Overview

A painting by a celebrated Australian artist holds clues to long-held family secrets and lives under threat long after the fall of the Russian Empire. 1898: When the legitimacy of Grand Duchess Tatiana Romonov's marriage to the Tsar's brother comes into question, her son's claim to the Imperial throne is challenged too. But the Romanov dynasty desperately needs an heir, and their fate lies in the hands of the tyrannical Russian ruler. As the revolution strikes the streets of St Petersburg and members of the Imperial family disappear, Tatiana must find a way to protect her son from mortal danger. 1982: Fashion buyer Jean Campaign has never forgiven her artist mother Aurora for making her relinquish her child. When Jean inherits the Archibald prize-winner's previously unknown self-portrait, she is compelled to interpret its hidden symbolism--and face the events that tore her family apart. A conflicting account of the circumstances reveals Aurora's dark deception, spiralling Jean into a breakdown, and threatens an end to her dream of family unity.

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9780648396987

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Reviews

'From the opulence of Imperial Russia to the fashion scene of 1980s Melbourne, this sweeping family saga will entrance readers and keep them guessing until the very last page.' - Lisa Ireland, author of The Studio Girls

Author Information

Chrissie Bellbrae's dual narratives transport readers from past to present and are inspired by her combined love of history and fascination with genealogy. Chrissie often draws on the lives of her forebears and depicts women during times of social and emotional change. The result is characters who live far more remarkable lives than any of her ancestors experienced.A Fiona McIntosh Commercial Fiction Masterclass pushed Chrissie to complete her first manuscript and she hasn't stopped writing since. She enjoys an open fire, an oaky chardonnay and a great book-typically anything historical. When not reading, writing, ocean swimming, or watching her beloved magpies, Chrissie looks forward to visits from her children and grandchildren and to sharing her stories with them.Chrissie acknowledges that she lives and writes by salt water on the coast of Wadawurrung Country.

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