Background
Rice was born Elena Abelson, to Louisa Elizabeth ("Lifa") Vilenkin and Israel Boris Abelevich Abelson, the latter a businessman and member of the Czar"s financial administration.
Rice was born Elena Abelson, to Louisa Elizabeth ("Lifa") Vilenkin and Israel Boris Abelevich Abelson, the latter a businessman and member of the Czar"s financial administration.
Leo Tolstoy was her godfather. Elena lived a privileged childhood in Street St. Petersburg, initially attending Tagantzeva Girls" School. The Russian Revolution of 1917 prompted her family to move to England, and she completed her schooling, first at Cheltenham Ladies" College and then at Street Hugh"s College, Oxford.