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The Kirov Trilogy #3
Emily
Though the granddaughter of an earl, Emily Paget is still a poor relation, living on the good graces and large estate of her aunt and uncle, but determined to earn her own living. This disgraceful ambition moves her aunt to take action: Emily must be married off respectably.
Onto the stage steps her Russian grandmother, who takes her back to Russia to find the freedom and intellectual stimulation she craves. But Emily also falls in love for the first time - with another woman's husband. Drawing room revolutionaries and the dangerous glamour of their politics offer Emily a distraction, but when the brutal 1917 revolution does arrive, she finds herself called upon to rescue the wife and children of the man she lvoes, without knowing if he is dead or alive.
Onto the stage steps her Russian grandmother, who takes her back to Russia to find the freedom and intellectual stimulation she craves. But Emily also falls in love for the first time - with another woman's husband. Drawing room revolutionaries and the dangerous glamour of their politics offer Emily a distraction, but when the brutal 1917 revolution does arrive, she finds herself called upon to rescue the wife and children of the man she lvoes, without knowing if he is dead or alive.
514 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
10 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
168 books491 followersCynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 19, 2018
Η Έμιλι, μεγαλώνει με την απουσία της μητέρας της και χωρίς την ιδιαίτερη προσοχή από τον πατέρα της. Όταν γνωρίζει επιτέλους τη γιαγιά της, αποφασίζει να την επισκεφτεί στη Ρωσία όπου εκείνη μένει μόνιμα. Πολύ σύντομα, παντρεύεται. Ο πραγματικός έρωτας όμως την πετυχαίνει με τα βέλη του αργότερα εκεί που δεν το περιμένει. Ώσπου ξεκινά η επανάσταση κι η καθημερινότητα της ανατρέπεται.
Είχα αρκετό καιρό να διαβάσω βιβλίο που είχε σχέση με τη Ρωσική Επανάσταση και το απόλαυσα.
Είχα αρκετό καιρό να διαβάσω βιβλίο που είχε σχέση με τη Ρωσική Επανάσταση και το απόλαυσα.
August 10, 2014
Emily is the final instalment in the Kirov trilogy. Each of these books deals with a different era in Russian history; Anna was set in the Napoleonic Wars, Fleur in the Crimean War, and Emily in the Russian Revolution.
As with all three books, Emily starts off in England. The poor relation, she is ‘saved’ by her visiting Russian grandmother who takes her off to the splendours of St Petersburg, where she marries the beautiful Basil. But what does his pretty face hide? And then there’s Alexei; older, wiser and full of passion, but stuck in a loveless marriage with Basil’s sister.
The build-up to the Revolution is grimly told, but is nothing compared to the shocking brutality of the Bolsheviks in its aftermath. With Basil and Alexei away at war, Emily is left to look after the remaining family and somehow get them back to the safety of England.
Anna was my fave of the trilogy, but Emily ran her a close second, partly as the Russian Revolution has always been of particular interest to me, and partly as she and Alexei sizzled! I’m sorry to see the end of the series; it was a great way to get to know Russian history, and on another level, those Kirov men sure know how to smoulder!
As with all three books, Emily starts off in England. The poor relation, she is ‘saved’ by her visiting Russian grandmother who takes her off to the splendours of St Petersburg, where she marries the beautiful Basil. But what does his pretty face hide? And then there’s Alexei; older, wiser and full of passion, but stuck in a loveless marriage with Basil’s sister.
The build-up to the Revolution is grimly told, but is nothing compared to the shocking brutality of the Bolsheviks in its aftermath. With Basil and Alexei away at war, Emily is left to look after the remaining family and somehow get them back to the safety of England.
Anna was my fave of the trilogy, but Emily ran her a close second, partly as the Russian Revolution has always been of particular interest to me, and partly as she and Alexei sizzled! I’m sorry to see the end of the series; it was a great way to get to know Russian history, and on another level, those Kirov men sure know how to smoulder!
November 13, 2019
Έπαθα μεγάλη ήττα με αυτό το βιβλίο. Το είχα στα ράφια και περίμενα να το πιάσω μια στιγμή που θα ήθελα να διαβάσω κάτι πραγματικά καλό, με ιστορικά στοιχεία και στενάχωρο. Καλά να πάθω, καθόλου δεν μου άρεσε. Δεν ήταν θέμα προσδοκιών, απλά δεν μου άρεσε τίποτα από αυτό το βιβλίο.
Λοιπόν. Εκτός από την υπόθεση που για εμένα δεν συμβάδιζε με όσα γράφονται στο οπισθόφυλλο δεν μου άρεσε καθόλου και ο τρόπος που γράφει η συγγραφέας. Ήταν λίγο σαν να βαριόταν να περιγράψει τα γεγονότα, απλά τα ανέφερε και όπου υπήρχαν περιγραφές δεν ήταν καθόλυο καλές. Με το ζόρι έλεγε τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά της εμφάνισης των πρωταγωνιστών. Καλά, αυτό δεν πειράζει και τόσο, αλλά όταν γράφεις ένα διήγημα στο οποίο οι περισσότεροι χώροι κατοικίας είναι πύργοι, κάστρα και γενικά μεγάλα κτίσματα, ε, βάλε και μερικές περιγραφές μέσα, μη λες μόνο ότι "ο Πύργος ήταν σκοτεινός και εγκαταλειμμένος" (παράδειγμα από το μυαλό μου αυτό, που όμως δεν απέχει από την πραγματικότητα).
Τόσα ρούχα, τόσα κοσμήματα και πολυτελή διαμερίσματα και εγώ διάβαζα μόνο ότι η Έμιλι φορούσε διαμάντια ή ζαφείρια ή μαργαριτάρια περίτεχνα (όλα τους, δεν μπορώ να πω) και ότι τα δωμάτια ήταν μεγάλα. Ε αμάν...
Όσον αφορά τα ιστορικά γεγονότα:
Είναι ένα βιβλίο που διαδραματίζεται σε μια από τις πιο ταραγμένες περιόδους της Ρωσίας. Υπάρχει ο Ά παγκόσμιος πόλεμος και μετά η επανάσταση που έχει ως αποτέλεσμα να δημιουργηθεί το ανατολικό μπλοκ, να σφαγιαστεί ο τσάρος και ολόκληρη η οικογένειά του και να δημιουργηθεί η (αχανής) Σοβιετική Ένωση. Η συγγραφέας προτίμησε να αναλώσει περίπου 400 από τις σελίδες του βιβλίου περιγράφοντας τη ζωή της Έμιλι (η οποία είναι η αλήθεια μου έβγαλε μια μιζέρια- η Έμιλι εννοώ) και άφησε λίγες σελίδες στις οποίες συνέπτυξε όλα αυτά τα γεγονότα.
Τέλος πάντων, κατάφερα και το τελείωσα άρα θα είχε και κάτι θετικό που όμως δεν μπορώ αυτή τη στιγμή να το σκεφτώ και να το γράψω.
https://kiallovivlio.blogspot.com/
Λοιπόν. Εκτός από την υπόθεση που για εμένα δεν συμβάδιζε με όσα γράφονται στο οπισθόφυλλο δεν μου άρεσε καθόλου και ο τρόπος που γράφει η συγγραφέας. Ήταν λίγο σαν να βαριόταν να περιγράψει τα γεγονότα, απλά τα ανέφερε και όπου υπήρχαν περιγραφές δεν ήταν καθόλυο καλές. Με το ζόρι έλεγε τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά της εμφάνισης των πρωταγωνιστών. Καλά, αυτό δεν πειράζει και τόσο, αλλά όταν γράφεις ένα διήγημα στο οποίο οι περισσότεροι χώροι κατοικίας είναι πύργοι, κάστρα και γενικά μεγάλα κτίσματα, ε, βάλε και μερικές περιγραφές μέσα, μη λες μόνο ότι "ο Πύργος ήταν σκοτεινός και εγκαταλειμμένος" (παράδειγμα από το μυαλό μου αυτό, που όμως δεν απέχει από την πραγματικότητα).
Τόσα ρούχα, τόσα κοσμήματα και πολυτελή διαμερίσματα και εγώ διάβαζα μόνο ότι η Έμιλι φορούσε διαμάντια ή ζαφείρια ή μαργαριτάρια περίτεχνα (όλα τους, δεν μπορώ να πω) και ότι τα δωμάτια ήταν μεγάλα. Ε αμάν...
Όσον αφορά τα ιστορικά γεγονότα:
Είναι ένα βιβλίο που διαδραματίζεται σε μια από τις πιο ταραγμένες περιόδους της Ρωσίας. Υπάρχει ο Ά παγκόσμιος πόλεμος και μετά η επανάσταση που έχει ως αποτέλεσμα να δημιουργηθεί το ανατολικό μπλοκ, να σφαγιαστεί ο τσάρος και ολόκληρη η οικογένειά του και να δημιουργηθεί η (αχανής) Σοβιετική Ένωση. Η συγγραφέας προτίμησε να αναλώσει περίπου 400 από τις σελίδες του βιβλίου περιγράφοντας τη ζωή της Έμιλι (η οποία είναι η αλήθεια μου έβγαλε μια μιζέρια- η Έμιλι εννοώ) και άφησε λίγες σελίδες στις οποίες συνέπτυξε όλα αυτά τα γεγονότα.
Τέλος πάντων, κατάφερα και το τελείωσα άρα θα είχε και κάτι θετικό που όμως δεν μπορώ αυτή τη στιγμή να το σκεφτώ και να το γράψω.
https://kiallovivlio.blogspot.com/
June 26, 2010
At fifteen, Emily Paget doesn't have many options to look forward to in life. Her father is the disgraced and disinherited second son of an earl and lives off his sister's charity. Emily is too well-born to take a career, yet too poor to attract a husband, although things start looking up when her Russian grandmother Natasha comes to England with the Russian Imperial court and takes a shine to Emily. Shortly after Natasha's departure, Emily receives a visit from the elderly Lady Hamilton (an old friend of the Kirovs) who swoops in like a fairy godmother and whisks her away to London and turns her into a proper young lady. While there, she and her friends become a wee bit too involved in the suffragette movement, but Emily eventually goes off to join her grandmother in St. Petersburg and just like Cinderella she marries her prince - but is he truly prince charming or was she deceived by Basil's drop dead good looks? And what about Basil's unhappily married brother-in-law Alexei Kirov? Are he and Emily destined to be soul mates? They sure do smoke off the pages at the first meeting......
First Basil then Alexei are off to serve in the Russian army and as the death toll at the Russian front rises to horrendous proportions, Emily is left in St. Petersburg desperately trying to hold what is left of the Alexei's family together and alive. But the real terror begins when the Bolsheviks gain control of the government upon Lenin's return to Russia. Is her English passport enough to get her safely out of Russia? What of Alexei's wife and children - children she loves as if they were her own? While a bit slow at the start with Emily's life in the English countryside and her social whirl whilst first in Russia, once the war broke out and the revolutionary fervor ran amok I had a hard time putting this one down. Lenin's Bolsheviks with their strong-arm tactics were terrifying, as well as a nail-biting escape from St. Petersburg that made the last 200 pages darn near unputdownable.
I've never read much on Russia's Revolution and the rise of communism, and it was fascinating *seeing* how it came about and I really enjoyed the drawing-room politics and debates between Alexei and his brother;
"And if one of your fanatical chums ever does succeed to the purple, whatever his title may be - tsar or president or chief co-ordinator of the people's revolution-you can bet your last rouble that he will out-ceasar Caesar in the most spectacular way."
"They only use the poor as their excuse for taking what someone else has. They say, `If only we were the ones with the power, we could make everything all right', but you try asking them how they plan to do it! They haven't an idea, any of them. They're so interested in the process of taking power, they haven't begun to think what they'd do with it."
Although Anna, Fleur and Emily are billed as a trilogy, there is sufficient passage of time between books that they can be read independently of each other. You might be slightly spoiled as to who ended up with whom (Fleur sure surprised me!), but other than that read them as your mood/interests lead you. This trilogy has been a grand ride and I'm sorry it's over and I have to move on and leave the Kirovs behind. Darn it. One minor nit to all three and a request to any publisher considering re-issuing these - please get an editor in there and fix the typos - while minor there are way too many of them. 4/5 stars.
****Minor spoiler ahead****
I know there are some readers who have issues with adultery in their books. To each his own, but if you are one of them this book is probably not for you.
First Basil then Alexei are off to serve in the Russian army and as the death toll at the Russian front rises to horrendous proportions, Emily is left in St. Petersburg desperately trying to hold what is left of the Alexei's family together and alive. But the real terror begins when the Bolsheviks gain control of the government upon Lenin's return to Russia. Is her English passport enough to get her safely out of Russia? What of Alexei's wife and children - children she loves as if they were her own? While a bit slow at the start with Emily's life in the English countryside and her social whirl whilst first in Russia, once the war broke out and the revolutionary fervor ran amok I had a hard time putting this one down. Lenin's Bolsheviks with their strong-arm tactics were terrifying, as well as a nail-biting escape from St. Petersburg that made the last 200 pages darn near unputdownable.
I've never read much on Russia's Revolution and the rise of communism, and it was fascinating *seeing* how it came about and I really enjoyed the drawing-room politics and debates between Alexei and his brother;
"And if one of your fanatical chums ever does succeed to the purple, whatever his title may be - tsar or president or chief co-ordinator of the people's revolution-you can bet your last rouble that he will out-ceasar Caesar in the most spectacular way."
"They only use the poor as their excuse for taking what someone else has. They say, `If only we were the ones with the power, we could make everything all right', but you try asking them how they plan to do it! They haven't an idea, any of them. They're so interested in the process of taking power, they haven't begun to think what they'd do with it."
Although Anna, Fleur and Emily are billed as a trilogy, there is sufficient passage of time between books that they can be read independently of each other. You might be slightly spoiled as to who ended up with whom (Fleur sure surprised me!), but other than that read them as your mood/interests lead you. This trilogy has been a grand ride and I'm sorry it's over and I have to move on and leave the Kirovs behind. Darn it. One minor nit to all three and a request to any publisher considering re-issuing these - please get an editor in there and fix the typos - while minor there are way too many of them. 4/5 stars.
****Minor spoiler ahead****
I know there are some readers who have issues with adultery in their books. To each his own, but if you are one of them this book is probably not for you.
October 19, 2024
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Final book of the trilogy, heartbreak and passion as Russia is at war, loved ones go missing. Set around 1917 ish
💋💋
Final book of the trilogy, heartbreak and passion as Russia is at war, loved ones go missing. Set around 1917 ish
October 11, 2014
This book was so sickening , I had to stop at 63%.
Emily, the heroine, has no redeeming qualities.
She falls in love with Basil the moment she sees him because he is so handsome.
She commits adultery with Alexei and had absolutely no remorse or guilt. I get that she finally reLizes that Alexei is her " one true love/soulmate" but at least feel a little guilty?!
When Basil cheats on her, she is jealous and outraged.
This heroine is selfish, self centered and I could not keep reading
Emily, the heroine, has no redeeming qualities.
She falls in love with Basil the moment she sees him because he is so handsome.
She commits adultery with Alexei and had absolutely no remorse or guilt. I get that she finally reLizes that Alexei is her " one true love/soulmate" but at least feel a little guilty?!
When Basil cheats on her, she is jealous and outraged.
This heroine is selfish, self centered and I could not keep reading
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2022
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles does it again!
This amazing author seems to capture the history of Russia as well as she did English history in the Morland series. She puts fictional characters into an historical event and helps the reader feel present each time. In view of the current events in Ukraine, this book felt up to date in describing the Russian Army. And the characters are so real, the books she writes are captivating, the plot suspenseful, the descriptions believable and powerful.
This amazing author seems to capture the history of Russia as well as she did English history in the Morland series. She puts fictional characters into an historical event and helps the reader feel present each time. In view of the current events in Ukraine, this book felt up to date in describing the Russian Army. And the characters are so real, the books she writes are captivating, the plot suspenseful, the descriptions believable and powerful.
August 26, 2022
Perhaps 3.5 stars. The reader first meets Emily as a fledgling fifteen-year-old in 1909. The motherless daughter of a mesalliance, she and her father are "poor relations" to her titled aunt. But all that changes when Emily meets her Russian grandmother, who arranges for her further education. Eventually Emily travels to Russia, with the reader knowing that the Great War is looming, to be followed by the Russian Revolution. How will these affect Emily? This book provides a fascinating view of this history from the Russian point of view.
April 12, 2024
This is the third and last novel in the Kirov Saga and I am sad I have now read them all and have to leave the Kirovs behind. I have loved all three books and I highly recommend them.
This is the story of Emily Paget, who travels from England to Russia and comes to face the horrible Russian Revolution and the rise of communism.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles spins a wonderful tale which I hope will be read by many, because it is worth it! You will find adventure, wonderful love stories, witty dialogs and spunky female protagonists plus learn a bit of history.
This is the story of Emily Paget, who travels from England to Russia and comes to face the horrible Russian Revolution and the rise of communism.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles spins a wonderful tale which I hope will be read by many, because it is worth it! You will find adventure, wonderful love stories, witty dialogs and spunky female protagonists plus learn a bit of history.
April 17, 2021
Ένα μεγαλειώδες ιστορικό - αισθηματικό μυθιστόρημα που με καθήλωσε!!!! Μια ηρωίδα που με μάγεψε από την πρώτη, μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα!!! Μια εκπληκτική ιστορία αγάπης με σπουδαίες ιστορικές αναφορές, άκρως ενδιαφέρουσα!!! ΣΚΕΤΗ ΜΑΓΕΙΑ!!!!
November 23, 2021
Fantastic final book of the trilogy! As with the other two, the battle scenes and history of that time in Russia are excellently detailed with descriptions that keep you on the edge of your seat. And the love story...what a way to conclude!
January 17, 2024
Repeat of the previous books. Too many typos
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2020
Emily is the last in Harrod Eagles Kirov saga and is set in the 1910s leading up to and putting the heroine in some danger through the Russian Revolution. Each of the Kirov Books deals with a different era in Russian History; Anna was set in the Napoleonic Wars, Fleur in the Crimean War, and Emily in the Russian Revolution.
Emily "the poor relation" is taken from England by her grandmother back to Russia where she is married to the socially acceptable Basil. But is there more to him than is shown? Then there is her brother in law through marriage Alexei, older, wiser and full of passion, but stuck in a loveless marriage with Basil's sister.
The build-up to the Revolution is grimly told, but is nothing compared to the shocking brutality of the Bolsheviks in its aftermath. With Basil and Alexei away at war, Emily is left to look after the remaining family and somehow get them back to the safety of England.
Really well told story with historical fact interwoven with the fictional story. Anna remains my favourite of the 3 but this was a close 2nd.
Emily "the poor relation" is taken from England by her grandmother back to Russia where she is married to the socially acceptable Basil. But is there more to him than is shown? Then there is her brother in law through marriage Alexei, older, wiser and full of passion, but stuck in a loveless marriage with Basil's sister.
The build-up to the Revolution is grimly told, but is nothing compared to the shocking brutality of the Bolsheviks in its aftermath. With Basil and Alexei away at war, Emily is left to look after the remaining family and somehow get them back to the safety of England.
Really well told story with historical fact interwoven with the fictional story. Anna remains my favourite of the 3 but this was a close 2nd.
July 29, 2015
This is the third book in the trlogy of the Kirov saga. I read all three, in order, and I found the plots to be very similar-- English girl meets Russian nobleman, falls in love then historical events intervene to complicate their lives. I like Cynthia Harrod Eagles and have read some of the books in the Moreland Saga. In both series, history drives the plot. I think that with Moreland, Ms. Harrod Eagles has much more to work with so the plots are richer and more varied. I mean, there are only so many ways to get English women to meet Russian Counts and Cynthia Harrod Eagles has used them all in this trilogy.
May 13, 2011
Thoroughly enjoyed this last entry in the Kirov saga. touched on all the major topics of 1910s like the suffragettes, the titanic, and more interestingly the build up to WWI as seen through the events that were happening in Russia at the time, and then the Bolshevik revolution.
February 20, 2013
Okay storyline although I feel like I'm getting too much of a history lesson. As a fan of history I like the plot with the Russian Revolution but I feel like too much is being said about it and the going ons in Russia during the period.
More character action and less history less, please.
More character action and less history less, please.
January 2, 2022
Το ελληνικό εξώφυλλο είναι πολύ καλύτερο. Το ξεκίνησα πιστεύοντας ότι θα διαβάσω άλλο ένα αγγλικό μυθιστόρημα, όμως αυτό με εξέπληξε ευχάριστα. Μια βουτιά στη Ρωσία άλλων εποχών. Ένιωσα να γίνομαι θεατής των ιστορικών γεγονότων. Με συνεπήρε.
April 11, 2012
I think Emily was my favorite heroine out of the three. A satisfying end to the trilogy. I just wish there had been a book before this one, bridging the gap.
January 29, 2014
Always fascinated by the Russian Revolution so enjoyed this more than her last. Still a bit slow in England, but once we get to war-torn Russia it really livens up.
January 22, 2016
War and peace is being televised and i have found that having read this trilogy has helped me understand the Russia of that time
January 27, 2017
It was a pleasant read.
Want to read
July 12, 2012The title is the name of my childhood love, so of course i want to read it.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews