 | |
| Author | Debra Dean |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Published | 2012 ( HarperCollins) |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 245 |
| ISBN | 9780061231452 |
| OCLC | 777621233 |
The Mirrored World is a 2012 novel by Debra Dean that presets a fictionalized account of Xenia of Saint Petersburg.
In a review for The Seattle Times, Wingate Packard wrote "In her excellent second novel, "The Mirrored World," Debra Dean has composed a resonant and compelling tale from 18th-century Russia, based on the historically true story of Xenia, later Saint Xenia of St. Petersburg." [1] The Daily Reporter called it ""a brilliant look at the underbelly of societal expectation". [2]
The Mirrored World has also been reviewed by Library Journal , [3] Booklist , [3] BookPage, [4] Publishers Weekly , [5] the Historical Novel Society, [6] Missoulian , [7] and Kirkus Reviews . [8]
The Russia House is a spy novel by British writer John le Carré published in 1989. The title refers to the nickname given to the portion of the British Secret Intelligence Service that was devoted to spying on the Soviet Union. A film based on the novel was released in 1990 starring Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer, and directed by Fred Schepisi. The BBC produced a radio play starring Tom Baker.
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While most will be drawn to the fictionalized account of one of Russia’s most holy saints, it is the all-too-human story about the woman behind the saint that truly captivates.
For those familiar with the story of St. Xenia, this is a gratifying take on a compelling woman. For others, Dean’s vivid prose and deft pacing make for a quick and entertaining read.
a truly gifted writer
Dean ... writes with an internal focus and wistful grace that suit the subject and the time period. In her skilled hands, history comes alive.
The novel follows the factual particulars, but Dasha’s narration remains at such a formal remove that readers never experience what makes Xenia tick as a saint or a woman.