New Releases by Eva Stachniak

Bursa in der Türkei, 1760: Die junge Sophie ist von außergewöhnlicher Schönheit, und schon bald merkt sie, dass diese Schönheit ebenso nützlich wie gefährlich für sie ist. Nach dem Tod ihres Vaters landet sie als Konkubine einer Sultana in Istanbul. Doch Sophie ist nicht nur charmant, sondern auch gewitzt, kann aus dem Harem fliehen, und schließlich verschlägt es sie in die Arme eines polnischen Grafen, den sie heiratet. Als Gräfin de Witt erobert sie die europäischen Salons im Sturm, Männern stockt bei ihrem Anblick der Atem, zwischen St. Petersburg und Paris folgt eine Affäre auf die andere, sie bringt mehrere Kinder zur Welt, heiratet ein zweites Mal und lässt sich in der Ukraine einen Landschaftspark anlegen. Ihr turbulentes Leben endete schließlich im Jahr 1822 in Berlin. Ein opulenter, vielschichtiger historischer Roman der Bestsellerautorin, inspiriert vom Leben der Sophie Potocka, eine außergewöhnliche Frau, die zu ihrer Zeit als schönste Frau Europas galt und nicht nur durch ihre Schönheit zu bezaubern wusste, sondern auch durch Charme und Witz.

Durante o reinado de Luís XV, raparigas adolescentes de baixa condição, mas lindíssimas, são enviadas de toda a França para uma villa discreta na cidade de Versalhes. Supervisionadas pela amante preferida do Rei, Madame de Pompadour, serão treinadas como potenciais cortesãs para o Rei. Quando chega a altura certa, cada rapariga é levada ao palácio de Versalhes, com o seu lendário Salão de Espelhos. Aí conhecem um homem misterioso mas muito bem vestido, que é apresentado apenas como um conde polaco, um primo da Rainha. Vivendo uma vida indulgente de vestidos de seda, refeições deliciosas e camas suaves, as estudantes desta «Escola de Espelhos» raramente colocam questões e, quando o Rei se cansa delas, são casadas com aristocratas ou recebem autorização para se mudar para conventos luxuosos. Astuta e bela, Véronique chega à Escola de Espelhos e rapidamente se torna a favorita do Rei. Mas, quando descobre a verdadeira identidade do seu amante, é levada para ter a sua filha em segredo e depois casar com um mercador de Breton. Não existe caminho de volta à Escola de Espelhos. Esta é também a história da filha que o Rei tem com Véronique, Marie-Louise. A viver num lar confortável, Marie-Louise nunca conheceu a mãe, nem o pai. Capaz e inteligente, descobre a paixão pela cura e a ciência, tornando-se parteira credenciada, uma das poucas profissões respeitáveis para uma mulher como ela. Mas Véronique regressa à vida da filha, trazendo consigo o segredo do nascimento de Marie-Louise. Porém, o novo Rei – Luís XVI – vê o seu trono em perigo, a França vive momentos voláteis... e aqueles que têm familiares em Versalhes devem ter cuidado com os passos que dão...

“A riveting epic, keenly observed and shining with lush historical detail. You’ll never forget this journey.”--Cara Black, New York Times bestselling author of Three Hours in Paris “A sweeping tale of tumult and tragedy— intricate, absorbing, and impeccably depicted, The School of Mirrors will linger in your imagination long after you turn the last page.”--Ann Mah, bestselling author of Jacqueline in Paris A scintillating, gorgeously written historical novel about a mother and a daughter in eighteenth-century France, beginning with decadence and palace intrigue at Versailles and ending in an explosive new era of revolution. During the reign of Louis XV, impoverished but lovely teenage girls from all over France are sent to a discreet villa in the town of Versailles. Overseen by the King’s favorite mistress, Madame de Pompadour, they will be trained as potential courtesans for the King. When the time is right, each girl is smuggled into the palace of Versailles, with its legendary Hall of Mirrors. There they meet a mysterious but splendidly dressed man who they’re told is merely a Polish count, a cousin of the Queen. Living an indulgent life of silk gowns, delicious meals, and soft beds, the students at this “school of mirrors” rarely ask questions, and when Louis tires of them, they are married off to minor aristocrats or allowed to retire to one of the more luxurious nunneries. Beautiful and canny Veronique arrives at the school of mirrors and quickly becomes a favorite of the King. But when she discovers her lover’s true identity, she is whisked away, sent to give birth to a daughter in secret, and then to marry a wealthy Breton merchant. There is no return to the School of Mirrors. This is also the story of the King’s daughter by Veronique—Marie-Louise. Well-provided for in a comfortable home, Marie-Louise has never known her mother, let alone her father. Capable and intelligent, she discovers a passion for healing and science, and becomes an accredited midwife, one of the few reputable careers for women like her. But eventually Veronique comes back into her daughter’s life, bringing with her the secret of Marie-Louise’s birth. But the new King—Louis XVI—is teetering on his throne and it’s a volatile time in France…and those with royal relatives must mind their step very carefully.

Versailles, 1755: Die junge Véronique fällt auf in den ärmlichen Gassen, wo ihre Familie kaum über die Runden kommt, und bald dringt der Ruf ihrer Schönheit bis zum Schloss, wo Ludwig der XV. das Interesse an seiner Favoritin, Madame de Pompadour, verloren hat. Véronique wird seine Geliebte, doch das Arrangement nimmt ein jähes Ende, als sie ein Kind erwartet. Jahre später wächst Marie-Louise bei einer Pflegemutter auf, die sie zur Hebamme ausbildet. Über ihre Mutter weiß sie nichts. Sie heiratet den jungen Anwalt Pierre, der an der Seite Dantons für den Sturz des Königs kämpft. Doch eines Tages wird Pierre in einem anonymen Schreiben vorgeworfen, seine Frau habe Verbindungen zum Königshaus – das könnte ihn nicht nur seine Karriere, sondern auch den Kopf kosten ... Der packende neue Roman der Bestsellerautorin erweckt Schicksale am Vorabend der Französischen Revolution an einem der prunkvollsten Schauplätze royaler Macht fulminant zum Leben – mitreißend und bewegend.

Nei primi anni del Novecento i fratelli Nižinskij, Vaclav, Stassik e Bronia, sono figli del palcoscenico: i genitori sono gli unici danzatori polacchi della troupe Lukovič, che si esibisce nelle città e cittadine russe, da Odessa a Kiev, da Mosca a San Pietrobur-go. Dopo anni di duro esercizio, per Vaclav e poi per Bronia, si aprono le porte del prestigioso Corpo di ballo del teatro Mariinskij, una delle più famose compagnie di balletto di San Pietroburgo, conosciuta e apprezzata in tutto il mondo. Tuttavia il Mariinskij, dove apprendono a misurarsi con il pubblico, giudice spietato e invisibile oltre le luci del palcoscenico, è soltanto una tappa del loro cammino. Due incontri fortuiti conducono, infatti, entrambi su strade più libere e spregiudicate. Il primo, quello con Isadora Duncan, la precorritrice della danza moderna che rivoluziona e scandalizza il mondo del balletto classico apparendo sul palco senza tutù e calzamaglia, i piedi liberi dalle scarpe a punta e i movimenti sinuosi, tutt’uno con la musica. Il secondo con il noto impresario tea-trale Sergej Pavlovič Djagilev, un uomo attraente e minaccioso al tempo stesso, ma indiscutibilmente abile a promuovere le arti visive e musicali russe all’estero, in special modo a Parigi. Fondatore dei «Ballets Russes», Djagilev considera Vaclav un genio, il «Dio della danza» e lo invita a far parte della sua compagnia. Bronia segue il fratello poco dopo, trasferendosi a Parigi, ansiosa di lasciarsi alle spalle il vecchio, morente mondo del balletto classico e di abbracciare il mondo nuovo, come un’artista che non cerca soltanto la sicurezza, le lodi, l’applauso, ma è capace di aprirsi con coraggio al futuro. Avvincente romanzo storico che mette in luce una figura finora trascurata nella storia del balletto russo, la sorella del noto bal-lerino Vaclav Nižinskij, Il respiro della danza è una splendida conferma del talento dell’autrice de Il Palazzo d’Inverno. «Una storia di intrighi, amore, tradimento e redenzione nel mondo dell’arte e degli artisti, al confine tra la dedizione e l’ossessione, la creazione e la follia». Toronto Star

The lush, sweeping story of a remarkable dancer who charts her own course through the tumultuous years of early twentieth-century Europe. Beautifully blending fiction with fact, The Chosen Maiden plunges readers into an artistic world upended by modernity, immersing them in the experiences of the era''s giants, from Anna Pavlova and Serge Diaghilev to Coco Chanel and Pablo Picasso. From their earliest days, the Nijinsky siblings appear destined for the stage. Bronia is a gifted young ballerina, but she is quickly eclipsed by her brother Vaslav. Deemed a prodigy, Vaslav Nijinsky will grow into the greatest, and most provocative, dancer of his time. To prove herself her brother''s equal in the rigid world of ballet, Bronia will need to be more than extraordinary, defying society''s expectations of what a female dancer can and should be. The real-life muse behind one of the most spectacular roles in dance, The Rite of Spring''s Chosen Maiden, Bronia rises to the heights of modern ballet through grit, resilience and fervor. But when the First World War erupts and rebellion sparks in Russia, Bronia—caught between old and new, traditional and ground-breaking, safe and passionate—must begin her own search for what it means to be modern.

Elle s’appelle Barbara, Varvara en russe. Alerte et vive d’esprit, elle est admise au service de l’impératrice Élisabeth, dans l’univers éclatant et cruel de la plus éminente cour du monde. Sous la tutelle du comte Bestoujev, chancelier et maître-espion, Varvara va parfaire son éducation, de l’art de crocheter une serrure à l’acte charnel, apprenant par-dessus tout à écouter — et à saisir l’occasion qui se présente en la personne d’une svelte princesse de Zerbst du nom de Sophie, une jeune flle enjouée appelée à devenir l’indomptable Catherine la Grande. Si la cour la destine à épouser le neveu de l’impératrice, elle caresse d’autres ambitions plus nobles et plus dangereuses, et se révèle plus rusée qu’elle ne le laisse d’abord paraître.Ce dont Sophie a besoin, c’est d’une alliée dans l’enceinte de la cour, d’une observatrice loyale qui connaît les pièges, les conspirations et la duplicité qui l’entourent. Varvara va devenir la confdente de Sophie, et ensemble, les deux jeunes femmes graviront les marches du pouvoir absolu.Avec une profusion de détails et une richesse d’émotions, Eva Stachniak dépeint l’alliance secrète qui lie Varvara à Catherine à mesure que la princesse entre dans la légende, au gré d’un mariage forcé, de séductions illicites et, enfn, d’un stupéfant coup d’État par lequel elle briguera le trône de l’Empire russe.Étayé de recherches scrupuleuses, porté par une écriture magnifque, Le palais d’Hiver nous laisse irrésistiblement entrevoir par le trou de la serrure l’un des plus grands récits de l’histoire.

Roman historique acclamé par la critique et propulsé en tête des ventes dans plusieurs pays, Le palais d’Hiver représentait avec brio l’ascension de Catherine la Grande à travers le regard vigilant de son ingénieuse servante Varvara. Dans ce nouveau roman palpitant d’Eva Stachniak, Catherine occupe désormais le devant de la scène alors qu’elle revit sa fascinante accession au trône, son règne sur l’Empire et les sacrifces qui ont fait d’elle la femme la plus redoutable et le plus redoutée de son temps.Le livre s’ouvre sur les dernières heures de la tsarine au charisme exceptionnel. Des profondeurs enfévrées de son esprit, Catherine fait ressurgir le parcours fatidique de sa tumultueuse existence: son apprentissage grevé d’incertitude en tant que grande-duchesse de Russie, les usurpateurs qui aspiraient à la déposséder de sa couronne, les amis qui quémandaient plus qu’elle ne souhaitait donner ou encore sa bataille pour savoir à qui se fer et qui fouer afn d’assurer sa survie.«C’est le pouvoir et non l’amour qui cause nos disputes», écrivait Catherine à l’homme de sa vie, Grigori Potemkine. Pourtant ses jours se jouaient sur le fl du rasoir, entre le cœur et la raison. Le pouvoir, apprend-elle, est affaire de fermeté, de stratégie et de direction; l’amour doit parfois s’éclipser tandis qu’elle rassemble toutes ses forces pour conduire son peuple instable à l’orée du nouveau siècle et au-delà – pour faire grandir l’empire des Romanov, amasser une vaste fortune et dominer une cour avide d’intrigues en vue de devenir l’une des plus formidables souveraines de l’histoire.D’une écriture superbe, d’une prose lyrique et truffée de détails, L’impératrice de la nuit est le récit éminemment intime d’une femme qui prend en main son destin et trouve sa voie à travers les chagrins, les triomphes et les espoirs de son âme comme de sa nation.

Varvara Nikolaevna ha sedici anni e le guance rosate quando diventa una «protetta della Corona», una di quelle ragazze, orfane o abbandonate, al servizio dell’imperatrice Elisabetta Petrovna, la figlia minore di Pietro il Grande, salita al trono di Russia nel 1741. Orfana di un legatore polacco apprezzato a corte, svelta e già priva di tutte le illusioni proprie dell’adolescenza, abbastanza carina da doversi difendere da mille attenzioni nei corridoi del Palazzo d’Inverno, Varvara Nikolaevna rimarrebbe una delle innumerevoli e anonime ragazze del guardaroba imperiale, una goffa cucitrice vessata dalla sprezzante capocameriera di corte madame Kluge, se non si imbattesse un giorno nel conte Bestužev. Elegantissimo coi suoi completi di velluto che arrivano da Parigi e i suoi bastoni dalle splendide impugnature d’argento, Bestužev si aggira tra le mura del palazzo come se fosse il signore del creato. Cancelliere di Russia e, secondo le voci ricorrenti tra le cucitrici, uno degli uomini che riscaldano spesso il letto di Elisabetta Petrovna, il conte cerca di non lasciarsi sfuggire nulla di ciò che accade nella residenza imperiale. Nella giovane Nikolaevna scorge una possibile portatrice della «verità dei sussurri», la servetta capace di aprire cassetti nascosti nei secrétaire, di staccare e ripristinare abilmente la ceralacca dalle lettere, di riconoscere all’istante libri cavi, bauli con doppi fondi, meandri di corridoi segreti. Dopo averla istruita all’arte di origliare senza farsi scoprire, le affida perciò il più delicato dei compiti: tenere d’occhio la principessa Sofia Federica Augusta Anhalt-Zerbst, la giovanissima tedesca scelta da Elisabetta come consorte dell’orfano di sua sorella, Karl Peter Ulrich, duca di Holstein, il quindicenne smilzo e tutto pelle e ossa che l’imperatrice ha ribattezzato Pietro Fëdorovicˇ, e nominato principe ereditario. Fanciulla dalla figura sottile e aggraziata e una certa morbidezza negli occhi azzurri, in vivido contrasto con i capelli neri come l’ala del corvo, Sofia Zerbst, la futura imperatrice Caterina la Grande, non tarderà, tuttavia, ad apprendere, con l’inaspettato sostegno della giovane Nikolaevna, che la vita è una partita in cui tutti i giocatori barano. Tra amori clandestini, attentati sanguinari e splendide ricostruzioni storiche, Il Palazzo d’Inverno narra dell’ascesa al potere di una delle imperatrici più moderne e amate di Russia: Caterina la Grande. E illumina, insieme, una straordinaria amicizia femminile: quella tra l’imperatrice e una servetta di corte, Varvara Nikolaevna, spia al Palazzo d’Inverno. «Barocco e intimo, mondano e familiare, Il Palazzo d’Inverno offre uno splendido spaccato di storia, nascosto sotto un velo di puro divertimento». The Washington Post

Perfect for readers of Hilary Mantel, Alison Weir, and Philippa Gregory, Empress of the Night is Eva Stachniak’s engrossing new novel, told in the voice of Catherine the Great as the Romanov monarch reflects on her ascension to the throne, her rule over the world’s greatest power, and the sacrifices that made her the most feared and commanding woman of her time. A critically acclaimed historical drama and instant #1 international bestseller, The Winter Palace brilliantly reimagined the rise of Catherine the Great through the watchful eyes of her clever servant Varvara. Now, in Eva Stachniak’s enthralling new novel, Catherine takes center stage as she relives her astonishing ascension to the throne, her rule over an empire, and the sacrifices that made her the most feared and commanding woman of her time. As the book opens, the charismatic monarch is in her final hours. From the fevered depths of her mind, Catherine recalls the fateful trajectory of her turbulent life: her precarious apprenticeship as Russia’s Grand Duchess, the usurpers who seek to deprive her of a crown, the friends who beg more of her than she was willing to give, and her struggle to know whom to trust and whom to deceive to ensure her survival. “We quarrel about power, not about love,” Catherine would write to the great love of her life, Grigory Potemkin, but her days were balanced on the razor’s edge of choosing her head over her heart. Power, she learns, is about resolve, strategy, and direction; love must sometimes be secondary as she marshals all her strengths to steer her volatile country into a new century and beyond—to grow the Romanov empire, to amass a vast fortune, and to control a scheming court in order to become one of history’s greatest rulers. Gorgeously written with vivid detail and lyrical prose, Empress of the Night is an intensely intimate novel of a woman in charge of her fortunes, who must navigate the sorrows, triumphs, and hopes of both her soul and a nation. Praise for Empress of the Night “[Eva] Stachniak’s absorbing novel opens readers’ hearts to an extraordinary and misunderstood woman. . . . Wonderfully, lyrically written, Stachniak’s story vibrates with passion, drama and intrigue. This is a feast for fans.”—RT Book Reviews “Stachniak’s insight into the opulent lives of Russia’s rulers continues in this reflective second novel. . . . Historical fiction fans will appreciate this personal account of a formidable and, indeed, infamous ruler.”—Library Journal “The book takes on a dreamlike quality. . . . Ambitious . . . moving . . . structurally complex and psychologically intense . . . vivid descriptions.”—Quill & Quire “Stachniak brings to life one of the most fascinating—and controversial—female rulers of all time.”—DuJour “Empress of the Night casts light on Catherine’s life with unflinching honesty and intimacy. This fun novel of lovers, intrigue, and malicious and manipulative nobility keeps readers enthralled with every page.”—Virtuoso Life

Katharina steht auf dem Gipfel ihrer Macht: Einst war sie als schüchterne Prinzessin nach St. Petersburg gekommen, nun hat sie ihren Ehemann, Zar Peter III., vom Thron gestürzt. Jahrelang hatte er sie gedemütigt und zurückgewiesen, nun krönt sie sich zur Alleinherrscherin über ein Weltreich. An ihrer Seite steht Grigori Orlow, ihr Geliebter, ebenso mutig wie sie, mit demselben Willen zur Macht. Doch Katharina ist nicht nur von Günstlingen umgeben, sondern auch von Neidern und falschen Freunden, ihre Herrschaft ist stets bedroht: Hinter jedem Vertrauten lauert ein Dolch, jedes Lächeln kann die Maske eines Verrats sein ... Eva Stachniak knüpft an ihren Bestsellererfolg »Der Winterpalast« an und erweckt den russischen Zarenhof mit Glanz und Gloria zum Leben. Sie entführt ihre Leser in die prunkvolle Welt St. Petersburgs, in schillernde Paläste und in die geheimen Gemächer der größten Kaiserin aller Zeiten.

Matka siedemnastoletniej Zofii, pięknej Greczynki o wielkich czarnych oczach, przyprowadza ją do ambasadora Polski w Turcji, prosząc o opiekę. Kobieta nie widzi innego wyjścia - musi oddać swoje dziecko podstarzałemu mężczyźnie, który ma pieniądze i władzę. Dobrze jednak wie, że tylko wykorzystując swoją nieprzeciętną urodę i inteligencję, Zofia ma szansę przemienić ich trudny los. Od tej pory młodziutka córka handlarza bydłem jest zdana tylko na siebie.

Rusland, achttiende eeuw. Vavara is een Poolse wees die als jong meisje overgebracht wordt naar het schitterende maar gevaarlijke hof van tsarina Elizabeth in Sint-Petersburg. Daar zal zij als spionne de vorstin gaan dienen. Ze wordt getraind in het open maken van sloten en in de liefdeskunst, maar bovenal leert ze om stil te zijn en te luisteren. Dan komt Sophie, een gevoelige, jonge Pruisische prinses, naar het hof en Vavara wijdt haar in in de geheimen van het hofleven. Niet wetende dat het Sophies lot is de nieuwe tsarina van Rusland te worden.

Geheime Gänge, verdeckte Türen, dunkle Nischen: Als die Waise Varvara als Dienstmädchen in den Winterpalast kommt, lernt sie schnell, sich ihre Verschwiegenheit und ihren aufmerksamen Blick zunutze zu machen. Keine Intrige, die ihr entginge, kein Getuschel, das ihren Ohren verborgen bliebe. Schnell wird sie zu einer der wichtigsten »Spioninnen« im Palast. Als die junge Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst – die spätere Katharina die Große – an den Hof kommt und auf dem Weg zur Macht eine Verbündete braucht, wird Varvara ihre engste Vertraute. Schließlich erklimmt Katharina den Zarenthron – aus der unerfahrenen Fremden wird eine der mächtigsten Frauen ihrer Zeit. Eva Stachniaks opulenter Roman über die ungewöhnliche Freundschaft zweier Frauen führt den Leser in eine Welt, in der Leidenschaft und Vertraulichkeit auf Heimtücke und Verrat treffen – in die abgründig-geheimnisvolle Welt des russischen Zarenhofs, gehüllt in schweren Brokat und knisternde Seide.

Garden of Venus is the story of an extraordinary life woven into the fabric of Eastern European history. A saga that sweeps from the olive groves of Greece to the bazaars of Istanbul, from a draughty Berlin palace to the inner chambers of Marie Antoinette’s gilded Parisian boudoir, this is the life of a girl—daughter of a Greek peasant—who became a courtesan, courtier, countess and confidante to tsars, queens and kings. Based on the life of the famous and beloved courtier and countess La Belle Phanariote, Stachniak’s novel is brilliantly written and alive with unforgettable characters. Garden of Venus is an alluring, sensuous and exotic saga from a winner of the Amazon Canada First Novel Award.

Behind every great ruler lies a betrayal. Eva Stachniak''s novel sweeps readers into the passionate, intimate, and treacherous world of Catherine the Great, revealing Russia''s greatest matriarch from her earliest days in court, where the most valuable currency was the secrets of nobility and the most dangerous weapon to wield was ambition. Two young women, caught in the landscape of shifting allegiances, navigate the treacherous waters of palace intrigue. Barbara is a servant who will become one of Russia''s most cunning royal spies. Sophia is a pretty, naive German duchess who will become Catherine the Great. For readers of superb historical fiction, Eva Stachniak captures in glorious detail the opulence of royalty and the perilous loyalties of the Russian court.

A fictional account of Catherine the Great''s improbable rise to power--as seen through the ever-watchful eyes of an all-but-invisible servant close to the throne.

This novel, set in the late 18th century, is based on the life of the famous and much-painted courtesan, La Belle Phanariote. Dying and surrounded by her family, Sophie Glavani relives her life''s dance - her journey from fallen woman to Countess, the men she has captivated, the hearts she has broken.

From the author of The Winter Palace comes Eve Stachniak’s first novel about the discovery of secrets and lies that stitch together empires and individual lives. Winner of the 2000 Amazon.com/Books in Canada First Novel Prize Necessary Lies tells the story of the discovery of secrets and lies that stitch together empires and individual lives. What are the lies we tell ourselves and others that get us through our lives? In the summer of 1981 Anna is suddenly offered the opportunity to study English at McGill University in Montreal. She jumps at the chance, leaving behind her job, her husband, and her country – Poland. She meets William, a music professor, and falls in love. Back home, martial law is declared. After almost ten years of marriage, William dies suddenly of a heart attack, and Anna is left to pick up the pieces. In the midst of grieving, she discovers more pieces than expected: for the length of their lives together, William carried on a long-distance affair with a woman journalist in Germany. In search of truth, Anna returns to a dramatically changed Europe, where Communism has fallen, the Berlin Wall has been torn down, and where, once again, history will have to be rewritten. Probing the depths of betrayal and forgiveness, she confronts her own past and the motives that drove her away from Poland; she sees herself through the eyes of her mother, her ex-husband, and most importantly, William’s German lover, Ursula.