Despite the often strained relations between their countries, for years hundreds of American and Russian journalists, diplomats, performers, students, scientists, businessmen and tourists have sought -- and continue to seek -- romance and marriage on the other side of the ocean. Russian-American marriages reflect many of the same issues and problems that other inter-cultural marriages do, but at the same time, there are challenges that are particular to unions between Russians and Americans. In this fascinating study of the issues that these couples must confront, Dr. Lynn Visson explores such questions as: Why are Americans and Russians so intensely attracted to each other? What do they expect from romance and marriage? For better or worse, how do they live together? Why do these couples have such frequent misunderstandings when they are fluent in each other's language? With numerous examples and case studies garnered from ten years of research and interviews with nearly 100 couples, the author provides significant and often startling insights into the unique challenges and problems facing Russian-American couples.