Authors tell the story of Alaska/Russian history

PALMER — Two Alaskan authors were hosted on Monday by Fireside Books in Palmer for a book signing, followed by a dinner at Turkey Red where the writers talked more thoroughly about their books regarding Alaska’s history with Russia, and the relationship between Russia and the U.S. near the end of the Cold War.

David Ramseur’s book covers more recent history. The first comprehensive history of this era that has been written, “Melting the Iron Curtain”, describes the heyday of Alaska/Russian relations starting in the mid 1980s, when pressure on the national governments of both Russia and the U.S. finally reopened the Bering Strait for the first time since its closure in 1948 at the beginning of the Cold War.

Ramseur, who worked for several Alaskan governors while this took place, believes there is a lot to learn from this part of history.

“International developments can be shaped by average people. If you have civic groups, educational groups, [or] scientists who want to exchange information across, in this case the Bering Strait, it’s possible to improve relationships at the international level,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of paying attention to the current relationship between the U.S. and Russia.

“Particularly with what Russia’s doing to muck around in our election process, and in the Trump White House, I think it’s more important than ever that people pay attention,” Ramseur said.

Mike Dunham was commissioned by his publisher to write two short biographies. One about William H. Seward, the man who purchased Alaska, and the other about Tsar Alexander II of Russia, the man who sold Alaska. Dunham said the books were written to be brief enough to be read on the plane from Anchorage to Seattle.

“Seward is one of the most important American politicians who ever lived — probably the most important one who never actually became president,” said Dunham. “Alexander was, in many ways, the most important of the Russian tsars. The only one who ever did any good. He’s known in Finland to this day as ‘The Good Tsar.’”

Dunham, an expert on Seward, found both men difficult to research, particularly Alexander as there was almost no resources about him written in English.

The author recently traveled through Southeast by ferry and was amazed at how unchanged the landscape has been since Seward’s time.

“It was interesting to look at these towns, and all the countryside going by, and realize all that the territory hasn’t changed at all since Seward sailed by. So that was kind of gratifying,” he said.

Fireside Books holds book signings about every two weeks, with dinners at Turkey Red once a month, depending on the author.