The Crown and the Crucible (The Russians, Book 1) [Paperback]

Michael Phillips (Author), Judith Pella (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Follows the friendship of a peasant girl and the daughter of a prince and Imperial minister in Russia during the 1870s. Russians book 1.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Phillips is an author, editor, publisher, and bookseller. He's written nearly 50 books, including many best sellers, and his current total book sales have capped five million.

He's also the editor of 25 books by 19th-century author George MacDonald (Bethany House). Sales now top l.5 million copies. Plus, he's the founder of Sunrise Books, which issues leather-bound editions of MacDonald's original works. At age 45, Phillips is responsible for nearly 100 titles that today circulate in the Christian marketplace.

This output stems from the printed page's greatest influence on Phillips' life. Besides the extensive library in his office, seven volumes perch in a place of honor on top of his desk. Each book represents a significant growth period in Schaeffer, C.S. Lewis, MacDonald, and Richard Foster. A key element in his work has been editing MacDonald's writings. "MacDonald has been a spiritual mentor for me," Phillips says, "exactly as he was for C.S. Lewis.

A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelley, launched Phillips' career in bookselling. While in college preparing for what he thought would be a physics career, possibly with NASA, he read Kelley's book. "It had such a profound impact on my whole spiritual being, I began giving copies away," he says.

While searching for inexpensive ways to purchase this book, Phillips created a small bookstore in one corner of his student apartment. This small venture grew, but after a few years in bookselling, Phillips found his interest in books leading him to write.

Phillips has also co-written five best-selling Bethany House fiction series with fellow Eureka, CA resident Judith Pella: the HIGHLAND and two STONEWYCKE series set in Scotland, THE JOURNALS OF CORRIE BELL HOLLISTER, and THE RUSSIANS. The Phillips/Pella titles are now approaching 2 million in sales.

His most recent books, Wayward Winds, Book 2 in the SECRETS OF HEATHERSLEIGH HALL series, and Legend of the Celtic Stone, Book 1 in his monumental new CALEDONIA series, continue his fine tradition of bringing history to life with compelling plots and intriguing characters.

A versatile author, he's had 14 books named finalists in the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's Gold Medallion award competition., and in 1993 he had the distinction of being the author of two of the top five fiction books- The Crown and the Crucible (Bethany) and Pinnacles of Power (Moody).

Phillips' life is a constant juggling of multiple objectives&operating a bookstore, a publishing company, and a home-school; writing some of the best-selling books in the industry; and maintaining a high level of confidence and enthusiasm for all God has given him to do&with family priorities on top of everything.

Phillips identifies his secret as focus: the capacity to keep his vision clear on a particular project in the midst of many vying for his attention.

Michael and Judy Phillips live in California. They have three grown sons.

Judith Pella is the bestselling author/coauthor of seven major fiction series, including the LONE STAR LEGACY and THE RUSSIANS, as well as the novels Blind Faith and Beloved Stranger. She and her family make their home in California.

VISIT JUDITH PELLA'S WEBSITE: member.aol.com/pellabooks/ size : 5.4 x 8.3 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764224646
• ISBN-13: 978-0764224645
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #770,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not only a saga of a family, but of a country as well, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Crown and the Crucible (The Russians, Book 1) (Paperback)

I am a 17 yr old boy who was not interested at all in this series for years after we got it. My mom and sister read them but I thought that they were just fictions about a girl. Then I read the first one out of curiosity. These books take you through the Russian Revelution through the eyes of an aristocrat, a servant, a revolutionary, a political prisoner, and a peasant (serf) family. If you have ever wanted to know more about russia's history or how their government worked, or if you want to hear the diferent opinions on revolution against a tyranical government, or if you just want a good story about a serf girl with no future who is risen to a position that is beyond her imagination, read these books. And Please--- read them in order, they have such an interlocking plot that you would ruin your enjoyment if you read ahead.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm So Glad I "Discovered" This Series!, July 5, 2002

By 

Allyn "pianogirl" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Crown and the Crucible (The Russians, Book 1) (Paperback)

When I came across this book in my church's library a week ago, I wasn't too thrilled with it. Somehow, I ended up checking it out, but my expectations were not high. I expected either a boring, dry chronicle of Russia's history or a sappy, overdone love story. Well...a week later I can assure you that that is definitely not the case. "The Crown and the Crucible", set in the 1870's, is essentially the story of two families who represent the two basic types of people that were in Russia. There is Anna Burenin, a 17-year-old whose family has always been peasants, and there is 15-year-old Katrina Fedorcenko, whose life has been that of a high-ranking Russian aristocrat. Anna and Katrina's lives become intertwined when Anna goes to the Fedorcenko household to be a kitchen servant, and by a remarkable sequence of events, becomes Katrina's personal maid. But other things are happening as well in this novel. We see how unstable life was in Russia, and read how even Viktor Fedorcenko (Katrina's father) had to guard what he said around the tsar, whom he had known since childhood. Segei Fedorcenko, Katrina's brother, also has problem. It seems that he and Anna are beginning to fall in love...and how could ever be easy since he is an aristocrat and she is a maid? And the brutal war in Turkey over Russian territory only intensify his not-so-loyal thoughts toward the government. "The Crown and the Crucible" is a magnificently written story that expertly blends history with the lives of people. The characters themselves are wonderful, and I loved seeing the changes and growth in all of them...most notably Anna's Christian influence on Katrina. There is no character who you do not like and begin to know "personally" and nothing fake about the characterization. There are few books that are so well-written, historically accurate, and filled with characters you can't forget. I'm certainly glad I came across this book! And, of course, I desperately need the sequel now...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling tale of faith and friendship, August 22, 2002

By 

Jenna4 "Jenna4" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crown and the Crucible (The Russians, Book 1) (Paperback)

Once you finish reading this story of a set of young adults coming of age, you will immediately want to start on book two. You see, this is what happened to me, except I didn't know about books three through seven until I was well into book #2! I finally finished the series earlier this year and consider it to be a major accomplishment (and a very fulfilling one). I must say that after book seven I was disappointed that I will no longer be hearing of Anna Buerenin and the illustrious characters that touched her life.

This series is typically categorized by bookstores as "religious fiction". I will say that there is an underlying message about God (after all religion plays a huge part of Russian history) but it was simply woven into the story subtly and relevantly. I have read other Pella books and found this to be the case with them as well.

This book was the start of my infatuation with historical fiction and I am thankful for it. I do recommend all seven in the series - read them, although it may take a while!