Seeds of Power -Op/064 (Russian Quartet) [Hardcover]

Christopher Nicole (Author)

Book Description

Series: Russian Quartet | Publication Date: December 1, 1995

The first of a new saga of novels which will depict the overturn of Russian Society between 1853 and 1953. In this story, an English Lieutenant is taken prisoner at the Battle of Balaclava and finds himself drawn into the world of the Russian aristocracy. From the author of THE PASSION AND THE GLORY.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in the West Indies, British author Christopher Nicole's historical fiction has won international acclaim. Christopher Nicole lives with his wife, Diana, also a novelist, in the Channel Islands.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers (December 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727846914
• ISBN-13: 978-0727846914
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,525,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars First in the "Russian Quartet" of historical novels, May 12, 2010

By 

Marshall Lord (Whitehaven, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeds of Power -Op/064 (Russian Quartet) (Hardcover)

This is the first of a quartet of novels which portray the events of Russian history from 1853 to 1953 through the eyes of the Bolugayevski family.

The "Russian Quartet" consists of

1) "The Seeds of Power"
2) "The Masters" (link:Russian Quartet #02 M -Canc)
3) "The Red Tide -Lib -Op/026 (Russian Quartet)"
4) "The Red Gods (Russian Quartet)"

At the start of this first book, Cornet Colin MacLain of the British 11th Hussars saves the life of a Russian Count, Georgei Bolugayevski, who is visiting his uncle and is nearly drowned following a riding accident. Count Bolugayevski is grateful and promises that he will repay the favour if he ever has the opportunity.

A year later, their paths cross again during the battle of Balaclava, when Colin takes part in the Charge of the Light Brigade and is wounded and captured in the desperate fight which follows. Count Bolugayevski recognises Colin and repays his debt by having him cared for by his family's own servants.

Colin had been horrified by the arrogant way Count Bolugayevski treated servants in general and women in particular when they were in England, but in Russia where the Count's father, Prince Alexander Bolugayevski has the power of life or death over everyone else on his vast estates, Colin soon realises that the Russian aristocracy makes the most arrogant tyrant among the British nobility look like a wishy-washy liberal. But he soon becomes involved with the family, particularly with Prince Alexander's three beautiful daughters, Dagmar, Anna, and young Alexandra. In an extraordinary sequence of events, Colin finds that his future is in Russia ...

This novel is by turns brutal, sensual, sadistic, shocking, and powerful. The quartet does give some idea of the extraordinary history of the birth of modern Russia.