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To Dream of Snow
A sumptuous historical novel set in pre-Revolutionary Russia and Paris Marguerite Laurent is summoned to the Imperial Court of Empress Elizabeth to work as the Empress's personal embroiderer. The journey is long and dangerous, but Marguerite makes friendships that will sustain her most particularly with a handsome Englishman, Tom Harwell, a landscape gardener whose task is to create beautiful gardens for the Empress, and with an art dealer, Simon de Villiers . . .
320 pages, Library Binding
First published October 1, 1974
16 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Rosalind Laker
82 books191 followersA pseudonym used by Barbara Øvstedal.
Barbara Øvstedal was an author previously writing under the pseudonym Barbara Paul and Barbara Douglas. She wrote a few books under this pseudonym but later changed to Rosalind Laker when Barbara Paul gained recognition. Her many books include The Sugar Pavilion and To Dance with Kings.
Barbara Øvstedal was an author previously writing under the pseudonym Barbara Paul and Barbara Douglas. She wrote a few books under this pseudonym but later changed to Rosalind Laker when Barbara Paul gained recognition. Her many books include The Sugar Pavilion and To Dance with Kings.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 11, 2013
Despite the setting -- Russia in the eighteenth century and during the reign of Elisabeth Petrovna, this turned out to be a snoozer. Marguerite travels from Paris to St. Petersburg to design gowns for the Empress, and finds herself bouncing between three suitors, palace intrigue, and lots of clothing. I really wanted to like this one, but the writing is so tepid, and the characters so lifeless that I found myself bored out of my wits. Too bad. Just three stars and not much else.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Rosali...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Rosali...
March 20, 2020
Excellent
I love Rosalind Laker books because they are always unusual
And take a real different path-like falling in love with your best friends husband or being an independent woman in 18th century.
A good read
I love Rosalind Laker books because they are always unusual
And take a real different path-like falling in love with your best friends husband or being an independent woman in 18th century.
A good read
September 12, 2017
Excellent book about an embroider who designs fabulous gowns for the empress of Russia. There is love , intrigue and great visions of the palaces and of the gowns. I couldn't put it down.
November 11, 2019
Not my favorite
But a decent read when I was trying to find something to read. The characters were almost flat and their sensibilities almost too modern
But a decent read when I was trying to find something to read. The characters were almost flat and their sensibilities almost too modern
February 1, 2015
Laker's heroines are usually accomplished in some way--Marguerite Laurent is a seamstress and embroidery designer, and her outstanding artistry gets the attention first of the Parisian aristocracy and then of the Empress of Russia. She travels to the Russian court in winter; there she makes elaborate dresses for the Empress Elisabeth and her daughter-in-law, the Grand Duchess Catherine (who we know will be Catherine the Great) and makes a new life for herself and the troupe of seamstresses she brings with her for the work and the adventure. Marguerite will be pursued by several men she meets there, and one must wait till the end to see whether she finds true love. As I'm finding is true of Laker's stories, she presents no simple view of love, and her heroines often find that they love several people to some degree, in different ways, and they must fight to keep their independence and to stay true to themselves. She also presents a compassionate view of human relationships, in which room for forgiveness plays a major role in friendship and romance.
December 2, 2014
synopsis:
marguerite is a fine seamstress and asked to travel to russia with others of her choosing to work on gowns for the imperial court. marguerite leaves because her husband/fiance? has been killed, and there is nothing keeping her in france. once in russia, she meets an art dealer, simon and tom, who is married to the woman that she befriended on the way to russia, and who looks A LOT like her dead love. marguerite becomes seamstress to the empress, and takes a lover, who is also catherine's lover. marguerite marries said lover, after she decides that she and tom can never be, and that she doesn't feel that way about simon.
what i liked: the setting. it was an interesting time in russian history, full of excesses and extravagances.
what i didn't like: the way the story was told. marguerite wasn't a very sympathetic heroine.
marguerite is a fine seamstress and asked to travel to russia with others of her choosing to work on gowns for the imperial court. marguerite leaves because her husband/fiance? has been killed, and there is nothing keeping her in france. once in russia, she meets an art dealer, simon and tom, who is married to the woman that she befriended on the way to russia, and who looks A LOT like her dead love. marguerite becomes seamstress to the empress, and takes a lover, who is also catherine's lover. marguerite marries said lover, after she decides that she and tom can never be, and that she doesn't feel that way about simon.
what i liked: the setting. it was an interesting time in russian history, full of excesses and extravagances.
what i didn't like: the way the story was told. marguerite wasn't a very sympathetic heroine.
April 21, 2013
Margurite Laurent's life changes when she is summonded to the Russian Court of the Empress Elisabeth to design the most beautiful dresses ever seen. Taking with her a group of seamstresses, they are installed in Russia and begin their work. Marguriate's life continues to change as three men enter it, all desiring something different from her.
This was the first of Rosalind Laker's books I have read and I found it well written yet I had trouble connecting with the characters. While the story was expertly exicuted, there were not enough insights into the characters to easily bond with them. However, the connection was found with time. I still recommend it.
This was the first of Rosalind Laker's books I have read and I found it well written yet I had trouble connecting with the characters. While the story was expertly exicuted, there were not enough insights into the characters to easily bond with them. However, the connection was found with time. I still recommend it.
July 4, 2024
Book about an embroiderer from Paris summoned to Russia to work for the ruthless empress Elizabeth. Good description of the intrigue and dangers of the court.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews