The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar

A central motif in The Kitchen Boy is the exchange of fake letters initiated by the Bolsheviks to bait the Romanovs into an escape attempt. These letters embody the Bolsheviks’ deception—which connects to the novel’s larger theme of critiquing the Bolshevik state’s propensity for violence and lies. The “White Army’s” letters provide the Romanovs with hope throughout the novel, helping them survive their lowest moments and endure Bolshevik antagonism (such as when the Bolshevik guards paint obscene graffiti in the bathroom in Chapter 9). This is especially tragic considering the Romanovs’ hope was based on a lie—yet another facet of Bolshevik oppression.

The letters’ cyclical presence grounds the chapters that take place in 1918, giving the novel its momentum. They instigate the central conflict (i.e., the Romanovs wanting to escape) and provide catharsis with the reveal of Volodya as the true courier. This motif thus connects to The Kitchen Boy’s larger theme of guilt and forgiveness. Volodya’s involvement with the letters contributes to his self-loathing; it is Kate’s discovery of the truth that leads to him being forgiven.