Overview

"Filled with a remarkable cast of characters and set against the backdrop of imperial Russia, this tale of forbidden romance could be the stuff of a great historical novel. But in fact ""The Pearl and the Count"" tells a true tale, reconstructed in part from archival documents that have lain untouched for centuries. Douglas Smith presents the most complete and accurate account ever written of the illicit love between Count Nicholas Sheremetev (1751-1809), Russia's richest aristocrat, and Praskovia Kovalyova (1768-1803), his serf and the greatest opera diva of her time.Blessed with a beautiful voice, Praskovia began her training in Nicholas' operatic company as a young girl. Like all the members of Nicholas' troupe, Praskovia was one of his own serfs. But unlike the others, she utterly captured her master's heart. The book reconstructs Praskovia's stage career as 'The Pearl' and the heartbreaking details of her romance with Nicholas - years of torment before their secret marriage, the outrage of the aristocracy when news of the marriage emerged, Praskovia's death only days after delivering a son, and the unyielding despair that followed Nicholas to the end of his life. Written with grace and style, ""The Pearl and the Count"" sheds light on the world of the Russian aristocracy, music history, and Russian attitudes toward serfdom. But above all, the book tells a haunting story of love against all odds."

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9780300120417

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Reviews

An engaging narrative. . . . Scrupulous research underlies this fascinating picture of life at Russia's top social echelon. --George Loomis, Moscow Times --George Loomis Moscow Times (08/08/2008)

A moving, romantic, and tragic historical tale. 2;Elise Wirtschafter, California State Polytechnic University -- Elise Wirtschafter 0;This is a dazzling, multi-faceted jewel of a book. Based on an extraordinary effort of meticulous research, Douglas Smith has discovered and told the true story of a young, eighteenth-century serf woman whose superb voice made her the star of the private opera theater of her owner, the wealthiest nobleman in Catherine the Great7;s Russia. The high drama of their passionate love is set against a background of the greatest possible contrast: the grim realities of serfdom versus the staggering opulence of the highest Russian aristocracy. It is a remarkable work of dual biography; it is also an unforgettable story.1;2;Robert K. Massie, Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Nicholas and Alexandra and Peter the Great -- Robert K. Massie Smith''s book is an unusual gem-a work that gives us not only an absorbing view of the intimate world of a forbidden romance but also a first-rate historical tour of the lost landscapes of Russian aristocratic society, opera, and theater in its golden age. -Willard Sunderland, University of Cincinnati A fascinating and moving story. -- Betty Smart Carter Books & Culture (09/01/2008) Smith''s book is an unusual gema work that gives us not only an absorbing view of the intimate world of a forbidden romance but also a first-rate historical tour of the lost landscapes of Russian aristocratic society, opera, and theater in its golden age. Willard Sunderland, University of Cincinnati -- Willard Sunderland A moving, romantic, and tragic historical tale. Elise Wirtschafter, California State Polytechnic University -- Elise Wirtschafter The Pearl is a bright, sparkling jewel of a book; a masterpiece that deserves as wide an audience as possible. Russia''s greatest love story has never been properly told, until now. Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire -- Amanda Foreman The Pearl is a portrait of one of the greatest and least known love stories in European history. Douglas Smith, a brilliant historian who writes like a novelist, has brought it to life in a rare blend of meticulous research and gripping emotional narrative. Mesmerizing. Andrea Lee, author of Russian Journal and Interesting Women -- Andrea Lee The Pearl is a book I''ve always wanted to see writtena portrait of one of the greatest and least known love stories in European history. Douglas Smith, a brilliant historian who writes like a novelist, has brought it to life in a rare blend of meticulous research and gripping emotional narrative that opens to the reader both the recondite world of Russian serf theater, and an extraordinary human drama. Mesmerizing. Andrea Lee, author of Russian Journal and Interesting Women -- Andrea Lee A fascinating and moving story. Betty Smart Carter, Books & Culture -- Betty Smart Carter Books & Culture (09/01/2008) This is a dazzling, multi-faceted jewel of a book. Based on an extraordinary effort of meticulous research, Douglas Smith has discovered and told the true story of a young, eighteenth-century serf woman whose superb voice made her the star of the private opera theater of her owner, the wealthiest nobleman in Catherine the Great's Russia. The high drama of their passionate love is set against a background of the greatest possible contrast: the grim realities of serfdom versus the staggering opulence of the highest Russian aristocracy. It is a remarkable work of dual biography; it is also an unforgettable story. --Robert K. Massie, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Nicholas and Alexandra and Peter the Great --Robert K. Massie A moving, romantic, and tragic historical tale. --Elise Wirtschafter, California State Polytechnic University--Elise Wirtschafter The Pearl is a portrait of one of the greatest and least known love stories in European history. Douglas Smith, a brilliant historian who writes like a novelist, has brought it to life in a rare blend of meticulous research and gripping emotional narrative. Mesmerizing. --Andrea Lee, author of Russian Journal and Interesting Women --Andrea Lee A fascinating and moving story. --Betty Smart Carter, Books & Culture --Betty Smart Carter Books & Culture (09/01/2008) A moving, romantic, and tragic historical tale. Elise Wirtschafter, California State Polytechnic University--Elise Wirtschafter 0;Douglas Smith has produced the definitive account, and the first in English, of the extraordinary relationship between Count Nicholas Sheremetev, Russia7;s wealthiest noble ever, and his wife, a former serf actress known as The Pearl.1;2;Hilde Hoogenboom, University of Albany -- Hilde Hoogenboom Smith''s book is an unusual gem2;a work that gives us not only an absorbing view of the intimate world of a forbidden romance but also a first-rate historical tour of the lost landscapes of Russian aristocratic society, opera, and theater in its golden age. 2;Willard Sunderland, University of Cincinnati -- Willard Sunderland The Pearl is a book I''ve always wanted to see written--a portrait of one of the greatest and least known love stories in European history. Douglas Smith, a brilliant historian who writes like a novelist, has brought it to life in a rare blend of meticulous research and gripping emotional narrative that opens to the reader both the recondite world of Russian serf theater, and an extraordinary human drama. Mesmerizing. --Andrea Lee, author of Russian Journal and Interesting Women --Andrea Lee Smith''s book is an unusual gem--a work that gives us not only an absorbing view of the intimate world of a forbidden romance but also a first-rate historical tour of the lost landscapes of Russian aristocratic society, opera, and theater in its golden age. --Willard Sunderland, University of Cincinnati --Willard Sunderland Smith's book is an unusual gem--a work that gives us not only an absorbing view of the intimate world of a forbidden romance but also a first-rate historical tour of the lost landscapes of Russian aristocratic society, opera, and theater in its golden age. --Willard Sunderland, University of Cincinnati --Willard Sunderland Douglas Smith has produced the definitive account, and the first in English, of the extraordinary relationship between Count Nicholas Sheremetev, Russia's wealthiest noble ever, and his wife, a former serf actress known as 'The Pearl'. --Hilde Hoogenboom, University of Albany --Hilde Hoogenboom The Pearl is a book I've always wanted to see written--a portrait of one of the greatest and least known love stories in European history. Douglas Smith, a brilliant historian who writes like a novelist, has brought it to life in a rare blend of meticulous research and gripping emotional narrative that opens to the reader both the recondite world of Russian serf theater, and an extraordinary human drama. Mesmerizing. --Andrea Lee, author of Russian Journal and Interesting Women --Andrea Lee The Pearl is a bright, sparkling jewel of a book; a masterpiece that deserves as wide an audience as possible. Russia's greatest love story has never been properly told, until now. --Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire --Amanda Foreman Smith's book is an unusual gem a work that gives us not only an absorbingview of theintimateworldof a forbidden romance but also a first-rate historical tour of the lost landscapes of Russian aristocratic society, opera, and theater in its golden age. Willard Sunderland, University of Cincinnati --Willard Sunderland Douglas Smith has produced the definitive account, and the first in English, of the extraordinary relationship between Count Nicholas Sheremetev, Russia s wealthiest noble ever, and his wife, a former serf actress known as 'The Pearl'. Hilde Hoogenboom, University of Albany --Hilde Hoogenboom The Pearl is a bright, sparkling jewel of a book; a masterpiece that deserves as wide an audience as possible. Russia's greatest love story has never been properly told, until now. Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire --Amanda Foreman The Pearl is a portrait of one of the greatest and least known love stories in European history. Douglas Smith, a brilliant historian who writes like a novelist, has brought it to life in a rare blend of meticulous research and gripping emotional narrative. Mesmerizing. Andrea Lee, author ofRussian JournalandInteresting Women--Andrea Lee The Pearlis a book I've always wanted to see written a portrait of one of the greatest and least known love stories in European history. Douglas Smith, a brilliant historian who writes like a novelist, has brought it to life in a rare blend of meticulous research and gripping emotional narrative that opens to the reader both the recondite world of Russian serf theater, and an extraordinary human drama. Mesmerizing. Andrea Lee, author ofRussian JournalandInteresting Women --Andrea Lee This is a dazzling, multi-faceted jewel of a book.Based on an extraordinary effort of meticulous research, Douglas Smith has discovered and told the true story of a young, eighteenth-century serf womanwhose superb voice made her the star of the private opera theater of her owner, the wealthiest nobleman in Catherine the Great s Russia. The high drama of their passionate love is set againsta background of the greatest possible contrast: the grim realities of serfdom versusthe staggeringopulence ofthe highest Russian aristocracy.Itis a remarkable work of dual biography; it is also an unforgettable story. Robert K. Massie, Pulitzer Prize-winning author ofNicholas and AlexandraandPeter the Great--Robert K. Massie This fascinating, well-researched account by Douglas Smith is more than a love story. . . . It's also a vivid account of the . . . complex interaction between the wealthy few and their countless serfs. Selwa Roosevelt, Washington Post Book World--Selwa Roosevelt Washington Post Book World (05/18/2008) A love story between the richest nobleman in Imperial Russia and a young serf with a spellbinding operatic voice the scribbler of a bodice-ripper romance could not ask for better stuff. Now, imagine the same story undertaken with meticulous historical research of thousands of archival documents. Kimberly Marlowe Hartnett, Seattle Times--Kimberly Marlowe Hartnett Seattle Times (05/23/2008) The irresistible story of the Russian serf Praskovia Kovalyova who was honored by Catherine the Great and loved by one of the richest men in the world. Nicholas Sheremetev brought her to the stage, to his bed, and then secretly wed her. Bob Blaisdell, Christian Science Monitor--Bob Blaisdell Christian Science Monitor (07/08/2008) An engaging narrative. . . . Scrupulous research underlies this fascinating picture of life at Russia's top social echelon. George Loomis, Moscow Times--George Loomis Moscow Times (08/08/2008) A fascinating and moving story. Betty Smart Carter, Books & Culture--Betty Smart Carter Books & Culture (09/01/2008) This is an odd but inspiring story. It is wonderful that Smith uncovered it and tells it so movingly. Howard Kissel, The Cultural Tourist (New York Daily News blog) --Howard Kissel The Cultural Tourist (05/29/2009)

This is an odd but inspiring story. It is wonderful that Smith uncovered it and tells it so movingly. -- Howard Kissel The Cultural Tourist (05/29/2009)

This is an odd but inspiring story. It is wonderful that Smith uncovered it and tells it so movingly. --Howard Kissel, The Cultural Tourist (New York Daily News blog)<br><br>--Howard Kissel The Cultural Tourist (05/29/2009)

Author Information

Douglas Smith is a resident scholar at the University of Washington and the author of the prize-winning books Working the Rough Stone: Freemasonry and Society in Eighteenth-Century Russia and Love and Conquest: Personal Correspondence of Catherine the Great and Prince Grigory Potemkin.

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