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Sale

The Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great's Russia

by Douglas Smith
$17.90 Now $13.90 Save 22% more
The Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great's Russia - Thryft
The Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great's Russia - Thryft

Forbidden love saga in Russian aristocratic backdrop.

"The Pearl" immerses you into the opulence and rigidity of Catherine the Great's Russia, recounting a poignant love story that defies the era's stringent social hierarchies. If you are drawn to tales where passion and societal norms collide, this book not only satiates with historical detail but also with the timeless turmoil of love's complexities. Douglas Smith's meticulous research offers authenticity that makes the past almost palpable. This isn't just history; it's a testament to the resilience of the human heart.

  • Annibel Jenkins Biography Prize Nominee (2010)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Sale

The Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great's Russia

by Douglas Smith
$17.90 Now $13.90 Save 22% more
ISBN: 9780300120417
Authors: Douglas Smith
Publisher: Yale University Press
Date of Publication: 2008-05-27
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Music, History, Biographies & Memoirs
Related Topics: Biography, History, Biography, Music
Goodreads rating: 3.69
(rated by 80 readers)

Description

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.
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

Find out more about our process here.

 

Similar Reads

Forbidden love saga in Russian aristocratic backdrop.

"The Pearl" immerses you into the opulence and rigidity of Catherine the Great's Russia, recounting a poignant love story that defies the era's stringent social hierarchies. If you are drawn to tales where passion and societal norms collide, this book not only satiates with historical detail but also with the timeless turmoil of love's complexities. Douglas Smith's meticulous research offers authenticity that makes the past almost palpable. This isn't just history; it's a testament to the resilience of the human heart.

  • Annibel Jenkins Biography Prize Nominee (2010)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.