Blood Red, Snow White [Hardcover]

Marcus Sedgwick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 6, 2007

Set at the time of the Russian Revolution, the end of a centuries old dynasty, the rise of the Bolsheviks sent shockwaves around the world. This is the story of one man who was there. It's real history - about the riches and excesses, the glory of the Russian nobility, Nicholas and Alexandra, their haemophiliac son, Alexei, notorious Rasputin, Lenin and Trotsky who ruled from palaces where the Czars had once danced till dawn. The man was real too, his name was Arthur Ransome. He was a writer, accused of being a spy, perhaps even a double agent, and he left his wife and beloved daughter and fell in love with Russia and a Russian woman, Evgenia. Fictionalising history and blending it with real life, part i is told as a fairy tale. Wise and foolish kings, princesses, enchantresses (characters more suited to fairy tale than reality), wishes and magic, Russia with its vast cold plains and mighty cities, its riches and poverty, all play a part in the downfall of the Czars and rise of the new order. Part ii is about betrayal - Ransome the spy, bleak and threatening. Part iii is a love story, a fairy tale, ending - of Ransome's love for his daughter, Tabitha, and for Evgenia.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'a fascinating blend of history, spy story and love story, stylishly told.' -- Jennifer Taylor THE BOOKSELLER 'Marcus Sedgwick achieves a bravura opening, combining Russian folk tales, narrative history, fictionalised biography and employing the repeated metaphor of a giant rampaging bear to symbolise the political awakened Russian massives.' -- John Newman PUBLISHING NEWS 'at once engaging and told with an extraordinary sense of lyricism... an extraordinary novel that delineates with clarity of vision individual concerns against the great sweeping expanses of societal unrest. Sedgwick's acheivement is in fusing these elements into an absorbing and stimulating tale that cements his position as one of the most powerful and innovative writers of contemporary fiction for this age.' -- Jake Hope BOOKS FOR KEEPS 'a mesmerising retelling of Ransome's time in Russia during the Revolution, and should appeal to adults as well as Sedgwick's loyal band of teenage readers.' -- Danuta Kean THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY 'masterly account of the Russian Revolution, seen through the fictionalised eyes of the author Arthur Ransome ... a doomed love story of power and passion.' -- Amanda Craig THE TIMES 'challenging, stark and uncompromising, a thoroughly satisfying read for older teenagers.' -- Philip Womack LITERARY REVIEW 'Marcus Sedgwick is writing with increased authority these days, and his Blood Red Snow White is a gripping story.' -- Nicholas Tucker THE INDEPENDENT 'It is fairy tale, love story and historical narrative innovatively woven together in an ambitious construct that will appeal to intelligent readers of 13+.' -- Dinah Hall THE DAILY TELEGRAPH '... a sophisticated novel, making convincing use of Ransome's voice... This compelling account, written with a rare sureness of touch, and tender about Ransome's relationship with his abandoned daughter, will reward readers of any age.' -- Nicolette Jones THE SUNDAY TIMES '... sophisticated... written with a rare sureness of touch.' -- Nicolette Jones THE SUNDAY TIMES 'Pacey as any spy thriller... a jolly satisfying read.' -- Venetia Vyvyan UNDERCOVER '[Sedgwick's] complex, beautifully written novel draws haunting contrasts between Russia's myth and its harsh reality.' -- James Lovegrove FINANCIAL TIMES 'a compelling and beautifully written story of a man caught up in extraordinary times. Very effective and worth reading.' -- Thomas Murphy FLIPSIDE '[a] gem that sheds light on a well loved children's author.' -- Rebecca Berry WRITE AWAY 'compelling... beguilingly written...' BOOKTRUSTED.CO.UK 'touching' FIRST NEWS 'An adventure novel infused with the power of myth and folk legend' FINANCIAL TIMES 'A brilliantly original novel' THE IRISH TIMES '...Blood Red Snow White shows a master storyteller at the top of his game' SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

About the Author

Marcus Sedgwick works in children's publishing and before that he was a bookseller. He lives in Sussex and has a young daughter, Alice.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Orion Childrens H/B & Trade Pb (August 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842551841
• ISBN-13: 978-1842551844
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,084,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Part history, part fairy tale, July 8, 2010

By 

Any Mouse "horatio875" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Red, Snow White (Paperback)

This book combines the Russian fairy tales of Arthur Ransome with a novelised account of his time in Russia. I know that sounds dull (I am clearly not the writer Sedgewick is!), and this book is decidedly not dull!

Whisked away to a Russia on the verge of revolution, the reader is entranced by fairy tales, spies, palaces and revolutonaries-- and true love.

Suitable for readers from around 10 up, this is also a great book for adults.