Nina Berberova’s Cape of Storms is the coming-of-age story of three young Russian women in the émigré community of early-twentieth century Paris. They are half-sisters who share the same father and live with him and his current wife in near-poverty. As a child, the oldest sister Dasha witnesses the brutal death of her mother at the hands of the Bolsheviks, is saved by a neighbor and whisked away to Paris by her father. The youngest, Zai, loses her actress mother to illness and lives with the same neighbor who saved Dasha until the age of 14 when she is sent via train to Paris to begin a new life with her father’s family. The novel’s chapters alternate between Dasha and Zai’s point of view and Sonia (the middle sister’s) journal entries. In spite of the girl’s similarities in age and background, Berberova expertly crafts a voice for each girl that is subtly unique. Each girl embraces life differently – Dasha, after engaging in a brief bout of mysticism, embraces life’s practicalities, works in a steady, useful job and keeps her emotions at bay. Zai has the poetic, romantic heart of Tolstoy’s Natasha and like Natasha, stumbles, then embraces life’s practicalities. Sonia, stubbornly pursues a cloistered academic life and eventually falls victim to her own bitterness and hopelessness. In the heart of each story lies the plight of Russians as they struggle for a foothold in the modern Western world. Even more importantly, this novel is a vital piece of early feminist literature. As strong as the bond of blood they share, is the bond of how these women will navigate the waters of modern womanhood and find harmony: will their intellect and vocations bring them harmony or will dependent ties of marriage and family. Berberova brings her full wisdom and artistry to bear in Cape of Storms and, a century later, this slim novel stands strong. ( )