Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Jewel of St Petersburg by Kate Furnivall






Russia, 1910. Young Valentina Ivanova charms St Petersburg’s aristocracy with her classic Russian beauty and her talent as a pianist. But she scandalised society when she begins a romance with Jens Friis, a Danish engineer. He brings to her life a passion and an intimacy she has never known. Unbending in their opposition, her parents push her into a loveless engagement with a Russian count. Valentina struggles for independence and to protect her young sister from the tumult sweeping the city, as Russia is bound for rebellion. The Tsar, the Duma and the Bolsheviks are at each other’s throats and Valentina is forced to make a choice that changes her life for ever …

Kate Furnivall has a true gift enabling the mind to drift to the places of description in this wonderful piece of fiction. I absolutely adored her portrayal of society of the last Russian Tsar with its decadence and over indulgence but she also shows us the dark side of the lower class society. This is the type of book that takes over your mind with vivid descriptions of Russia and its people. The Jewel of St Petersburg was the first Kate Furnivall book I read and i felt so connected with the characters it compelled me to continue my journey with more of her books.




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