The House of Special Purpose

By: John Boyne

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Part love story, part historical epic, part tragedy, The House of Special Purpose illuminates an empire at the end of its reign. Living in England with his beloved wife, Zoya, Georgy prepares to make one final journey back to the Russia he once knew and loved, the Russia that both destroyed and defined him. As Georgy remembers days gone by, we are transported to Saint Petersburg, to the Winter Palace of the tzar, in the early twentieth century - a time of change, threat, and bloody revolution. As Georgy overturns the most painful stone of all, we uncover the story of the house of special purpose.

©2012 John Boyne (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“John Boyne brings a completely fresh eye to the most important stories…He guides us through the realm of history and makes the journey substantial, poignant, real. He is one of the great craftsmen in contemporary literature.” (Colum McCann, New York Times bestselling author)

“A riveting, bittersweet tale of love, loss, and intrigue…a compelling read.” ( Winnipeg Free Press)

“Boyne exercises total control over pace and revelation. A work that chimes perfectly with our times.”—Irish Times

Excellent

I was instantly drawn into this historical drama. It was so good! I’m interested in more titles by this author. Highly recommend!

Brilliant

Absolutely loved this book !! Made even better by the narration of Stefan Rudniki. He really brought this book to life. I’m a big John Boyne fan and was so sorry to get to the end of this book. If you are a history buff, you’ll love this one. Thanks Mr. Boyne and Mr. Rudniki for many enjoyable hours

I’m so glad I read this!

As with all of Boynes books, this one was not always easy to listen to, but was so well written and narrated that I’m sitting here at the end telling myself it was all worth it. I am a life long fan of Boynes.

Unique story

Beautifully written, as always for John Boyne. The Romanov era was fascinating and I love this historical fiction with them as the centerpiece.

Wonderful

If only it were true...
This was a beautiful and heartbreaking tale.
I was completely enthralled.