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Sashenka

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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Sashenka by Simon Sebag Montefiore, read by Tuppence Middleton.

Winter, 1916: In St Petersburg, Russia on the brink of revolution. Outside the Smolny Institute for Noble Young Ladies, an English governess is waiting for her young charge to be released from school. But so are the Tsar's secret police...

Beautiful and headstrong, Sashenka Zeitlin is just sixteen. As her mother parties with Rasputin and her dissolute friends, Sashenka slips into the frozen night to play her part in a dangerous game of conspiracy and seduction.

Twenty years on, Sashenka has a powerful husband with whom she has two children. Around her people are disappearing, but her own family is safe. But she's about to embark on a forbidden love affair which will have devastating consequences.

Sashenka's story lies hidden for half a century, until a young historian goes deep into Stalin's private archives and uncovers a heart-breaking tale of passion and betrayal, savage cruelty and unexpected heroism - and one woman forced to make an unbearable choice.

 20th Century Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance Russia Stalin

Critic reviews

The perfect mixture of history and clever storytelling, with wonderful female characters and a seriousness of purpose that stands out. Gripping from start to finish. (KATE MOSSE, Author of Labyrinth and Sepulchre)
Intensely moving and gripping, with an unforgettable climax that will touch the hardest heart. (Jung Chang, author of WILD SWANS and MAO)

A furiously readable novel - it's hard to put SASHENKA down. SASHENKA is a brilliantly-plotted novel which brings home with unique intimacy the joys and hopes of Russian families, the Revolution, the horror of the Thirties - and a new generation's penetration of KGB files....

Montefiore has a scholar's knowledge of Russian history but he lets his knowledge serve the tale and become part of the texture. The glory and tragedy of Sashenka's story remains long after the last page is read
He writes beautifully, vividly, and passionately about things he has known and seen. (FAY WELDON)
Intricate, fast moving...so powerfully and persuasively set out that, by the time I finally put the book down, long after midnight, I was in tears. (Vanora Bennett, THE TIMES)
To write a good historical novel you have to recreate that world, both physically and intellectually - and there must be a sense that history is driving the plot forwards. Montefiore succeeds on all counts...The real achievement of this novel is that it describes the profound levels of self-deception required if you wanted to stay alive and be a loyal communist in Stalin's Russia. (EVENING STANDARD)
A dramatic, gripping tale of a passionate, beautiful woman living in pre-revolutionary Russia, and subsequently in Stalin's Soviet hell. Her story, set against richly textured backgrounds -- some lavish, some grim -- make this novel extraordinarily difficult to put down. (Robert Massie, author of Nicholas & Alexandria)
In SASHENKA, Simon Montefiore proves himself a true storyteller. The world of the Russian Revolution and of Stalin's Terror comes vividly to life in this deeply intimate novel, full of Russian atmosphere and color. I felt as if I'd lived through an epic movie. (Edward Rutherford, author of Sarum and Russka)
An absolutely rollicking tale which also manages to convey an authentic period atmosphere. Very colourful, very evocative, very readable, and very very real. (JOANNE HARRIS)
Agile plotting, vivid characterisation and the exuberant spectacle of a well-informed author enjoying a flourish of serious frivolity - convoluted plot twists, astonishing coincidences, tear-jerking family separations and all - combine to make Sashenka an addictive page-turner with an elegant, steely edge of verisimilitude. (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH)
All stars
Most relevant
The story of Sashenka is compelling - well written but wordy and over descriptive at times but one cannot fault the way the story - based on true facts of the time - rattles along. I found myself listening to the book at every available moment and felt as though I had lost a group of friends when I finished it. It has broadened my understanding of Russia since the 1920's, a Russian friend who read the book at the same time as I was listening to it, was very complementary about the factuality of the book. My only slight grumble would be that I found the reader a bit twee and her voice irritated me - however all in all I would recommend this as a very good listen.

Great Historical journey

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It took me a little time to warm to this title. However, by part 2 I was completely hooked. The intricacy of storytelling is just sublime.

Incredible.

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Perhaps needs a little knowledge of the period it covers but the story is wonderfully written and takes the reader/listener on a near 80 year journey that offers twists and unexpected turns.

Compelling

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This was an engaging story covering à dark period of history. Well read it have a glimpse into the time without being overly violent.

A great story

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This is written with SSM's usual gift and flair for narrative. The characters and atmosphere are all wonderfully drawn. Sadly Tuppence Middleton mispronounces every non-English word (and they are littered throughout the book). Yiddish, Hebrew and Russian words in common parlance ('shlemiel' , 'Kol Nidre', 'dacha' for example) are so badly spoken, the listener needs to pause and try to understand what the author's intent was. There are even some English words whose spoken accents are on the wrong syllable. The characterisation of the children's voices is so obnoxious (and much louder in the recording microphone), that I can't wait for their parts to finish. A little preparation and homework would have been welcome here.

wonderful narrative - disappointing reader

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