Description |
1 online resource (xiv, 328 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates) : illustrations (some color), portraits |
Contents |
Family Trees xv -- I Kuskovo -- II Ostankino -- III The Fountain House |
Summary |
Filled with a remarkable cast of characters and set against the backdrop of imperial Russia, this tale of forbidden romance could be the stuff of a great historical novel. But in fact The Pearl tells a true tale, reconstructed in part from archival documents that have lain untouched for centuries. Douglas Smith presents the most complete and accurate account ever written of the illicit love between Count Nicholas Sheremetev (1751-1809), Russia's richest aristocrat, and Praskovia Kovalyova (1768-1803), his serf and the greatest opera diva of her time. Blessed with a beautiful voice, Praskovia began her training in Nicholas's operatic company as a young girl. Like all the members of Nicholas's troupe, Praskovia was one of his own serfs. But unlike the others, she utterly captured her master's heart. The book reconstructs Praskovia's stage career as "The Pearl" and the heartbreaking details of her romance with Nicholas-years of torment before their secret marriage, the outrage of the aristocracy when news of the marriage emerged, Praskovia's death only days after delivering a son, and the unyielding despair that followed Nicholas to the end of his life. Written with grace and style, The Pearl sheds light on the world of the Russian aristocracy, music history, and Russian attitudes toward serfdom. But above all, the book tells a haunting story of love against all odds |
Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
Notes |
Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212 MiAaHDL |
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In English |
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digitized 2010 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve pda MiAaHDL |
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Print version record |
Subject |
Kovaleva-Zhemchugova, P. I. (Praskovʹi︠a︡ Ivanovna)
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Sheremetev family.
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SUBJECT |
Kovaleva-Zhemchugova, P. I. (Praskovʹi︠a︡ Ivanovna) fast |
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Sheremetev family fast |
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Žemčugova, Praskov·ja I. swd |
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Šeremetev, Nikolaj P. swd |
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Šeremetev, Nikolaj Petrovič 1751-1809 gnd |
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Žemčugova, Praskovʹja I. 1768-1803 gnd |
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Kovaleva-Zhemchugova, P. I. (Praskovʹi︠a︡ Ivanovna) nli |
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Sheremetev family. nli |
Subject |
Singers -- Russia -- Biography
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Opera -- Russia -- 18th century
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HISTORY -- General.
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Opera
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Singers
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Zangers.
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Singers -- Russia -- Biography.
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Opera -- Russia -- 18th century.
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Russia
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Rusland.
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Genre/Form |
Biographies
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Authors' presentation inscriptions (Provenance)
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Form |
Electronic book
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ISBN |
9780300150551 |
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0300150555 |
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1282352377 |
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9781282352377 |
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9786612352379 |
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661235237X |
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