What an amazing story this is. Frederick Thomas was born to former slaves in America’s south in 1872. Finding work as a waiter, he soon progressed to more and more prestigious posts. Looking for adventure he went to Europe and then ended up in Moscow, still working as a waiter or maître d’ but then making a fortune by establishing his own restaurants and nightclubs. Facing virtually no colour prejudice in Russia he even became a Russian citizen. But when the Revolution came he lost his fortune and his livelihood. Eventually he made his way to Constantinople and embarked on making another fortune. If this were a novel it would be greeted with cries of “far-fetched” and “preposterous”, but it’s all fact. A remarkable man and a remarkable life, all set against the political, cultural, social and historical background. Well researched, with some intriguing photographs, it’s an absorbing read.