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Count Vronsky's Daughter
When the daughter of Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky grows up, she tries to escape her scandalous past in Paris and becomes involved with a mysterious Englishman, a French detective, and an agent of the Tsar's secret police
560 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1980
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About the author
Carola Salisbury
24 books10 followersCarola Salisbury is a pseudonym for John Michael "Mike" Butterworth.
Butterworth trained as an artist at Camberwell College of Art and worked briefly as a tutor in drawing at Nottingham College of Art. After briefly working as a salesman, he joined the Amalgamated Press (later renamed Fleetway Publications) after submitting samples of artwork to them. Although these were turned down, he tried again, submitting a script for a sea-going adventure strip. This was accepted and Butterworth was hired as a scriptwriter, at first working primarily Western strips featuring Billy the Kid and Buffalo Bill. His interest in history (particularly naval history) led him to pen many historical comic strips for Comet and Sun, including the Napoleonic era adventures of Max Bravo, the Happy Hussar and World War II air-ace Battler Britton.
Aside from his writing, Butterworth was a gifted editor and created a number of new papers for the firm including Playhour Pictures (soon after abbreviated to Playhour), Valentine and the teenage girls' magazine Honey.
In 1965 he became one of the main script writers for Ranger where he penned the sprawling science-fantasy The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire which remains one of the most popular boys' adventure strips published in the UK to this day.
Butterworth left Fleetway Publications and turned freelance. His first novel, The Soundless Scream, appeared in 1967 followed over the next few years by a number of well-received crime novels which appeared under his full name, which has led to some confusion between his work and that of Science fiction writer and Savoy Books publisher Michael Butterworth. Butterworth also turned his hand to Gothic romance novels under the pen-name Carola Salisbury and Sarah Kemp.
He died at the age of 62.
Butterworth trained as an artist at Camberwell College of Art and worked briefly as a tutor in drawing at Nottingham College of Art. After briefly working as a salesman, he joined the Amalgamated Press (later renamed Fleetway Publications) after submitting samples of artwork to them. Although these were turned down, he tried again, submitting a script for a sea-going adventure strip. This was accepted and Butterworth was hired as a scriptwriter, at first working primarily Western strips featuring Billy the Kid and Buffalo Bill. His interest in history (particularly naval history) led him to pen many historical comic strips for Comet and Sun, including the Napoleonic era adventures of Max Bravo, the Happy Hussar and World War II air-ace Battler Britton.
Aside from his writing, Butterworth was a gifted editor and created a number of new papers for the firm including Playhour Pictures (soon after abbreviated to Playhour), Valentine and the teenage girls' magazine Honey.
In 1965 he became one of the main script writers for Ranger where he penned the sprawling science-fantasy The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire which remains one of the most popular boys' adventure strips published in the UK to this day.
Butterworth left Fleetway Publications and turned freelance. His first novel, The Soundless Scream, appeared in 1967 followed over the next few years by a number of well-received crime novels which appeared under his full name, which has led to some confusion between his work and that of Science fiction writer and Savoy Books publisher Michael Butterworth. Butterworth also turned his hand to Gothic romance novels under the pen-name Carola Salisbury and Sarah Kemp.
He died at the age of 62.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 6, 2014
"I was baptized Anna Alexeyvna Karenina, named after my dead mother, but known always as Anni."
Who knew that someone had written a spin-off/follow up to Tolstoy's famous Anna Karenina and took on the daughter's story? I sure didn't, but thanks a heap to my friend Dorcas for finding it and reviewing it - I had to run right out to the library and get a copy. Glad I did.
The book begins with Anni learning the truth about her parentage and the death of the man she always believed was her father. She takes her inheritance and her artistic talents off to Paris and finds herself unwillingly involved in a bit of revolutionary activities. That's about all you really need to know, anything else would spoil the fun.
"I assert that you are a liberal, a radical and a revolutionary, and that five minutes of Levitsky's devoted attentions would bring the great light of truth to your mind."
And boy, was that an intense, nail biting finish.
Who knew that someone had written a spin-off/follow up to Tolstoy's famous Anna Karenina and took on the daughter's story? I sure didn't, but thanks a heap to my friend Dorcas for finding it and reviewing it - I had to run right out to the library and get a copy. Glad I did.
The book begins with Anni learning the truth about her parentage and the death of the man she always believed was her father. She takes her inheritance and her artistic talents off to Paris and finds herself unwillingly involved in a bit of revolutionary activities. That's about all you really need to know, anything else would spoil the fun.
"I assert that you are a liberal, a radical and a revolutionary, and that five minutes of Levitsky's devoted attentions would bring the great light of truth to your mind."
And boy, was that an intense, nail biting finish.
February 18, 2014
4 1/2 Stars
This is a must read for any Tolstoy fan. No, its not to his standard so don't expect it, BUT! if you're like me and just cant get enough Tolstoy this book is satisfying.
Its not perfect, the story deviates down a few side streets in the form of famous artists/ entertainers. For example, her alter hero Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec the artist actually fights a duel for her honor. Yes. The dwarf. Entertaining but I was wondering if it was relevent to the story. It reminded me a bit of Dickens, he had a thing for inserting performers in his stories and I was never fond of it. Anyway!
Ok, this is going to he hard but IN A NUTSHELL:
Anna Karenina, as we all remember had two children before she committed suicide on the rail tracks. Anni and Alexei. Both ended up with her husband (the boy was her husband's) and Count Vronsky went back to his regiment and was killed.
This is the story of Anni when she comes of age. Her papa dies and his estate is split between the two children. Alexei runs with a wild crowd, gambling and joining. the revolutionary movement. Anni moves to Paris and studies art.
The meat of the story begins when Alexei and his revolutionary friend Oliver surprise her with a visit. There has been bombing activity in the city, they are suspect, she shelters them and unwittingly becomes involved.
There's lots of twists and turns in here and I really cant get into them without spoiling things but suffice it to say I REALLY enjoyed this. If it wasn't for the entertainers I would have given it 5 stars (and I have a feeling that if I reread it those parts wouldn't bother me so much because Id understand their point in being there).
I felt that the author stayed true to Tolstoy's story and characters and Anni and Alexei also stayed true to what we would expect of them given their background. I also loved the little tidbits that tied this story to Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. The horse race for example and Anni's reaction to railtrack accidents.
CONTENT :
SEX : None (some nude posing for artists)
VIOLENCE : a few descriptions of bombing injuries and a couple of deaths.
PROFANITY: Mild
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS : None
MY RATING : PG
This is a must read for any Tolstoy fan. No, its not to his standard so don't expect it, BUT! if you're like me and just cant get enough Tolstoy this book is satisfying.
Its not perfect, the story deviates down a few side streets in the form of famous artists/ entertainers. For example, her alter hero Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec the artist actually fights a duel for her honor. Yes. The dwarf. Entertaining but I was wondering if it was relevent to the story. It reminded me a bit of Dickens, he had a thing for inserting performers in his stories and I was never fond of it. Anyway!
Ok, this is going to he hard but IN A NUTSHELL:
Anna Karenina, as we all remember had two children before she committed suicide on the rail tracks. Anni and Alexei. Both ended up with her husband (the boy was her husband's) and Count Vronsky went back to his regiment and was killed.
This is the story of Anni when she comes of age. Her papa dies and his estate is split between the two children. Alexei runs with a wild crowd, gambling and joining. the revolutionary movement. Anni moves to Paris and studies art.
The meat of the story begins when Alexei and his revolutionary friend Oliver surprise her with a visit. There has been bombing activity in the city, they are suspect, she shelters them and unwittingly becomes involved.
There's lots of twists and turns in here and I really cant get into them without spoiling things but suffice it to say I REALLY enjoyed this. If it wasn't for the entertainers I would have given it 5 stars (and I have a feeling that if I reread it those parts wouldn't bother me so much because Id understand their point in being there).
I felt that the author stayed true to Tolstoy's story and characters and Anni and Alexei also stayed true to what we would expect of them given their background. I also loved the little tidbits that tied this story to Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. The horse race for example and Anni's reaction to railtrack accidents.
CONTENT :
SEX : None (some nude posing for artists)
VIOLENCE : a few descriptions of bombing injuries and a couple of deaths.
PROFANITY: Mild
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS : None
MY RATING : PG
March 20, 2015
Anni Alexeyevna Karenina never was told the story of her Mother till now. Armed with that newfound knowledge she goes to Paris to visit with her friend Marie from finishing school. With her dear friend Marie she explores Paris society… and steals Marie's first love, Jeff. Entirely on accident. After that things spiral downwards, Anni with them to lower and lower depths.
Anni doesn't quite know how it happened. Somehow she has gotten mixed up in her brother's revolutionary activists and now Haquin, a man wholly involved in bringing revolutionaries to light is looking for a way to entrap her into telling all. He won't give up, he continues to look for a way through just like Chauvelin in the The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Anni was beautiful inside and out, I can not name one place in the book where she wasn't. It was nice to read of someone so refreshingly different. Anni had her art, her troubles and the will to go on. That made her truly beautiful. The hero did some shocking things, but I don't hold them against him, I liked him too much. In fact I half think Anni isn't good enough for him.
The suspense, was griping right down to the last downward fall…, the scarred stranger, vile ballerina and thundering horse races. Carola Salisbury has earned her (his!) place as one of my favorite authors.
One thing I didn't like, well, a few things actually, was that we (the readers) are left hanging till the very last sentence. I feel that since I've read all the book to find out what happens surely I should have a little more closure than one sentence!
Then there's the time spent on a duel with a dwarf and the artists. I liked it but, it could have been missed out and made way for more dialogue between the hero and heroine. I'd have been very happy with one more page to the Epilogue, especially as it was only 1 1/2 pages long. That said it was still good, but not five stars for that reason.
If you haven't read Anna Karenina but plan to, read it before you read this Count Vronsky's Daughter. Though you don't have to for it to make sense, but it would spoil Anna Karenina for you.
PG for mild swearing, nude posing (not described) and some ghastly wounds from bombs. Also some murders. Oh, and Anni's slightly loose ways.
October 23, 2017
This is the second book from this author that I read in a row and both from open library and this is where I will stop, not because I didn't enjoy them both but because of difficult access. It is first person narrative from heroine's POV. She is the daughter of Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky, she is a student of painting in Paris and she is involved through her brother with a British revolutionarist. .
May 3, 2011
See my review on my book blog: http://quirkyreader.livejournal.com
January 12, 2010
historical romance with a touch of thriller thrown in. a change of pace, for me.
September 25, 2014
Such a breathtaking piece! A must read for any fans of Anna Karenina. I laughed aloud, I cried, I was in suspense - every minute with this book was a joy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews