Opis: The Russian Concubine - Furnivall Kate

The experiences of the author's mother inspired this debut novel, a somewhat improbable tale of star-crossed love in 1928 China. Valentina Ivanova and her 16-year-old daughter, Lydia, White Russian refugees, live in grinding poverty in the International Settlement of Junchow, subsisting off whatever presents Valentina can charm from gentlemen admirers and the profits Lydia makes from pawning stolen goods. When Lydia inadvertently attracts the unwelcome attentions of a criminal gang, the Black Snakes, she finds a rescuer in Chang An Lo, an English-speaking Communist and kung fu master. Danger is never far as the two fall in love. Lydia's travails are mirrored by those of Theo Willoughby, the British headmaster of her school. Theo's struggle to preserve his school and his happy life with his Chinese mistress, Li Mei, drives him to collude with Li Mei's estranged fatherthe leader of the Black Snakesto run opium into Junchow. Violence is more prevalent (and graphic) than sex, and the narrative has extended periods of inertia during which there is much action, but not of the plot-advancing sort. Despite these flaws, Furnivall vividly evokes Lydia's character and personal struggles against a backdrop of depravity and corruption.

Szczegóły: The Russian Concubine - Furnivall Kate

Tytuł: The Russian Concubine
Autor: Furnivall Kate
Wydawnictwo: Sphere
ISBN: 9780751540420
Języki: angielski
Rok wydania: 2007
Ilość stron: 580
Format: 13.0x20.0cm
Oprawa: Kartonowa
Waga: 0.424 kg

Recenzje: The Russian Concubine - Furnivall Kate