Russian Winter

A Novel

By: Daphne Kalotay

Narrated by: Kathleen Gati

“A soaring debut novel. An elegant, compelling puzzle of family, memory and solitude that brings to life modern-day Boston and postwar Russia through a profound love story. Graceful, moving, and unexpected.” —Matthew Pearl, New York Times bestselling author of The Dante Club

In Russian Winter, a famed ballerina’s jewelry auction in Boston reveals long-held secrets of love and family, friendship and rivalry, harkening back to Stalinist Russia. Called “tender, passionate, and moving” by Jenna Blum, the New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us, Russian Winter is a perfect choice for fans of the novels of Ann Patchett (Bel Canto), and Ian McEwan (Atonement).

When Nina Revskaya puts her remarkable jewelry collection up for auction, the former Bolshoi Ballet star finds herself overwhelmed by memories of her homeland, and of the events, both glorious and heartbreaking, that changed her life half a century earlier. It was in Russia that she discovered the magic of dance and fell in love, and where, faced with Stalinist aggression, a terrible discovery incited a deadly act of betrayal—and an ingenious escape to the West.

Nina has kept her secrets for half a lifetime. But now Drew Brooks, an inquisitive associate at a Boston auction house, and Grigori Solodin, a professor who believes Nina's jewels hold the key to unlocking his past, begin to unravel her story—setting in motion a series of revelations that will have life-altering consequences for them all.

Such a good story

I really enjoyed this book. The story was interesting & I really liked it a lot.

Kathleen Gati Strikes Again

Perfectly narrated, an intimate look into the lives of these beautiful characters. I was hooked.

Good Listen

I really enjoyed this story. I bought it because I am fascinated with Russian society, and this story gave me an interesting glimpse into a more prestigious lifestyle in Moscow. It may be a little slow at first, but by the end I thought it was a nicely woven story showing how your decisions in life affect not only your life but so many others. I love stories that weave a thread so that in the end you are thinking, "Ah, that's what that storyline was all about." This one did this well. The narration was also very well done.

Beautiful story.

Beautiful story and well written. The characters came to life. A story within a story.

Read this review; Sophisticated and wonderful!

I don't understand the bad reviews. This book has everything, the sophistication and action of "White Nights" defecting Russian dancers, the horror of Stalin's purges in the '50s, the excitement of a jewelry auction, a mystery and expatriot academe all thrown into a tight heartbreaking love story on many levels. Don't miss it. The narrator was wonderful, Russian, Finish, American, French, and a little East Indian, really great listen. Truly great!