by Lee Sandlin, illustrated with family photographs from the collection of Nina Sandlin.

Sandlin tells the story of the extraordinary life and bewildering illness of his father-in-law, Russian immigrant Nick Cherniavsky.

"The defining event of Nick's life happened before he was born. The Russian Revolution was one of those vast historical calamities that most Americans have been spared: it was a time when people who never thought of themselves as political, who never thought they'd have to choose sides about anything, were forced to make political choices that could easily cost them their homes, their families, and their lives. This was how it was for Nick's parents."

The book is designed by Martha Chiplis, set in Monotype Ehrhardt by Winifred and Michael Bixler, and printed by Martha Chiplis on handmade Twinrocker Taupe. Photoetchings from family photographs are printed on Hosho, inset into the book in debossed panels. A map of Nick's lifetime of travel, drawn by Deborah Reade, serves as the front endpaper. Trisha Hammer has designed and executed a hidden crossed-structure binding in Nigerian goatskin with endpapers of Japanese silk, housed in a silk drawstring bag. 100 pp, 9 1/2 x 11 x 2 inches. Edition of 50.

Price of the book is $1915. Published February 22, 2008.