The Imperial Wife (#601) by Irina Reyn is an intriguing novel that switches between the stories of a present day Russian art expert employed by a high-end auction house in New York City and Catherine the Great's rise to power in eighteenth century Russia.
At first these two women seemingly have little in common, yet as the story progresses, the threads of their lives pull them together in surprising ways. Tanya Kagan immediately feels a connection to Catherine when she is asked to consign The Order of Saint Catherine to an upcoming auction. Much hinges on the piece being linked authentically to Catherine herself. Not only Tanya herself, but her husband and a couple of ultra-rich Russian oligarchs are equally obsessed with the jeweled ornament and its ties to Catherine. Both women struggle with their roles as dutiful wives which The Order of Saint Catherine signifies, whatever that may entail, and with gaining power to act in their own spheres of influence.
The worlds these characters inhabit are far beyond our reach, but they are interesting places to visit for a short time. The plot twist at the end supplies a satisfying conclusion to the power struggles and ultimate triumphs of its main characters. Readers of Massie's biography of Catherine the Great which was a best-seller several years ago will undoub6edly find the story of one of her possessions a diverting read.
No comments:
Post a Comment