At the turn of the twentieth century, in the Russia of the Romanovs, the family of Baron David de Gunzburg is raised to the privileges of the aristocracy, in an elegantly cocooned world of Faberge jewels and fabulous country estates. The foremost Jewish family of Russia, the single voice of their...
Alexandre stood half listening to the words of congratulations that were being offered to him like so many trays of hors d’oeuvres, toast points laden with Beluga caviar, smoked salmon, truffled pâté from the province of the Perigord. It was an odd victory he was celebrating. Once again he would ...
She sat in her apartment in the large, romantic old mansion at number 2, Schwindgasse, sewing a button on one of Kira’s dresses. How smoothly life had flowed, since her arrival, haggard and distraught, with seven suitcases and two small children, last May. She felt as though the Steiners, senior ...
It brought to mind string instruments and Russia, as “Kussova” had suggested an arrow, powerful and direct, and “Oblonova” graceful curvature, voluptuous and honeyed. Names had always held a magic for her. “Natasha” had been in the prison of her youth, harsh and barren, and that was why only ever...