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Saturday, 18.08.2007
Angela Ermakova’s contribution to Russian literature
Moscow. In her book entitled “In the space of a breath“, Angela Ermakowa describes her steamy first encounter with Boris Becker. But Moscow’s matchmaker-in-chief, Piotr Listermann, provides a different version of events. His account is somewhat less romantic.
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In Russia, advice manuals for women currently enjoy enormous popularity. Especially when they deal with the existential dilemma: How do I ensnare a rich oligarch who will lift me out of poverty and take me on a whirlwind tour of luxury?
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Her rightful place on the bookshelves
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The shelves of the advice manual sections of Moscow’s bookshops groan under the burden of wisdom on how to ‘Marry a millionaire’, penned by wannabe authors and successful self-promoters such as Oksana Robski and Ksenia Sobchak.
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Now Wimbledon champion Boris Becker’s instant mistress has discovered this niche in her native country, and claimed her place on the bookshelf. “In the space of a breath” is only published in Russian, and tells how fine and profitable it can be to shut yourself in a cupboard with a rich man.
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Unstoppable Bobbele
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Boris Becker was hot like a young stallion, writes Ermakova of their wildly romantic meeting in the London restaurant Nobu. She knew straight off that she could no sooner stop this man, than she could stop a vulcano shortly before erupting.
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Piotr Listermann, however, has an equally wild, but less romantic version of how the couple met. Listermann, who claims to have arranged the marriage of every Russian oligarchs worldwide and also on Mars, is in fact reputed to procure attractive young girls for Russia’s nouveau riche at home and abroad.
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A matchmaker’s secret
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In an episode of the popular TV series ‘A Trip to the Rublyovka’, a reality show where village girls are wined and dined by a millionaire from Moscow’s most exclusive neighbourhood, Listermann served up his version of the romance between Boris and Angela.
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An employee of his so-called ‘matchmaking company’ happened to be sitting in a London restaurant one evening when he noticed Boris Becker sitting at the next table. .
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Becker goes in for dark-skinned women
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Becker was there without any female company. So the employee decided to do him a good turn, and also earn some money. Knowing that Becker favoured ladies with dark skin, he quickly phoned Angela Ermakova, who happened to be in London at the time and was friendly with Listermann: “Boris Becker is here. This is your big chance,” he whispered in the phone. He duly reserved a table opposite Becker and a little later the society lady arrived and took her place. The rest is history.
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Whichever version is correct, one thing is clear: In Russia, with its huge gap between rich and poor, many young Cinderellas dream of finding their prince.
But Angela Ermakowa – once herself a Cinderella – might just have found instead the hen that lays the golden eggs: Her book looks certain to be a bestseller.
(cj/.rufo/Moskau)
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