Ericka Johnson is a researcher in the Department of Technology and Social Change at LinkÖping University in Sweden. She is the author of Situating Simulators: The Integration of Simulations in Medical Practice.

• Acknowledgments ixIntroduction 11. A Catalogue of Women 72. Olga: Feminism or Femininity 223. Vera: A Catalogue of Men 494. Valentina: Searching for Companionship 665. Tanya: Trafficking in Dreams 886. Marina: Culture Shock 1077. Anastasia and John: Making a Marriage Work 1288. A Catalogue of Hope 146Notes 163Bibliography 183Index 191

“Dreaming of a Mail-Order Husband provides a rich and well-researched account of Russian brides, who, because of the lackluster economic conditions in Russia, hope for a better marriage and life by marrying foreign, mostly U. S., men.”-Felicity Schaeffer-Grabiel, University of California, Santa Cruz “Dreaming of a Mail-Order Husband is a pioneering work of broad interest and significance. It fills an important gap in information about the burgeoning ‘traffic’ in mail-order brides from Russia.”-Jehanne M. Gheith, coeditor of A History of Women’s Writing in Russia “Well-written, well documented . . . and a pleasure to read. It can be enjoyed by the lay person as it vividly portrays the cultural phenomenon of the Russian mail order husband. It is also appropriate as a text in a college-level course, one in which the themes and issues raised in the book can be expanded, discussed and analysed more thoroughly through use of the extensive bibliography.” - Linda S. Fair (Population, Space and Place) “The book, vividly placed within the specific socio-economic and political context of the former Soviet Union, fills a gap in our understanding of these women’s motivations. It challenges underlying presumptions on the international matchmaking industry and the stereotypical images of Russian women (and men) and American men (and women).” - Lorena D. Arocha (Social Anthropology) “What Johnson is arguing in this carefully researched and beautifully written volume is that the notion of Russian women as victims in the mail-order bride business tells only part of the story. What her own experience has shown is that the women she interviewed were ‘active driven individuals with agency’ (p. 158) who wanted the stability of home and family denied them in their own country. Therein lies the wisdom of the title Dreaming of a Mail-Order Husband. Clearly, the internet works both ways.” - Adele Barker (Russian Review) "[T]he volume is an easy read and will no doubt spark lively discussion, particularly among readers well-acquainted with contemporary Russian culture and society." - Olga Mesropova (Slavic and East European Journal)

Ericka Johnson is a researcher in the Department of Technology and Social Change at LinkÖping University in Sweden. She is the author of Situating Simulators: The Integration of Simulations in Medical Practice.

• Acknowledgments ixIntroduction 11. A Catalogue of Women 72. Olga: Feminism or Femininity 223. Vera: A Catalogue of Men 494. Valentina: Searching for Companionship 665. Tanya: Trafficking in Dreams 886. Marina: Culture Shock 1077. Anastasia and John: Making a Marriage Work 1288. A Catalogue of Hope 146Notes 163Bibliography 183Index 191

“Dreaming of a Mail-Order Husband provides a rich and well-researched account of Russian brides, who, because of the lackluster economic conditions in Russia, hope for a better marriage and life by marrying foreign, mostly U. S., men.”-Felicity Schaeffer-Grabiel, University of California, Santa Cruz “Dreaming of a Mail-Order Husband is a pioneering work of broad interest and significance. It fills an important gap in information about the burgeoning ‘traffic’ in mail-order brides from Russia.”-Jehanne M. Gheith, coeditor of A History of Women’s Writing in Russia “Well-written, well documented . . . and a pleasure to read. It can be enjoyed by the lay person as it vividly portrays the cultural phenomenon of the Russian mail order husband. It is also appropriate as a text in a college-level course, one in which the themes and issues raised in the book can be expanded, discussed and analysed more thoroughly through use of the extensive bibliography.” - Linda S. Fair (Population, Space and Place) “The book, vividly placed within the specific socio-economic and political context of the former Soviet Union, fills a gap in our understanding of these women’s motivations. It challenges underlying presumptions on the international matchmaking industry and the stereotypical images of Russian women (and men) and American men (and women).” - Lorena D. Arocha (Social Anthropology) “What Johnson is arguing in this carefully researched and beautifully written volume is that the notion of Russian women as victims in the mail-order bride business tells only part of the story. What her own experience has shown is that the women she interviewed were ‘active driven individuals with agency’ (p. 158) who wanted the stability of home and family denied them in their own country. Therein lies the wisdom of the title Dreaming of a Mail-Order Husband. Clearly, the internet works both ways.” - Adele Barker (Russian Review) "[T]he volume is an easy read and will no doubt spark lively discussion, particularly among readers well-acquainted with contemporary Russian culture and society." - Olga Mesropova (Slavic and East European Journal)

Ericka Johnson is a researcher in the Department of Technology and Social Change at LinkÖping University in Sweden. She is the author of Situating Simulators: The Integration of Simulations in Medical Practice.

• Acknowledgments ixIntroduction 11. A Catalogue of Women 72. Olga: Feminism or Femininity 223. Vera: A Catalogue of Men 494. Valentina: Searching for Companionship 665. Tanya: Trafficking in Dreams 886. Marina: Culture Shock 1077. Anastasia and John: Making a Marriage Work 1288. A Catalogue of Hope 146Notes 163Bibliography 183Index 191

“Dreaming of a Mail-Order Husband provides a rich and well-researched account of Russian brides, who, because of the lackluster economic conditions in Russia, hope for a better marriage and life by marrying foreign, mostly U. S., men.”-Felicity Schaeffer-Grabiel, University of California, Santa Cruz “Dreaming of a Mail-Order Husband is a pioneering work of broad interest and significance. It fills an important gap in information about the burgeoning ‘traffic’ in mail-order brides from Russia.”-Jehanne M. Gheith, coeditor of A History of Women’s Writing in Russia “Well-written, well documented . . . and a pleasure to read. It can be enjoyed by the lay person as it vividly portrays the cultural phenomenon of the Russian mail order husband. It is also appropriate as a text in a college-level course, one in which the themes and issues raised in the book can be expanded, discussed and analysed more thoroughly through use of the extensive bibliography.” - Linda S. Fair (Population, Space and Place) “The book, vividly placed within the specific socio-economic and political context of the former Soviet Union, fills a gap in our understanding of these women’s motivations. It challenges underlying presumptions on the international matchmaking industry and the stereotypical images of Russian women (and men) and American men (and women).” - Lorena D. Arocha (Social Anthropology) “What Johnson is arguing in this carefully researched and beautifully written volume is that the notion of Russian women as victims in the mail-order bride business tells only part of the story. What her own experience has shown is that the women she interviewed were ‘active driven individuals with agency’ (p. 158) who wanted the stability of home and family denied them in their own country. Therein lies the wisdom of the title Dreaming of a Mail-Order Husband. Clearly, the internet works both ways.” - Adele Barker (Russian Review) "[T]he volume is an easy read and will no doubt spark lively discussion, particularly among readers well-acquainted with contemporary Russian culture and society." - Olga Mesropova (Slavic and East European Journal)