The Russian Concubine (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: fox girl, gray bellies, Chang An Lo, Feng Tu Hong, Lydia Ivanova (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The experiences of the author's mother inspired this debut novel, a somewhat improbable tale of star-crossed love in 1928 China. Valentina Ivanova and her 16-year-old daughter, Lydia, White Russian refugees, live in grinding poverty in the International Settlement of Junchow, subsisting off whatever presents Valentina can charm from gentlemen admirers and the profits Lydia makes from pawning stolen goods. When Lydia inadvertently attracts the unwelcome attentions of a criminal gang, the Black Snakes, she finds a rescuer in Chang An Lo, an English-speaking Communist and kung fu master. Danger is never far as the two fall in love. Lydia's travails are mirrored by those of Theo Willoughby, the British headmaster of her school. Theo's struggle to preserve his school and his happy life with his Chinese mistress, Li Mei, drives him to collude with Li Mei's estranged father—the leader of the Black Snakes—to run opium into Junchow. Violence is more prevalent (and graphic) than sex, and the narrative has extended periods of inertia during which there is much action, but not of the plot-advancing sort. Despite these flaws, Furnivall vividly evokes Lydia's character and personal struggles against a backdrop of depravity and corruption. (Aug.)
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Product Description

A sweeping novel set in war-torn 1928 China, with a star-crossed love story at its center.

In a city full of thieves and Communists, danger and death, spirited young Lydia Ivanova has lived a hard life. Always looking over her shoulder, the sixteen-year-old must steal to feed herself and her mother, Valentina, who numbered among the Russian elite until Bolsheviks murdered most of them, including her husband. As exiles, Lydia and Valentina have learned to survive in a foreign land.

Often, Lydia steals away to meet with the handsome young freedom fighter Chang An Lo. But they face danger: Chiang Kai Shek's troops are headed toward Junchow to kill Reds like Chang, who has in his possession the jewels of a tsarina, meant as a gift for the despot's wife. The young pair's all-consuming love can only bring shame and peril upon them, from both sides. Those in power will do anything to quell it. But Lydia and Chang are powerless to end it.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (June 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042521558X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425215586
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,373 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please Make This a Best Seller, October 2, 2007

By	James E. O'Leary (Corpus Christi, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Kate Furnivall has captured the Russian soul, the Chinese soul, the English soul and my own soul. I was torn between wanting to read it slowly so it would never end and wanting to finish it because of too much suspense. The characters are unforgettable. The history is researched and fascinating. Kate's own mother was a White Russian refugee in China so no wonder she had such an advantage in getting everything so authentic. One has to read this with reverence for the Chinese people. This is the first time I have ever really understood the motivations of the Chinese Communists.

I have never read a novel in which so much suffering could be intertwined with so much love, courage and joy. It wasn't only the suffering and joys of the main character, Lydia, but of all the characters which made it a joy to read. They were all complex characters and therefore came alive and believable at the skillful hands of this wonderful novelist.

Whether it is the opium trade or Sun Yet San or Chiang Kai Shek, Ms. Furnival gets it all just right.

Please let this be a best seller and let there be a sequel. I can't say goodbye to Chang and Lydia and Albert and the rest of them.

Here is a warning, but not a spoiler: It is full of surprises.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intereresting and compelling attempt at a complex era, January 6, 2008

By	K. W. Miller "beaujee" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was -- although not perfect -- absolutely extraordinary. It was an ambitious effort to say the least: Chinese, English, and Russian history at one of the most tumultuous times in all of history all in one novel! What saves it is the relatively short time span covered.
There were times when the plot took some odd and awkward turns. Every once in a while I would find myself saying "Who is this character, where on earth did they come from, and why are they doing that??" Liev Popkov and the re-introduction of Tan-Wah are a couple of examples where the necessity of their presence to the plotline was not immediately clear. It was never very clear what Christopher Mason had over Theo Willoughby and how that translated into Opium trafficking either (surely there are other ways to save a school...), at least not until the end. The majority of the book cooked along at a good pace, and when it got a little boggy, I could generally go back and skim the last few pages and get back on track. The underlying theme of a girl growing into a woman in spite of her difficult circumstances is a universally understood one though, and artfully captured in this novel. The love story may be improbable, but it was beautiful. And who says a novel has to be completely probable?
Furnivall is a gifted writer. When she describes something that smells bad, feels good, is excruciatingly painful, or breathtakingly beautiful, you feel those things with all of your senses, to the core of your soul. I look forward to her future efforts.

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the hardest books to put down, August 10, 2007

By	Kayla M. Carter "BlueLotus" (Oahu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I didn't buy this off of Amazon...I went and bought it at a local bookstore. At first it didn't sound intresting, (sometimes the back of books really ruin the story for me) so I read the first chapter and was automatically hooked. I was reading it in line while I was waiting to pay for it. It is very hard to put down, with its compelling characters and fluid moving storyline. Kate Furnivall was able to put together an outstanding book that had surpises around every corner.