Shades of Gray

The death of Svetlana Alliluyeva prompted me to think again about the Stalinist era and how it resonated through my family's layers.

My Mom's maternal Aunt, Dora, for example, stayed behind in Lithuania after my Mom and my maternal Grandfather, Jake, fled in 1944.

Although the bewitching Dora naturally aged during the years of Soviet occupation, later photos of her also reflect a profound sadness. She looked preoccupied even when she shared a happy moment.

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, April 1956. This is Dora's passport photo. "Passport" is a misnomer: the Soviets restricted foreign travel. It's better called a "National ID" because one couldn't move about anywhere in the city or country—let alone ride a bus—without it.