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Product Description
Review
"Boyne is a skilled storyteller...his novel is an exciting, fast-paced story that compels the reader through its 70-year span...absorbing and richly satisfying." --The Times
"Boyne has skilfully drawn a living, breathing character who not only witnessed one of the greatest events of the 20th century but also had his own part to play in how the dramatic tale unravels." --Daily Express
"Boyne writes with consummate ease, and is particularly good at drawing the indecently rich world of the pre-revolutionary Romanovs."
--The Independent
"Boyne has skilfully drawn a living, breathing character who not only witnessed one of the greatest events of the 20th century but also had his own part to play in how the dramatic tale unravels." --Daily Express
"Boyne writes with consummate ease, and is particularly good at drawing the indecently rich world of the pre-revolutionary Romanovs."
--The Independent
Book Description
The stunning new novel from the author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An accurate history book it's not ... but as a fantasy tale of fiction loosely based on the final collapse of the Russian Autocracy it is outstandingly readable.
The story is narrated by the main character, hero Georgy Jachmenev and spans almost 70 years of his life. Just like a giant jigsaw puzzle starting with the outside pieces of Georgy's life in 1981 at the age of 82 and filling in the story with fragments until the one big picture is complete, and amazingly it works.
John Boyne is a gifted storyteller and an equally gifted writer, I loved this book and found the story exciting, dramatic, emotional and used as a broad outline of the demise of the last Russian Autocratic family Tsar and Tsaritsa Nicholas II and Alexandra, historic.
Characterisation is superb and although the Author does not fill his pages with description, you will find set within the folds of each small puzzle piece, a detailed picture of life and personalities that spring rapidly to life.
Just like John Boyne's previous book ` The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas ` ... this would make an excellent film.
I for one cannot wait until his next novel.
The story is narrated by the main character, hero Georgy Jachmenev and spans almost 70 years of his life. Just like a giant jigsaw puzzle starting with the outside pieces of Georgy's life in 1981 at the age of 82 and filling in the story with fragments until the one big picture is complete, and amazingly it works.
John Boyne is a gifted storyteller and an equally gifted writer, I loved this book and found the story exciting, dramatic, emotional and used as a broad outline of the demise of the last Russian Autocratic family Tsar and Tsaritsa Nicholas II and Alexandra, historic.
Characterisation is superb and although the Author does not fill his pages with description, you will find set within the folds of each small puzzle piece, a detailed picture of life and personalities that spring rapidly to life.
Just like John Boyne's previous book ` The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas ` ... this would make an excellent film.
I for one cannot wait until his next novel.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book. I read a lot of Pre-revolution Russian history and although John Boyne may have taken some liberties with historical accuracy, I enjoyed this particular take on the story. Whilst not giving too much away, we are led to believe that not all the Romanovs were executed in 1918. Did we ever wonder what the life of a Romanov survivor may be have been like? How would that person have coped with life after the devastating events of that night. It was interesting to read John Boyne's emotional development of that figure through the years that followed and I found it was an emotional rollercoaster. Thanks for giving us another angle to the much written accounts.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Firstly I am no Russian historian however I went into this book knowing it was a novel so took it on that basis.
On that basis I found it a a very interesting read, the ending may not be real as others have said but who cares - read it as a novel and enjoy it rather than wasting time picking it apart!
The author did a very good job of bringing the era alive for me and the story moved along at a very good pace making me want to rush to the end but also wanting to savour it for longer. There is nothing better than a book you want to read slower to make it last but cannot do so as it occupies your mind so well - this was one of those books.
On that basis I found it a a very interesting read, the ending may not be real as others have said but who cares - read it as a novel and enjoy it rather than wasting time picking it apart!
The author did a very good job of bringing the era alive for me and the story moved along at a very good pace making me want to rush to the end but also wanting to savour it for longer. There is nothing better than a book you want to read slower to make it last but cannot do so as it occupies your mind so well - this was one of those books.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Misuse of history
Fluent storytelling and a nice mix of love and adventure, four stars for that. But deeper down, this book is a disaster: Boyne is simply using Russian history and geography as a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Samuel Martinsson
A masterpiece
Absolutely entralled from 1st page, very very moving story... John Boyne is an amazing writer never disappoints.. can highly recommend.
Published 2 months ago by Susanna Kelly
history coming alive
Stylish writing with a teasing style. Sufficiently accurate in relation to historical fact that it drew and held my attention. Read more
Published 5 months ago by millhall
The House of Special Purpose
There are two storylines running parallel in this novel, both told by Georgy. One story runs from the present time (1981) when he is now 82 years old and has not seen his Russian... Read more
Published 9 months ago by S Riaz
A magical story
For those of us brought up on the mystery of Anastasia this book is a gift. If you thought that The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was good then be prepared for even greater depths in... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mrs. Katharine Kirby
Thoroughly enjoyable.
I loved this book so much so I would readily pick it up and start reading it again tomorrow. John Boyne does a fantastic job as always in bringing the whole thing to life. Read more
Published 18 months ago by chickalilli
A gentle and absorbing read
I enjoyed reading this book. The story is Georgy Jachmenev's from his boyhood, through being in service to the Tsar of Russia, through exile and escape first to Paris and then to... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Alison McVey
The Flashman of the Russian Revolution
This book is so poorly structured and improbable that it is difficult to take it seriously as a piece of writing. Read more
Published 19 months ago by John Fitzpatrick
500 pages of pure reading pleasure
When I saw the book I first thought.. well another survival story, another Anstasia story. We all know what really has happened, that all the family died and so what's the point. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Amelrode
Made for television
I won't lie, this book held me till the final page. But at that point I was groaning.
Too many improbables. Too much bastardized history. Read more
Too many improbables. Too much bastardized history. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Ferdinand Foch
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