Sashenka - Hardcover

Montefiore, Simon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 059305637X ISBN 13: 9780593056370

Publisher: Bantam Press, 2008

Synopsis

Winter, 1916: In St Petersburg, Russia on the brink of revolution. Outside the Smolny Institute for Noble Young Ladies, an English governess is waiting for her young charge to be released from school. But so are the Tsar s secret police… Beautiful and headstrong, Sashenka Zeitlin is just sixteen. As her mother parties with Rasputin and her dissolute friends, Sashenka slips into the frozen night to play her part in a dangerous game of conspiracy and seduction. Twenty years on, Sashenka has a powerful husband with whom she has two children. Around her people are disappearing, but her own family is safe. But she's about to embark on a forbidden love affair which will have devastating consequences. Sashenka's story lies hidden for half a century, until a young historian goes deep into Stalin's private archives and uncovers a heart-breaking tale of passion and betrayal, savage cruelty and unexpected heroism - and one woman forced to make an unbearable choice.

About this title

About the Author

Simon Montefiore is a historian, novelist and television presenter. His book, Catherine the Great and Potemkin was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson, Duff Cooper, and Marsh Biography Prizes. Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar won the History Book of the Year prize at the 2004 British Book Awards, and Young Stalin was chosen as Biography of the Year in the 2008 Costa Book Awards. He lives in London with his wife, the novelist, Santa Montefiore, and their two children.

From the Back Cover

To get to the heart of a story you have to go back to the beginning: to the first days of revolution in Russia, to a beautiful girl, to her agonizing choice, and to the moment her life is changed for ever.

From the Inside Flap

Winter, 1916: In St Petersburg, snow is falling in a country on the brink of revolution. Outside the Smolny Institute for Noble Young Ladies, an English governess is waiting for her young charge to be released from school. But so are the Tsar s secret police Beautiful, rich and headstrong, Sashenka Zeitlin is just sixteen. As her mother parties with Rasputin and her dissolute friends, Sashenka slips into the frozen night to play her role in a dangerous game of conspiracy and seduction. Twenty years on, Sashenka has a powerful husband and two children.Around her, people are disappearing though her own family is safe.But she s about to embark on a forbidden love affair which will have devastating consequences. Sashenka s story lies hidden for half a century, until a young historian goes deep into Stalin s private archives and uncovers a heartbreaking tale of passion and betrayal, savage cruelty and unexpected heroism and of a woman forced to make an unbearable choice

Edition details

• Publisher: Bantam Press
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 059305637X
• ISBN 13: 9780593056370
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 544