The myth of the Amber Room. The Deciphered Curse

    Globally, the Amber Room is a main artefact of Russian culture, our Gioconda, so to say. Yet its fate is a mystery that has transformed into a curse, which many historians, writers and treasure seekers have taken great pains to decipher. Aleksandr Mosyakin, famous historian, publicist and author of many celebrated books is one of them. Attempting to unravel the mystery of the Amber Room, he worked for many years in archives, travelled to places where specific events had taken place, and questioned witnesses in search of the vanished amber treasure. While examining the personal archives of eminent Leningrad Museum worker, A. M. Kuchumov, who was head of the state commission for the search for the Amber Room, he discovered some documents that shed light on the enigmatic fate on the unique masterpiece, considered a state secret of the Soviet Union. The publication of those documents in the author’s books became a sensation. A few documentaries were filmed on their basis on Russia’s main TV channels, including a film made up of two series called Amber Room (TV Channel Ostankino ‒ First Channel, 2015). Having recently gained access to former secret archives of the KGB, the author found evidence for his earlier discoveries and, based on all the information put together he wrote this analysis. Its power to captivate and thrill does not fall short of the best historical detectives.

    This book is the fruit of many years of labour. It dispels the myths surrounding the Amber Room and removes the ominous mark of mystery from its fate.