In 1921 Russia, a mysterious visitor from the far future comes to Peter Alexeivich Kropotkin's deathbed and offers the world-renowned activist/philosopher a new life. The being who calls himself Anchee Mahur has the power to tamper with history. Kropotkin – the one-time prince who renounced wealth and privilege to embrace the cause of anarchy, the dying humanist who long suffered the torments of prison and official scorn – can be reborn, if he so chooses. And he does.