Chimes of a Lost Cathedral

Description

After the events of The Revolution of Marina M., young Marina Makarova is pregnant and on her own, forced to eke out an existence in the Russian countryside and plotting her escape back to Petrograd. When a train comes to town bearing none other than her estranged husband Genya--now a minor celebrity--and his ragtag agitprop troupe, Marina sees her way out. But on her return to Petrograd, she finds the city not as she remembered it. Ravaged by two years of revolution, it is a lawless place of brigands and orphans, and Marina must take desperate measures to protect herself and her child. From the beloved bestselling author of White Oleander, CHIMES OF A LOST CATHEDRAL is the sweeping, bold, and unforgettable story of a young woman's finding her strength and forging her own path amidst some of the most dramatic and devastating upheavals of the last century.

Janet Fitch's first novel, White Oleander, a #1 bestseller and Oprah's Book Club selection, has been translated into 24 languages and was made into a feature film. Her next novel, Paint It Black, hit bestseller lists across the country and has also been made into a film. She lives in Los Angeles.

[Chimes of a Lost Cathedral is] for anyone who's ever dreamed of meeting their heroes, centuries be damned.--Margaret Wappler, Los Angeles Times A treat for fans of Russian literature...An unusual and passionate re-creation of the terrible tragedy of the Bolshevik Revolution and the timeless literary culture it produced.--Kirkus Reviews Brilliant...a world of furious beauty, sprawling, majestic landscapes, and erotically charged and traumatic encounters, with life and love hanging in the balance... For the readers who have followed Marina and Fitch on this long, eventful journey, the ending feels satisfying. To Marina, it feels like divine intervention--a signal of the possibility of life and happiness despite everything...Fitch makes the answer clear: Marina is remarkably brave. Her saga should inspire us all to be braver.--Ani Kokobobo, Los Angeles Review of Books Ceaselessly entertaining...Fitch's transporting sequel to The Revolution of Marina M. is even better than the first book...In this full-blooded feminine epic, Marina narrates her dramatic life with striking visual detail...Awash with emotion and poetic imagery...Fitch's tale channels the woman's vibrant spirit throughout. Historical-fiction fans should devour this.--Sarah Johnson, Booklist, (Starred Review) Fitch gives a 360-degree view of the suffering caused by the Bolsheviks' consolidation of power and tells a long and sweeping story without wasting a word...Our heroine reflects the genius of the Silver Age poets. Their works, personalities, and disagreements are examined as if through a jeweler's loupe.--Barbara Conaty, Library Journal We first met Fitch's passionate, independent Marina Makarova in The Revolution of Marina M...Fitch's darker, equally compelling sequel tracks Marina's perilous journey from 1919 to 1921...Marina's yearning for freedom propels her to risk everything in the dramatic final scenes.--Jane Ciabattari, BBC.com (10 Smartest Beach Reads of 2019)