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A review by johannalm
The Mirrored World by Debra Dean
4.0
The Mirrored World, Debra Dean
Debra Dean writes eloquently about women. I loved her other novel, the Madonnas of Leningrad, which takes place during WWII, and centers on saving the art of the hermitage. This novel is situated in Russia too, but during the reign of Catherine the Great.
The Mirrored World is a book about people on the periphery of the great court, who also benefit from it. Mostly the book is based on the life of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, who is still revered in Russia to this day.
It’s a short novel that illuminates so much about that time period and explains parts of Xenia’s life and family that transformed her into a saint; including an important female friendship, her great love, her tragic loss, and how she ended up living in devotion to God.
Dean does a wonderful job brining the intimate and inner life of her female character’s to the surface. You really know them as feeling and thinking people. She also builds a picture for us of the majesty and the absurdness of the imperial court under Catherine and other rulers around that time.
I highly recommend this writer, especially if Russian history interests you.
Debra Dean writes eloquently about women. I loved her other novel, the Madonnas of Leningrad, which takes place during WWII, and centers on saving the art of the hermitage. This novel is situated in Russia too, but during the reign of Catherine the Great.
The Mirrored World is a book about people on the periphery of the great court, who also benefit from it. Mostly the book is based on the life of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, who is still revered in Russia to this day.
It’s a short novel that illuminates so much about that time period and explains parts of Xenia’s life and family that transformed her into a saint; including an important female friendship, her great love, her tragic loss, and how she ended up living in devotion to God.
Dean does a wonderful job brining the intimate and inner life of her female character’s to the surface. You really know them as feeling and thinking people. She also builds a picture for us of the majesty and the absurdness of the imperial court under Catherine and other rulers around that time.
I highly recommend this writer, especially if Russian history interests you.