From award-winning author Eva Stachniak comes this passionate novel that illuminates, as only fiction can, the early life of one of history’s...
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Nov 12, 2011
Erin aka The Flashlight Reader
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Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot.com...
Straight out of the gate I have to give Stachniak a lot of points. In a market flooded with Tudor lit, The Winter Palace stands apart. A lover of history and historic fiction, I was overjoyed to see an author branching out. Of course, I wont be happy until someone writes a solid fiction on Crown Prince Rudolf and Baroness Marie Vetsera but Catherine the Great is definitely a step in the More...
Straight out of the gate I have to give Stachniak a lot of points. In a market flooded with Tudor lit, The Winter Palace stands apart. A lover of history and historic fiction, I was overjoyed to see an author branching out. Of course, I wont be happy until someone writes a solid fiction on Crown Prince Rudolf and Baroness Marie Vetsera but Catherine the Great is definitely a step in the More...
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(11 people liked it)
Oct 02, 2011
Laura
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3.5 stars
Eva Stachniak is an excellent writer. She immerses the reader fully into the story, allowing one to hear the susurration of silken petticoats, feel the chill bite of the howling Russian winter wind, smell the perfume and mildew which permeated the grand yet dilapidated Winter Palace. She does so with complex sentences, unlike some historical fiction writers *cough* Philippa Gregory *cough* who can't seem to string together sentences more involved than the "See Jane, S More...
Eva Stachniak is an excellent writer. She immerses the reader fully into the story, allowing one to hear the susurration of silken petticoats, feel the chill bite of the howling Russian winter wind, smell the perfume and mildew which permeated the grand yet dilapidated Winter Palace. She does so with complex sentences, unlike some historical fiction writers *cough* Philippa Gregory *cough* who can't seem to string together sentences more involved than the "See Jane, S More...
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Dec 29, 2011
Sally
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 09, 2011
Sarah
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I received an advanced reading copy of this novel to read. Please note this is a review of the uncorrected advanced reader's edition, which I received for free, but I have no ties to the publisher. The book is due to be published in January 2012. Please be warned this may contain spoilers especially if you are unfamiliar with the history.
I thought the book was interesting, and definitely well-researched. Overall I greatly enjoyed it although I had a few issues with it, which I will m More...
I thought the book was interesting, and definitely well-researched. Overall I greatly enjoyed it although I had a few issues with it, which I will m More...
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Oct 02, 2011
Manda
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I was recently sent two outstanding books for cover quotes. This is the first:
Published in January next year by Doubleday, 'The Winter Palace' is the story of the ascent of the poor little German princess, Sophie who, dragged to the Russian court as bride for the youthful Grand Duke (a Prussian, who spends his life playing with his toy soldiers and fails to consummate their marriage), rises in time to become Catherine the Great.
But she is not great when we meet her: she's the More...
Published in January next year by Doubleday, 'The Winter Palace' is the story of the ascent of the poor little German princess, Sophie who, dragged to the Russian court as bride for the youthful Grand Duke (a Prussian, who spends his life playing with his toy soldiers and fails to consummate their marriage), rises in time to become Catherine the Great.
But she is not great when we meet her: she's the More...
Jan 10, 2012
Christina (A Reader of Fictions)
rated it:
Brief Summary:
Barbara is Polish, daughter of a bookbinder who moved the family to St. Petersburg for work. Before his death, her father asks a request of Empress Elizabeth, for whom he once excellently repaired a book: that she watch out for his daughter. This earns Barbara, or Varvara in Russian, a place working in the winter palace. She works, for a time, with the seamstresses, something for which she has no talent. Then, because of her own intelligence and her desperation to do somethin More...
Barbara is Polish, daughter of a bookbinder who moved the family to St. Petersburg for work. Before his death, her father asks a request of Empress Elizabeth, for whom he once excellently repaired a book: that she watch out for his daughter. This earns Barbara, or Varvara in Russian, a place working in the winter palace. She works, for a time, with the seamstresses, something for which she has no talent. Then, because of her own intelligence and her desperation to do somethin More...
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Feb 14, 2012
Liz
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The Winter Palace is one of my favorite books that I've read so far this year. It takes you into the Russian Imperial court in the time of the Empress Elizabeth. Barbara is a lady in waiting first for Elizabeth, and also at times for "Sophie" a young Princess who would eventually become Catherine the Great. Fiercely loyal to Sophie while still faithfully serving the Empress Elizabeth Barbara is used by both of her mistresses, and other monarchs of the court to their own selfish means
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Jan 09, 2012
Sam
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Although the subtitle of The Winter Palace is 'a novel of Catherine the Great', it's really a novel about a young Polish woman called Barbara (Varvara when she arrives in Russia). The daughter of a bookbinder, she is orphaned and left in the care of Empress Elizabeth's Court in the Winter Palace of St Petersburg. Initially a lowly seamstress, her intelligence and quick wit catches the eye of Chancellor Bestuzhev and she is trained as a 'tongue', or spy for a variety of masters. Eventually, s
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Dec 23, 2011
Melissa
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I received this book as an ARC for review before publication.
Solid 4.5 stars. .I really liked The Winter Palace, it was one of those books that once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down (literally). Probably the biggest issue with the book is that it isn't really about Catherine the Great. While she is a main character, the actual heroine of the story is Varvara, a spy for Elizabeth the Empress and then for Catherine herself. The whole story is told through the intrigues of the court and More...
Solid 4.5 stars. .I really liked The Winter Palace, it was one of those books that once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down (literally). Probably the biggest issue with the book is that it isn't really about Catherine the Great. While she is a main character, the actual heroine of the story is Varvara, a spy for Elizabeth the Empress and then for Catherine herself. The whole story is told through the intrigues of the court and More...
Feb 18, 2012
Jessica
rated it:
This was a good book in so many ways. The writing was solid and clear and often illuminating. The action--following "real" life--was chronological (except for the opener, which was confusing to me) and straightforward. The players from history were brought to life well, and I learned a lot. My mother is currently reading a biography of Catherine the Great, and we compared notes. I could hold my own in the disucssion based on this novel.
Here's my own quibble, and I think More...
Here's my own quibble, and I think More...
Oct 11, 2011
C.w.
rated it:
In the crowded historical fiction marketplace, THE WINTER PALACE stands out for being a book set in mid-eighteenth century Russia, an unusual setting. But what makes this novel unique is its perspective. Told from the viewpoint of Varvara, a young Polish woman who rises to influence in the Russian Court of Tsarina Elizabeth as a spy, we are swept into a tumultuous era when the fortunes of an entire empire hovered on the often incomprehensible whims of the aging tsarina, and where an enterprising
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6 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Dec 29, 2011
Dawn
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In "The Winter Palace" we find another deft hand with Historical Fiction, and Eva Stachniak happily takes us to another of the Great Courts... Tsarist Russia under the Empress Elisabeth.
A young Polish girl, an outsider at court, finds herself orphaned and taken into the service of the Empress. Empress Elisabeth's promise to take care of her mostly amounts to being sent to work as part of her household as a menial. Barbera however is a quick, literate girl, and the Bookbinde More...
A young Polish girl, an outsider at court, finds herself orphaned and taken into the service of the Empress. Empress Elisabeth's promise to take care of her mostly amounts to being sent to work as part of her household as a menial. Barbera however is a quick, literate girl, and the Bookbinde More...
Sep 05, 2011
Rachel
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I could not put this book down as it was suspenseful. I love reading Russian historical fiction and to my chagrin, have not read enough of them. This book is not only historical fiction, it is also about a woman who is a spy. Barbara, or rather, Varvara (the Polish version of Barbara) was a young orphan when she was brought into Elizabeth, the Empress' court. Discovered by the Chancellor after a year of working in the wardrobe division, Varvara became a "tongue," which is a spy for the
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Jan 12, 2012
Meenoo
rated it:
While I am a huge fan of historical fiction, I generally stay away from books about royals. I prefer books written from a regular person's perspective. The Winter Palace is one of the best books about royalty that I have read. Since it's written from Barbara the spy's perspective, you also see the disparities in the lives of regular people and the privileged. Details about St. Petersburg and Russian life are rich and immediate.
The story centers around a young girl, Barbara (or Varvara in R More...
The story centers around a young girl, Barbara (or Varvara in R More...
Feb 07, 2012
Mieneke
rated it:
As mentioned in my look forward at my most anticipated reads for the first half of 2012, I love historical fiction centred on royalty and aristocracy. And while I'm fairly well grounded in the royal histories of The Netherlands and Great Britain, I'm far less familiar with that other great monarchy, the Russian Tsars. So when I read the synopsis for The Winter Palace, I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as possible. And as I was lucky enough to receive a review copy from the publisher, I d
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Oct 20, 2011
Donna
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Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great
by Eva Stachniak
Published by Random House
release date January 10,2012
received from NetGalley for review
I requested this book from Net Galley to compare with Robert Massie's Catherine the Great. I found it is not a fair comparison. While Massie's book focused on Catherine (born Sophie) and her family, Ms. Stachniak's book was from the viewpoint of a servant named Vavara and not actually about Catherine th More...
by Eva Stachniak
Published by Random House
release date January 10,2012
received from NetGalley for review
I requested this book from Net Galley to compare with Robert Massie's Catherine the Great. I found it is not a fair comparison. While Massie's book focused on Catherine (born Sophie) and her family, Ms. Stachniak's book was from the viewpoint of a servant named Vavara and not actually about Catherine th More...
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Sep 10, 2011
Carol
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This is a very engrossing and exciting historical fiction read set in the 1700's in Russia. As `The Winter Palace' by Eva Straniak opens in 1743, we meet the young girl, Varvara or Barbara and her father, a Polish bookbinder. And we learn the story of how she became a "tongue" or spy for the Chancellor of Russia and later for Empress `Elizabeth the Merciful'. Since Varvara had lost her mother earlier and her father was worried about what would become of if he died, her father slowly wo
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 17, 2012
Joanne
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The author takes us inside the Court of Empress Elizabeth of Russia in this historical fiction novel. Elizabeth is a selfish, vain, controlling monarch who relies on "tongues" in the palace to keep her up on all the gossip and goings on of her subjects. Enter Varvara, an orphan who has been given a home in the palace, who becomes one of her trusted spies (and foot massager). But Varvara has become a confidante of Catherine - who has been imported from Prussia to wed Elizabeth's wimp
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Nov 15, 2011
Amanda
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I have to admit that there is nothing like the drama of palace life that intrigues me. The gluttony, the power hungry willing to do anything… when done right it can create a real pager turner. That is why this reader very rarely turns down the opportunity to read a historical fiction novel especially one set in the 18th Century. The only downside to fondness for such literature is that there are many such novels out there and not all are worth the read. The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine th
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Dec 31, 2011
Krisha Lea
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The Winter Palace by Eva Shachniak is a most interesting book indeed. Told from the point of view of a maid/spy in the Winter Palace, Varvara Nikoleyvna, we are swept along in the roller coaster ride that was Catherine the Great's ascension into power.
The story was well told, and was MUCH more interesting to read than some other medieval historical fictions I've read *cough* the white queen *cough*. The story quickly sucked me in and held on tight until it was finished.
Varva More...
The story was well told, and was MUCH more interesting to read than some other medieval historical fictions I've read *cough* the white queen *cough*. The story quickly sucked me in and held on tight until it was finished.
Varva More...
Jan 18, 2012
Elysium
rated it:
3.5 stars
Barbara, or Varvara in Russian, becomes to Russian court during the reign of Empress Elizabeth. Chancellor Bestuzhev trains her to be a spy (tongue) and after the Empress brings the future Catherine the Great, then called Sophie, to marry her nephew Peter, Varvara becomes part of her retinue. Catherine doesn’t have easy time in Russia and the two soon become close confidantes.
The book is called “a novel of Catherine the Great” but Catherine is not the main character More...
Barbara, or Varvara in Russian, becomes to Russian court during the reign of Empress Elizabeth. Chancellor Bestuzhev trains her to be a spy (tongue) and after the Empress brings the future Catherine the Great, then called Sophie, to marry her nephew Peter, Varvara becomes part of her retinue. Catherine doesn’t have easy time in Russia and the two soon become close confidantes.
The book is called “a novel of Catherine the Great” but Catherine is not the main character More...
Feb 10, 2012
Rae
rated it:
This is a beautiful book about Catherine the Great, told in the point of view of Barbara, the daughter of a Polish bookbinder who came to Russia for work. Her father wins the favor of Princess Elizabeth, who is entrusted with the life of Barbara. She's accepted into the palace as a seamstress, which she's not much good at, then recruited by the palace's spymaster as a tongue for the Empress.
It's a unique novel for me, reading about royalty from the point of view of their nobility whi More...
It's a unique novel for me, reading about royalty from the point of view of their nobility whi More...
Feb 11, 2012
Lydia
rated it:
Original review posted here
This is quite the story.
I'm always a big fan of books about royals which are told from the point of view of someone who's been placed near them. While it's interesting if the author can capture the actual royal voice, more often than not I find that the technique used by Stachniak in The Winter Palace is a better one to use.
So I knew little to nothing about Catherine the Great before picking up this book - as most of my reading about King More...
This is quite the story.
I'm always a big fan of books about royals which are told from the point of view of someone who's been placed near them. While it's interesting if the author can capture the actual royal voice, more often than not I find that the technique used by Stachniak in The Winter Palace is a better one to use.
So I knew little to nothing about Catherine the Great before picking up this book - as most of my reading about King More...
Dec 28, 2011
PopcornReads
rated it:
Book Giveaway & Review:
I was thrilled to get an ARC (advance reader’s copy) of The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great by award-winning Polish author Eva Stachniak, and I’m even more thrilled to be able to offer it to one lucky reader in a giveaway! There are certain periods that I love reading about. I’m fascinated by the Russian Tsars and Tsarinas, and I’ve always been interested in the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Catherine the Great has always been a historical figu More...
I was thrilled to get an ARC (advance reader’s copy) of The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great by award-winning Polish author Eva Stachniak, and I’m even more thrilled to be able to offer it to one lucky reader in a giveaway! There are certain periods that I love reading about. I’m fascinated by the Russian Tsars and Tsarinas, and I’ve always been interested in the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Catherine the Great has always been a historical figu More...
Jan 18, 2012
Marcia
rated it:
Set in the turbulent times of 18th century Imperial Russia, The Winter Palace tells the story of Varvara, a bookbinder's daughter, who becomes the "tongue" for the young Grand Duchess of All the Russias (later Catherine the Great). Or was she the "tongue" for the Empress Elizabeth? A delicious tale of Imperial grandeur, intrigue, and espionage.
The opening paragraphs...
The spies you learn about are either those who get exposed or those who reveal themselves More...
The opening paragraphs...
The spies you learn about are either those who get exposed or those who reveal themselves More...
Jan 14, 2012
Lisa
rated it:
From the start, Barbara’s first person voice and her Polish roots engaged me. The premise of a court maid spy is very believable given what I know of Russian history. I was excited to have an opportunity to read a book about Russian monarchy just as famous as the Tudors’, but explored far less in fiction.
I enjoyed the read from beginning to end and give it a 3.2. Having said that, there were some tings missing for me in the reading experience. Eva Stachniak captures the atmospher More...
I enjoyed the read from beginning to end and give it a 3.2. Having said that, there were some tings missing for me in the reading experience. Eva Stachniak captures the atmospher More...
Jan 10, 2012
Kim
rated it:
Written from the perspective of a lady in waiting who is also put in place as a "tongue" (eavesdropper to the Empress Elizabeth). Varvara is pulled in every direction and fearful of her place in a court where no one is killed but you might perish from being flogged or tortured and under the ever watchful eye of the Chancellor. Elizabeth is on the hunt for an heir and looks to a match between her nerdy nephew and Sophie from Zerbst. This is a historical fiction that begins with a peek
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Jan 14, 2012
Nicole (All I Ever Read)
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I love historical fiction. That being said, I always end up reading books from the same time periods which usually happens to be either Ancient Egypt, or Tudor England. Partly due to my own interest in those time periods and partly due to the absolutely saturated market of books chronicling that time period. Try as I may, I have never been able to branch out, until I was given the opportunity to read and review The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak. After reading this book I am extremely please
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Oct 11, 2011
Dianne
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The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great by Eva Stachniak
A well researched but still fictional account of the spy who is shared by Chancellor Bestuzhev, Empress Elizabeth and Princess Sophie who will eventually become Catherine the Great. This novel is about the ending years of Empress Elizabeth’s reign and ends with Catherine taking the throne from her husband Peter.
The spy is a very young Polish woman, the daughter of a bookbinder and follows More...
A well researched but still fictional account of the spy who is shared by Chancellor Bestuzhev, Empress Elizabeth and Princess Sophie who will eventually become Catherine the Great. This novel is about the ending years of Empress Elizabeth’s reign and ends with Catherine taking the throne from her husband Peter.
The spy is a very young Polish woman, the daughter of a bookbinder and follows More...
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Feb 02, 2012
Beth
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THE WINTER PALACE: A NOVEL OF CATHERINE THE GREAT by Eva Stachniak is historical fiction. The historical part is about Catherine, so I guess that’s why Stachniak put her in the subtitle. But the story is told by one of her fictional maids, Barbara, and is very much about her.
Barbara was like a Dickens character in that she began as the lowliest of lows and eventually became a great friend and confidant of Catherine. The two were together from the time Catherine was Sophie, a poor pri More...
Barbara was like a Dickens character in that she began as the lowliest of lows and eventually became a great friend and confidant of Catherine. The two were together from the time Catherine was Sophie, a poor pri More...
