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Book Cover
E-book
Author Smith, Douglas, 1962-

Title The Pearl : a true tale of forbidden love in Catherine the Great's Russia / Douglas Smith
Published New Haven : Yale University Press, ©2008

Copies

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
In English
digitized 2010 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve pda MiAaHDL
Print version record
Subject Kovaleva-Zhemchugova, P. I. (Praskovʹi︠a︡ Ivanovna)
Sheremetev family.
SUBJECT Kovaleva-Zhemchugova, P. I. (Praskovʹi︠a︡ Ivanovna) fast
Sheremetev family fast
Žemčugova, Praskov·ja I. swd
Šeremetev, Nikolaj P. swd
Šeremetev, Nikolaj Petrovič 1751-1809 gnd
Žemčugova, Praskovʹja I. 1768-1803 gnd
Kovaleva-Zhemchugova, P. I. (Praskovʹi︠a︡ Ivanovna) nli
Sheremetev family. nli
Subject Singers -- Russia -- Biography
Opera -- Russia -- 18th century
HISTORY -- General.
Opera
Singers
Zangers.
Singers -- Russia -- Biography.
Opera -- Russia -- 18th century.
Russia
Rusland.
Genre/Form Biographies
Authors' presentation inscriptions (Provenance)
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9780300150551
0300150555
1282352377
9781282352377
9786612352379
661235237X