This book is the first biography of Nina Berberova. Based on years of archival research, the author deciphers many of the conspicuous omissions ("?????????," as Berberova herself put it) which have intrigued generations of readers of Berberova's autobiography The Italics are Mine. A special focus is given to the four decades Berberova lived in the US, which were left out of her book, and which ended up being extremely productive for her both personally and professionally.