loyalist to a nation that would one day honor him as a treasure of the state. Born in a small village in 1831, Smirnov relied on vodka—a commodity that in many ways defines Russia—to turn a life of scarcity and anonymity into one of immense wealth and international recognition. Starting from the backrooms and side streets of 19th century Moscow, Smirnov exploited a golden age of emancipation and brilliant grassroots marketing strategies to popularize his products and ensconce his brand within the thirsts and imaginations of drinkers around the world. His vodka would be gulped in the taverns of Russia and Europe, praised with accolades at World Fairs, and become a staple on the tables of Tsars. His improbable ascent—set against a sobriety crusade supported by Chekhov and Tolstoy, mounting political uprisings and labor strikes, the eventual monopolization of the vodka trade by the state—would crumble amidst the chaos of the Bolshevik revolution. Only a set of bizarre coincidences—including an incredible prison escape by one of Smirnov's sons in 1919—would prevent Smirnov's legacy from fading into oblivion. Set against a backdrop of political and ideological currents that would determine the course of global history—from the fall of the Tsars to the rise of Communism, from vodka's popularization by none other than James Bond to Smirnoff's emergence as a multi-billion dollar brand—Smirnov's story of triumph and tragedy is a captivating historical touchstone. The King of Vodka is much more than a biography of an extraordinary man. It is a work of narrative history on an epic scale. In this sweeping history of vodka scion Pyotr Smirnov and his family, distinguished journalist Linda Himelstein plumbs a great riddle of Russian history through the story of a humble serf who rose to create one of the most celebrated business empires the world has ever known. At the center of this vivid narrative, Pyotr Smirnov comes to life as a hero of wonderful complexity—a man of intense ambition and uncanny business sense, a patriarch of a family that would help define Russian society and suffer from the Revolution's aftermath, and a loyalist to a nation that would one day honor him as a treasure of the state. Born in a small village in 1831, Smirnov relied on vodka—a commodity that in many ways defines Russia—to turn a life of scarcity and anonymity into one of immense wealth and international recognition. Starting from the backrooms and side streets of 19th century Moscow, Smirnov exploited a golden age of emancipation and brilliant grassroots marketing strategies to popularize his products and ensconce his brand within the thirsts and imaginations of drinkers around the world. His vodka would be gulped in the taverns of Russia and Europe, praised with accolades at World Fairs, and become a staple on the tables of Tsars. His improbable ascent—set against a sobriety crusade supported by Chekhov and Tolstoy, mounting political uprisings and labor strikes, the eventual monopolization of the vodka trade by the state—would crumble amidst the chaos of the Bolshevik revolution. Only a set of bizarre coincidences—including an incredible prison escape by one of Smirnov's sons in 1919—would prevent Smirnov's legacy from fading into oblivion. Set against a backdrop of political and ideological currents that would determine the course of global history—from the fall of the Tsars to the rise of Communism, from vodka's popularization by none other than James Bond to Smirnoff's emergence as a multi-billion dollar brand—Smirnov's story of triumph and tragedy is a captivating historical touchstone. __The King of Vodka__ is much more than a biography of an extraordinary man. It is a work of narrative history on an epic scale. A operatic tour-de-force. Tilar J. Mazzeo, author of The Widow Clicquot An impressive feat of research, told swiftly and enthusiastically. San Francisco Chronicle From Vanderbilt and Rockefeller to Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, Americas captains of industry are paragons of entrepreneurial success, and books about business history, from The First Tycoon to The Big Short , show exemplars of capitalistic cunning and tenacitybut just as American cocktail connoisseurs can mistake Absolut, Skyy, Grey Goose, or Ketel One for the quintessential clear spirit, so too has Americas vision of business history remained nave to a truth long recognized in Eastern since the time of Tsar Nicholas, both vodka and commercial success have been synonymous in Russia with one nameSmirnoff. Linda Himelsteins critically acclaimed biography of Russian vodka scion Pyotr Smirnova finalist for the James Beard Award, winner of the IACP and Saroyan Awards, and a BusinessWeek Best Business Book of 2009is the sweeping story of entrepreneurship, empire, and epicurean triumph unlike anything the world has ever seen before. From A Distinguished Writer Of Business Comes An Epic Biography Of Vodka Scion Pyotr Smirnov, Whose Life In Pre-bolshevik Russia Has Never Been Told Before And Whose Business Empire Still Spans The Globe Today. Hello -- Moscow -- The Land Of Darkness -- The Vodka Maker -- Demand Smirnov Vodka -- To Vienna And Back -- Mariya -- Vodka Wars -- The Vodka King -- From Pursuit To Preservation -- Monopoly Capitalism -- The Tsar And 3,000 Flashing Bottles -- Twilight -- Two Dead Bodies -- A New Century, A New Reality -- Monopoly Madness -- From Bad To Bizarre -- A War, Uprisings, And Then There Was One -- Life And Death And Love And Death -- Sudden Chaos -- Revolution -- Escape -- Smirnov With An 'f' -- The End Is A Beginning. Linda Himelstein. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Vodka pioneer Pyotr Smirnov is one the most fascinating salesmen and entrepeneurs the world has ever known. This title presents a chronicle of ambition and innovation that has fascinating parallels to the post-communist Russia. Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 10, 2009).