In 1981 an
old lady, Zoya, is in hospital. She is dying. Her husband Georgy looks back on
his life and the life he shared with his Zoya.
He is a very good writer and he knows how to tell a story. He know how to paint a scene, characterize a person or describe an event in just a few lines.
Georgy grew
up in a little village in Russia. One day it was visited by Nicolas
Nicolaevich, cousin to the Tsar and commander of the army. Due to some
coincidences Georgy saves his life and the boy is brought back to Saint
Petersburg to join the special guards who are responsible for keeping the
Imperial family safe. Georgy’s special task is to look after the tsarevich
Alexei.
It takes
some time for Georgy is used to his new life, but he has all the opportunities
to witness important moments in Russian history. He met Rasputin, saw the
changes in the way people thought about the Imperial Family, he was present
when the Tsar abdicated and is there in Yekaterinburg.
After the
revolution Georgy flew to Paris where he married Zoya. In the years that
followed they lived in Paris first and then came to London, where Georgy
managed to get a job at the British Library.
The house
of special purpose is very romantic and sometimes a little bit too
coincidental. It is not very plausible. Certainly not if you consider that is
has many historical errors. There are details that are incorrect, for example
we know Alexei was wounded in Yekaterinburg, his father had to carry him down
to the cellar on that fatal night. And most importantly the main storyline is
completely false.
But
somehow, I do not mind. I usually do not like it when a book takes too many
liberties with historical facts, but in this case I forgive John Boyne.
He is a very good writer and he knows how to tell a story. He know how to paint a scene, characterize a person or describe an event in just a few lines.
The story
is told by jumping through history and this makes that the story is never
boring. And slowly you understand what happened in 1918. The differences
between the pomp and circumstance of the Imperial court, the poverty in Paris
and the middleclass life Georgy and Zoya lead in London is well done.
The Imperial Family |
The house
of special purpose is a very beautiful story.
This is in
fact the story that began my interest in Russian history and love for the Russian
Imperial family. I was very glad I loved the book as much as I did the first
time. Even though I already knew the twist in the ending, I absolutely loved it
again.
Published
in 2009
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