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Loading... The Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great's Russia (edition 2009)by Douglas Smith
Work InformationThe Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great's Russia by Douglas Smith
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This was a really beautifully written book. The love story between Nicholas Sheremetev and his serf Praskovia is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Douglas Smith has given us a true masterpiece, evoking scenes from Russia's musical past. This is a book for all who enjoy theatrical history as well as a good love story. ( ) no reviews | add a review
Filled with a remarkable cast of characters and set against the backdrop of imperial Russia, this tale of forbidden romance could be the stuff of a great historical novel. But in fact The Pearl tells a true tale, reconstructed in part from archival documents that have lain untouched for centuries. Douglas Smith presents the most complete and accurate account ever written of the illicit love between Count Nicholas Sheremetev (1751-1809), Russia's richest aristocrat, and Praskovia Kovalyova (1768-1803), his serf and the greatest opera diva of her time. Blessed with a beautiful voice, Praskovia began her training in Nicholas's operatic company as a young girl. Like all the members of Nicholas's troupe, Praskovia was one of his own serfs. But unlike the others, she utterly captured her master's heart. The book reconstructs Praskovia's stage career as "The Pearl" and the heartbreaking details of her romance with Nicholas-years of torment before their secret marriage, the outrage of the aristocracy when news of the marriage emerged, Praskovia's death only days after delivering a son, and the unyielding despair that followed Nicholas to the end of his life. Written with grace and style, The Pearl sheds light on the world of the Russian aristocracy, music history, and Russian attitudes toward serfdom. But above all, the book tells a haunting story of love against all odds. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)782.1092The arts Music Vocal music Operas and related dramatic vocal forms Modified standard subdivisions History, geographic treatment, biography BiographyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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