Bryn Turnbull is the internationally bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis. With a master of letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, a master of professional communication from Toronto Metropolitan University and a bachelor's degree in English literature from McGill University, Bryn focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record. She lives in Toronto.
"When The Last Grand Duchess opens in March 1917, we are witness to
the collapse of a world: the privileged existence of the Romanov
czarist family. . . I loved this novel, chiefly because of its deft
characterizations. . . Even the most flawed characters have their
redeeming points: there's not a cardboard villain to be found.
Superbly written and researched, this is a novel that I will be
reading again." --Historical Novels Society (Editor's Pick) "The
Last Grand Duchess depicts a real family, with all their
eccentricities and dynamics, while weaving in key details of the
real Romanovs, their friends, and their families. Complete with an
authorʼs note and a bibliography that would charm any librarian,
this historical fiction depicts the final years of the Romanovs in
a way that feels both inspired and truthful." --Booklist (starred)
"Turnbull pries off the veneer that masked Olga as a blue-blooded
victim of the Bolshevik Revolution; instead she gives Olga a
three-dimensional personhood with a verve that evokes Scarlett
O'Hara... An entrancing tribute to a Victorian lass of tragic
grace." --Library Journal "Turnbull again successfully humanizes a
family of powerful historical figures...Though the tragic story has
been fictionalized effectively in novels such as Carolyn Meyer's
Anastasia and Her Sisters, Turnbull adds to the lore by focusing on
a more obscure Romanov, with a gift at making Olga's situation
painfully tangible. This amply justifies taking another look at the
lives of the condemned royals." --Publishers Weekly "The Last Grand
Duchess is a powerful and haunting ode to the tragic life of Olga
Romanov. Turnbull's sweeping novel illuminates the fall of the
Romanovs in an intimate and unforgettable tale that transports the
reader to the heart of Imperial Russia. A poignant, engrossing
story that historical fiction readers will love!" --Chanel Cleeton,
New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Most Beautiful
Girl in Cuba "From Saint Petersburg to Siberia, sweeping back and
forth in time, Bryn expertly weaves together an all-consuming story
of The Russian Revolution and the fall of the House of Romanovs.
The Last Grand Duchess features a true heroine who displays courage
and grace in the face of war, making sacrifices of the heart in the
name of family and country loyalty. Historical fiction fans will
devour this one!" --Renée Rosen, USA TODAY bestselling author of
Park Avenue Summer "Olga proves time and again that she was a woman
ahead of her time, a woman who, heartbreakingly, could have given
so much to Russia, her family and the man she loved if only she was
given the chance. A gorgeously told tale." --Natasha Lester, New
York Times bestselling author of The Paris Secret "The Last Grand
Duchess is a masterful work of historical fiction. . . . Turnbull
depicts the fault lines of human frailty in all families, as well
as the strong bonds of emotion and sacrifice that underpin them. A
clear-eyed, compassionate, and heartrending story that skillfully
uses fiction to further our understanding of the Romanov dynasty,
its fascinating players, and its tragic end." --Natalie Jenner, USA
Today bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society "From
glittering palaces to field hospitals, privilege to prison life,
Bryn Turnbull portrays the downfall of a royal family with clarity,
empathy, and intimacy. THE LAST GRAND DUCHESS reads like a
symphony, the last notes of the Romanovs vanishing with a
staggering and tragic beauty." --Erika Robuck, National bestselling
author of The Invisible Woman "Haunting and beautiful. Turnbull's
take on the Olga Romanov story will leave you hopeful that love
does triumph over all." --Kaia Alderson, author of Sisters in Arms
"Ambitious and intimate, violent and tender, Bryn Turnbull's The
Last Grand Duchess pulls aside some heavy curtains on Russia's
history, spotlighting the tragically human characters in this royal
drama. Olga Romanov is seared into my heart as the best kind of
tragic heroine, one who fights and loves with every fiber of her
being, even in the face of mortal danger. A deeply absorbing read."
--Kerri Maher, author of The Paris Bookseller "The Last Grand
Duchess is the enthralling, beautifully written account of the fall
of one of the world's most powerful dynasties. As Grand Duchess
Olga Romanov is torn from the glittering excess of St. Petersburg
ballrooms and thrust into the tragedy and hardship of war, she
finds a strength and courage that few possess. A complex,
heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting story that will stay with
the reader long after the last page is turned." --Christine Wells,
author of Sisters of the Resistance "Bryn Turnbull brings the
Romanov family to vivid life, weaving a captivating, tragic tale
that is at once sweeping and intimate. Deeply researched and
beautifully written, this story humanizes Olga Romanov as she
navigates the mounting tensions wrought between family and country,
faith and politics, fate and free will. I found myself reading this
novel long into the night, spellbound, the pages all but turning
themselves. A must read!" --Kristin Beck, author of Courage, My
Love
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
