The year is 1971. Blocks away from Prince­ton Uni­ver­si­ty and just days after his grad­u­a­tion, a young Michael meets Ella, an elder­ly woman liv­ing alone and in need of a house­mate. Michael can­not refuse her offer of free lodg­ing since he hopes to stay in town and ride out the Viet­nam War draft — a war that has already tak­en his friend’s life. 

As their friend­ship grows, Michael learns of Ella’s remark­able past as a Russ­ian count­ess: Ella is a descen­dent of Czar Alexan­der II. Michael finds his guide in Ella. Through her mag­nif­i­cent sto­ries about her roy­al past, Michael gains a new per­spec­tive on his own life’s direc­tion.

Roy­al Edge tells the true sto­ry of a cher­ished friend­ship that explores themes that read­ers are sure to embrace — choos­ing how we want to live our lives and enjoy­ing life in times of uncer­tain­ty. The sto­ry of their friend­ship is one of a con­nec­tion that has served the author through­out his entire life.