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Blood Red Snow White: A Novel
There never was a story that was happy through and through.
When writer Arthur Ransome leaves his unhappy marriage in England and moves to Russia to work as a journalist, he has little idea of the violent revolution about to erupt. Unwittingly, he finds himself at its center, tapped by the British to report back on the Bolsheviks even as he becomes dangerously, romantically entangled with Trotsky's personal secretary.
Both sides seek to use Arthur to gather and relay information for their own purposes . . . and both grow to suspect him of being a double agent. Arthur wants only to elope far from conflict with his beloved, but her Russian ties make leaving the country nearly impossible. And the more Arthur resists becoming a pawn, the more entrenched in the game he seems to become.
Blood Red Snow White, a Soviet-era thriller from renowned author Marcus Sedgwick, is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
When writer Arthur Ransome leaves his unhappy marriage in England and moves to Russia to work as a journalist, he has little idea of the violent revolution about to erupt. Unwittingly, he finds himself at its center, tapped by the British to report back on the Bolsheviks even as he becomes dangerously, romantically entangled with Trotsky's personal secretary.
Both sides seek to use Arthur to gather and relay information for their own purposes . . . and both grow to suspect him of being a double agent. Arthur wants only to elope far from conflict with his beloved, but her Russian ties make leaving the country nearly impossible. And the more Arthur resists becoming a pawn, the more entrenched in the game he seems to become.
Blood Red Snow White, a Soviet-era thriller from renowned author Marcus Sedgwick, is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2007
About the author
Marcus Sedgwick
96 books1,570 followersMarcus Sedgwick was born in Kent, England. Marcus is a British author and illustrator as well as a musician. He is the author of several books, including Witch Hill and The Book of Dead Days, both of which were nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. The most recent of these nominations rekindled a fascination with Poe that has borne fruit here in (in The Restless Dead, 2007) the form of "The Heart of Another" - inspired by Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." Of his story, Sedgwick says, "This was one of those stories that I thought might be a novel originally but actually was much better suited to the tight form of the short story. I had the initial idea some years ago but was just waiting for the right ingredient to come along. Poe's story, as well as his own fascination with technique, provided that final piece of the puzzle."
He used to play for two bands namely playing the drums for Garrett and as the guitarist in an ABBA tribute group. He has published novels such as Floodland (winner of the Branford Boase Award in 2001) and The Dark Horse (shortlisted for The Guardian Children's Book Award 2002).
He used to play for two bands namely playing the drums for Garrett and as the guitarist in an ABBA tribute group. He has published novels such as Floodland (winner of the Branford Boase Award in 2001) and The Dark Horse (shortlisted for The Guardian Children's Book Award 2002).
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September 11, 2016
“Stories twist and turn and grow and meet and give birth to other stories. Here and there, one story touches another, and a familiar character, sometimes the hero, walks over the bridge from one story into another.”
I think we need to clear some things up about this book.
This is just my theory, but I'm pretty sure something like this happened: Due to the popularity of fairy tales and retellings in American YA, publishers have been scouting out the next bestseller - both among upcoming manuscripts AND in books already published. They found this book, which is written with certain fairy tale elements, and they rebranded the hell out of it for the market.
Look at that gorgeous cover! And that title! How easy it was to turn that title into something that screamed "fairy tale retelling" without doing any extra work.
But it's not a fairy tale retelling. It's just not. I can foresee all the people bypassing the blurb and hoping for the next Cinder or Cruel Beauty, and this book just isn't anything like that. It's historical fiction - downright weird historical fiction, to tell the truth - and retells the Russian Revolution with allusions to fairy tales and a lot of strange metaphors.
Sedgwick is actually one of my favourite authors. He isn't afraid to do something new and completely different. I get the impression that he sits down to write interesting and unique stories with no thought for what's trending right now or what genre he's going to fit his stories into. Midwinterblood was wonderful, The Ghosts of Heaven was one of my favourite books of last year, Revolver shouldn't be so damn good, but it is.
This one, though, wasn't one of my favourites. I quite liked it in the beginning because MS just sets the scene so well. I could feel the cold of the Russian Winter penetrating the heat of the L.A. Summer I'm currently sat in. I liked the way he told the story of the Russian Revolution almost like it was a fairy tale - it felt magical; strange.
I also really like when stories reveal small, mostly-unknown pockets of history. Sedgwick's protagonist is Arthur Ransome - a real life author of the Swallows and Amazons series and the author of several books on the Russian Revolution, including The Crisis In Russia and Six Weeks In Russia In 1919. I had no idea there was a link between Ransome and Russia until I read this book.
But, after the magical, atmospheric opening where MS retells the fall of the Tsar and the rise of Lenin and Trotsky, the book loses its magic and becomes a dull tale about Arthur as a young journalist and writer. Russia, the Russian revolution, the rise of communism, fairy tales and metaphors... all of these things are interesting, but it just wasn't that interesting to read about a boring British journalist.
Some fantastic ideas here and some interesting metaphors, but definitely not Segdwick's best work, and definitely not the fluffy fairy tale retelling it appears to be.
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November 4, 2020
5 "charming, disarming, sweeping, romantic" stars !!!
10th Favorite Read of 2017 (tie)
This is one unique and delightful read. This semi-fictional book is about Arthur Ransome (an author and journalist) who was one of Britain's first spies and possible double agents with the Bolsheviks. This is also a love story of his deep feelings and bravery in the rescuing of the beautiful Evgeniya who also happened to be Trotsky's secretary. In the background we have his yearning for his estranged daughter Tabitha and his love of writing children's fairy tales and adventure stories.
The prose is simple yet stylized. Some of it was written in fairy tale form, other parts were like a simplified Le Carre novel and other parts were like a romantic melodrama. This mish mash worked so well and I was transported to England, to Sweden, to Russia, to Estonia and felt like I was really there. What was most magical about this is that although the subject matter is so serious the feel of this book is old world charm, muted grey tones with many hues of lavender.
I absolutely adored this book and think its the cat's MEOW !!
10th Favorite Read of 2017 (tie)
This is one unique and delightful read. This semi-fictional book is about Arthur Ransome (an author and journalist) who was one of Britain's first spies and possible double agents with the Bolsheviks. This is also a love story of his deep feelings and bravery in the rescuing of the beautiful Evgeniya who also happened to be Trotsky's secretary. In the background we have his yearning for his estranged daughter Tabitha and his love of writing children's fairy tales and adventure stories.
The prose is simple yet stylized. Some of it was written in fairy tale form, other parts were like a simplified Le Carre novel and other parts were like a romantic melodrama. This mish mash worked so well and I was transported to England, to Sweden, to Russia, to Estonia and felt like I was really there. What was most magical about this is that although the subject matter is so serious the feel of this book is old world charm, muted grey tones with many hues of lavender.
I absolutely adored this book and think its the cat's MEOW !!
October 7, 2016
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Blood Red Snow White by Marcus Sedgwick
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: October 25, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Russia wakes from a long sleep and marches to St Petersburg to claim her birthright. Her awakening will mark the end for the Romanovs, and the dawn of a new era that changed the world. Arthur Ransome, a journalist and writer, was part of it all. He left his family in England and fell in love with Russia and a Russian woman. This is his story.
What I Liked:
I actually didn't know much about this book before reading it. I requested it but I admit, it was because of the cover, and the author's name. I've not read anything by Sedgwick, but I've heard of him, and have wanted to read something by him. So I went into this one pretty blind. I'm giving this book a so-so rating, but I liked it.
This book follows Arthur Ransome, an English journalist and writer, who was in Russia during World War I. He is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, and finds himself caught up in the war. The Bolsheviks want him to send messages to England, and England wants him to spy on the Bolsheviks. Ransome will play a large role in the demise of Tsarist Russia, but also in the rise and fall of Lenin and Trotsky.
This novel is purely historical fiction, though it is somewhat of a fictional imagining/retelling. Arthur Ransome was a real person in history, as was all the characters in this book. It's interesting that this book is marketed as YA fiction, because this book starts with Arthur marrying his sweetheart, Ivy, and this was when he was in his mid-twenties. When I say historical fiction, I mean something like The Book Thief. This book was quite moving in its own way.
So the story begins with Arthur marrying Ivy, a girl that he fell in love with. They have a daughter. But Arthur starts to realize that he and Ivy never really loved each other, but rather, they were caught up and attracted to each other, but not necessarily in love. He leaves his family and goes to Russia, where he falls in love with the country. But soon he gets caught up in the war, being in Russia just as the war begins. It's bad timing, but Arthur writes a book and meets a woman that he falls for - for real this time. It just so happens to be Trotsky's secretary. Trotsky and Lenin want Arthur to spy for them, and the English want Arthur to spy on the Russians for them. Arthur leaves Russia, comes back, and eventually, decides that he and Evgenia need to leave Russia for good.
This was a great story to read, because while it was fictional, the historical events and the life events of Arthur Ransome are very real, and very much the same as the real events. The author clearly did his research on the life of Arthur Ransome, World War I, the Lockhart Plot, the Revolutions, the White Movement. Honestly most of the reason why I liked this book is because of the history. I love history, and I knew enough about Russia's role in World War I and their history at the time. I know the story of the Tsar and Tsarina and Rasputin, but it was interesting to see that play out in this book. The author's spin on the historical events is very creative.
In terms of the story, separate from the history (though I must say, you really can't separate the two), I liked it (the story) but found it a little slow and confusing in terms of timing. I'll talk about that later. As a story, there were some boring parts, but I was engrossed in all of the history, and wanted to know what would happen next (according to the story). It was interesting to see things from Arthur Ransome's (fictional) account, a bystander that played a heavy role in this history.
The story is about a man in his twenties/thirties, a man who makes a difficult decision to leave his wife and child in England, and come to Russia. There is a romance between Arthur and Evgenia (Trotsky's secretary). Usually I don't like the extramarital affairs thing, but it was obvious that Arthur never loved his wife, but really loved Evgenia. I don't know how feelings were in the real story, but I liked how the author brought about the romance in this book. Romance was very small in this book, so don't worry if you're not really a romance person.
I liked this book, and I have no regrets reading it. Historical fiction is fascinating and absolutely necessary in YA fiction. I hope this book will make it into classrooms and curriculum, because it would be worthy for sure.
What I Did Not Like:
I was trying to decide if I should give this book four stars or three, and I went with four stars. However, I was a little bored at times, though not enough to make me stop reading. I love history, and historical fiction, so I knew I was going to read this one from start to finish no matter how much it dragged. Lucky for me, I didn't really have an issue with the pacing, but I did think it was boring in a few spots. I've seen some reviews that were expecting a fairy tale, or the reviewers hate historical fiction, and were bored. I was bored because there were times when the story was genuinely boring - not because I can't handle history.
One thing that confused me was the jumps in time. The author doesn't jump around from past to present or anything like that, but sometimes the lapses in time weren't clear, so I was confused as to how much time had actually passed. Like, I didn't know that Arthur left his wife and child when the child was a toddler - four years after Arthur and Ivy got married. I didn't know how much time passed from Arthur leaving his wife and child, to Arthur escaping Russia with Evgenia (about six years). I didn't know how much time passed between each time Arthur left Russia and came back. I ended up going to Wikipedia and looking up some of the dates. I wish the author could have started each chapter with the date and time, or something like that. This IS fiction, so he could have manipulated dates how he wanted.
In any case, this wasn't a deciding factor; but I was often a little lost when chapters ended and we're suddenly in a completely different scene. I consider myself a pretty astute reader, and I was feeling lost! I reread parts to see if I could get a feel for that point in time, but ultimately, checking Wikipedia was what helped.
Would I Recommend It:
I do recommend this book, because it's a great take on Russia's history in the 1900s (during the First World War, that is). Don't read this book if you're expecting a fairy tale, or a fantasy novel, or something like that. This is literary historical fiction. It's well-written and the story is fascinating, but it isn't for everything.
Rating:
3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. Liked but didn't love, and I can't recommend to everyone because literary historical fiction isn't for everyone. Heck, I read these types of books very rarely. If it hadn't been marketed as YA, in a YA catalog with a YA publisher, I might have passed it straight! My rating might seem a little low, but I didn't quite love the book as a reader. As a reviewer, this book was solid. As a reader, it was good but not a new favorite. I did enjoy it though!
Blood Red Snow White by Marcus Sedgwick
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: October 25, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Russia wakes from a long sleep and marches to St Petersburg to claim her birthright. Her awakening will mark the end for the Romanovs, and the dawn of a new era that changed the world. Arthur Ransome, a journalist and writer, was part of it all. He left his family in England and fell in love with Russia and a Russian woman. This is his story.
What I Liked:
I actually didn't know much about this book before reading it. I requested it but I admit, it was because of the cover, and the author's name. I've not read anything by Sedgwick, but I've heard of him, and have wanted to read something by him. So I went into this one pretty blind. I'm giving this book a so-so rating, but I liked it.
This book follows Arthur Ransome, an English journalist and writer, who was in Russia during World War I. He is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, and finds himself caught up in the war. The Bolsheviks want him to send messages to England, and England wants him to spy on the Bolsheviks. Ransome will play a large role in the demise of Tsarist Russia, but also in the rise and fall of Lenin and Trotsky.
This novel is purely historical fiction, though it is somewhat of a fictional imagining/retelling. Arthur Ransome was a real person in history, as was all the characters in this book. It's interesting that this book is marketed as YA fiction, because this book starts with Arthur marrying his sweetheart, Ivy, and this was when he was in his mid-twenties. When I say historical fiction, I mean something like The Book Thief. This book was quite moving in its own way.
So the story begins with Arthur marrying Ivy, a girl that he fell in love with. They have a daughter. But Arthur starts to realize that he and Ivy never really loved each other, but rather, they were caught up and attracted to each other, but not necessarily in love. He leaves his family and goes to Russia, where he falls in love with the country. But soon he gets caught up in the war, being in Russia just as the war begins. It's bad timing, but Arthur writes a book and meets a woman that he falls for - for real this time. It just so happens to be Trotsky's secretary. Trotsky and Lenin want Arthur to spy for them, and the English want Arthur to spy on the Russians for them. Arthur leaves Russia, comes back, and eventually, decides that he and Evgenia need to leave Russia for good.
This was a great story to read, because while it was fictional, the historical events and the life events of Arthur Ransome are very real, and very much the same as the real events. The author clearly did his research on the life of Arthur Ransome, World War I, the Lockhart Plot, the Revolutions, the White Movement. Honestly most of the reason why I liked this book is because of the history. I love history, and I knew enough about Russia's role in World War I and their history at the time. I know the story of the Tsar and Tsarina and Rasputin, but it was interesting to see that play out in this book. The author's spin on the historical events is very creative.
In terms of the story, separate from the history (though I must say, you really can't separate the two), I liked it (the story) but found it a little slow and confusing in terms of timing. I'll talk about that later. As a story, there were some boring parts, but I was engrossed in all of the history, and wanted to know what would happen next (according to the story). It was interesting to see things from Arthur Ransome's (fictional) account, a bystander that played a heavy role in this history.
The story is about a man in his twenties/thirties, a man who makes a difficult decision to leave his wife and child in England, and come to Russia. There is a romance between Arthur and Evgenia (Trotsky's secretary). Usually I don't like the extramarital affairs thing, but it was obvious that Arthur never loved his wife, but really loved Evgenia. I don't know how feelings were in the real story, but I liked how the author brought about the romance in this book. Romance was very small in this book, so don't worry if you're not really a romance person.
I liked this book, and I have no regrets reading it. Historical fiction is fascinating and absolutely necessary in YA fiction. I hope this book will make it into classrooms and curriculum, because it would be worthy for sure.
What I Did Not Like:
I was trying to decide if I should give this book four stars or three, and I went with four stars. However, I was a little bored at times, though not enough to make me stop reading. I love history, and historical fiction, so I knew I was going to read this one from start to finish no matter how much it dragged. Lucky for me, I didn't really have an issue with the pacing, but I did think it was boring in a few spots. I've seen some reviews that were expecting a fairy tale, or the reviewers hate historical fiction, and were bored. I was bored because there were times when the story was genuinely boring - not because I can't handle history.
One thing that confused me was the jumps in time. The author doesn't jump around from past to present or anything like that, but sometimes the lapses in time weren't clear, so I was confused as to how much time had actually passed. Like, I didn't know that Arthur left his wife and child when the child was a toddler - four years after Arthur and Ivy got married. I didn't know how much time passed from Arthur leaving his wife and child, to Arthur escaping Russia with Evgenia (about six years). I didn't know how much time passed between each time Arthur left Russia and came back. I ended up going to Wikipedia and looking up some of the dates. I wish the author could have started each chapter with the date and time, or something like that. This IS fiction, so he could have manipulated dates how he wanted.
In any case, this wasn't a deciding factor; but I was often a little lost when chapters ended and we're suddenly in a completely different scene. I consider myself a pretty astute reader, and I was feeling lost! I reread parts to see if I could get a feel for that point in time, but ultimately, checking Wikipedia was what helped.
Would I Recommend It:
I do recommend this book, because it's a great take on Russia's history in the 1900s (during the First World War, that is). Don't read this book if you're expecting a fairy tale, or a fantasy novel, or something like that. This is literary historical fiction. It's well-written and the story is fascinating, but it isn't for everything.
Rating:
3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. Liked but didn't love, and I can't recommend to everyone because literary historical fiction isn't for everyone. Heck, I read these types of books very rarely. If it hadn't been marketed as YA, in a YA catalog with a YA publisher, I might have passed it straight! My rating might seem a little low, but I didn't quite love the book as a reader. As a reviewer, this book was solid. As a reader, it was good but not a new favorite. I did enjoy it though!
October 7, 2017
Blood Red Snow White is a book about Communist Russia, but above all, a book about ideological hatred. It is a book about how despising all communists and all British is always the wrong idea; people are people above all else.
It's an important message and important story, but somehow, I just ended underwhelmed. Let's talk about why.
Perhaps my biggest problem is missed expectations; the creativity and pull of the story is just not on par. Sedgwick's books get their power from being different; from being non-linear and focusing on subversive or different elements. But this book... focuses on a reporter working and loving in communist Russia. With linear storytelling. And that's essentially all there is to it. It starts off with a great fairytale element, but that storytelling element quickly disappears, leaving a somewhat lukewarm story. Sedgwick is just better when he's weirder.
In terms of storytelling, there's some I liked and some I disliked. The reliance on instalove was a terrible decision, first of all. You can't care about a relationship you barely understand. I found myself pulled along by the story, but I was just not that invested.
There is something to be said for just being really compelling. I had not read more than thirty pages of anything at once in a week before I picked this up. I read this in two sittings. Sedgwick is just that readable.
VERDICT: Just as compelling as the rest of Sedgwick's work, but the story was far less creative than his better works. A decent book, but not a fantastic one.
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It's an important message and important story, but somehow, I just ended underwhelmed. Let's talk about why.
Perhaps my biggest problem is missed expectations; the creativity and pull of the story is just not on par. Sedgwick's books get their power from being different; from being non-linear and focusing on subversive or different elements. But this book... focuses on a reporter working and loving in communist Russia. With linear storytelling. And that's essentially all there is to it. It starts off with a great fairytale element, but that storytelling element quickly disappears, leaving a somewhat lukewarm story. Sedgwick is just better when he's weirder.
In terms of storytelling, there's some I liked and some I disliked. The reliance on instalove was a terrible decision, first of all. You can't care about a relationship you barely understand. I found myself pulled along by the story, but I was just not that invested.
There is something to be said for just being really compelling. I had not read more than thirty pages of anything at once in a week before I picked this up. I read this in two sittings. Sedgwick is just that readable.
VERDICT: Just as compelling as the rest of Sedgwick's work, but the story was far less creative than his better works. A decent book, but not a fantastic one.
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June 30, 2017
اگه به کاور دقت کنین میبینید که بالای گل سرخ خونین، در انتهای راه، یه سرباز ایستاده.
نویسنده به شرح داستان آرتور رنسام پرداخته و بازنویسی جالبی انجام داده اما برای خواننده ای که آرتور رو نمی شناسه، خواندنش کمی سخته و گیج کننده خواهد بود. از طرفی من با اینکه داستان آرتور رو میدونم اما باز کامل نتونستم با داستان ارتباط برقرار کنم، چون داستان بیشتر به داستان های پریان تبدیل شده. عاشق روسیه و یه زن روسی هم میشه که برای لنین کار میکنه. داستان به همین شکل ادامه پیدا میکنه.
کتاب لحظات مرگ و زندگی رو به خوبی به متن تبدیل کرده و از نقاط قوتش محسوب میشه. اگرچه رومنس زیبایی با خشونت و مرگ بود، اما ترجیح میدادم نسخه واقعی تر داستان رو بخونم. نثر ساده س و توصیفات خوبی داره. سرعت پیشرویش هم مناسبه.
نویسنده به شرح داستان آرتور رنسام پرداخته و بازنویسی جالبی انجام داده اما برای خواننده ای که آرتور رو نمی شناسه، خواندنش کمی سخته و گیج کننده خواهد بود. از طرفی من با اینکه داستان آرتور رو میدونم اما باز کامل نتونستم با داستان ارتباط برقرار کنم، چون داستان بیشتر به داستان های پریان تبدیل شده. عاشق روسیه و یه زن روسی هم میشه که برای لنین کار میکنه. داستان به همین شکل ادامه پیدا میکنه.
کتاب لحظات مرگ و زندگی رو به خوبی به متن تبدیل کرده و از نقاط قوتش محسوب میشه. اگرچه رومنس زیبایی با خشونت و مرگ بود، اما ترجیح میدادم نسخه واقعی تر داستان رو بخونم. نثر ساده س و توصیفات خوبی داره. سرعت پیشرویش هم مناسبه.
November 2, 2016
BLOOD RED SNOW WHITE is a set of three short stories and a fictionalized account of author Arthur Randsome's time in Russia during Russian Revolution. Sedgwick brings readers on a thrilling journey, detailing both sides of war between the Red and the White. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The writing is quite beautiful in parts, especially in A Russian Fairy Tale.
"Once upon a time beyond the sunrise, halfway to the moon, and so very far away it would make your feet weep to think about it, lies a land vast in size and deep in sadness. From where we sit, on the far edge of history, we can see across Time itself, and yet this land is so big we struggle to see all of it at once."
These opening lines of A Russian Fairy Tale transported me right into twentieth-century Russia where tsars ruled the land and lived in magical palaces. It written very simply, like an actual children's fairy tale but with imagery that is not censored for children ("Look! Another one is killed; the top of his head blown clean off by a bullet at close range. His hot red blood freezes before it even reaches the ground."). It read like someone was telling you a story. We meet Arthur Randsome, a writer who leaves his unhappy marriage and child in England to embark on a new journey to Russia as a journalist.
The second story is One Night in Moscow, which follows Arthur during his years in Russia and his shifting role from journalist to, perhaps, a communist. His own loyalty is a mystery to himself, as he is torn between siding with the Red Bolsheviks and the White Tsarists. He meets and falls in love with Evgenia, a Russian woman who is a secretary for Trotsky, one of the Bolsheviks. Arthur's countrymen begin to question his true loyalty.
Lastly, the third story, A Fairy Tale, Ending, is told in first-person and it details Arthur's journey back to England to visit his family. While there, he learns that the situation in Russia has gotten worse and Evgenia could be in the eye of the storm.
As someone who was only vaguely familiar with the Russian Revolution, this book was very educational. Though, I will admit that the magic found in the beginning of the book was lost and I wasn't as captivated in the latter parts of the book. I think if I would have had a firmer grasp on all of the key players I would have been able to pick up on some of the nuances and appreciate it more. There is really very little character development, as it's assumed the reader will have at least some knowledge of the inner workings of it all.
Overall, this novel was very well-written with moments that kept me glued to the page. Some of the story, particularly in One Night in Moscow, was written non-linearly which made it a little difficult to follow at times. The author's note mentioned that most of this book is completely true, with only a few situations changed for dramatic effect. Highly recommend for readers who love reading about Russian history.
* I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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★★UPCOMING BOOK RELEASES★★
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February 6, 2017
I was highly anticipating Blood Red, Snow White because it was going to be the first Sedgwick novel that I’d ever read. He is an author I am constantly hearing about, so I was very excited to read this book. And although I did enjoy it, I didn’t love it as much as I truly wanted to.
This novel is told in a fairytale writing style. In the beginning, I was in awe of it. I thought it added a sense of magic to the entire story, and it worked well with the symbolism that was in place for the Russian Revolution. But as the whole novel continued on, this writing style seemed a little annoying, and the too short chapters became frustrating. I just wanted it to be written a normal writing style and get on with the story. And sure enough, the further into the novel I got, the more the writing style seemed to fade away, almost as if the author was done with that illusion too.
The plot was decently good. It was grounded in the history of the Russian revolution, and then in the world war that followed it. Arthur is a journalist who gets caught up in the political and violent Russia which he has fallen in love with. We get to see a lot of horrors unveiling, but the author keeps us slightly distant from them as he is keeping this a friendly novel than one full of graphics to scare away young readers. I liked the plot well enough.
The characters were decent. We have Arthur, our passionate and slightly clueless main character. He has a child and a wife who he has left behind in England, and then he falls in love with Eva in Russia. Of course, romance in Russia is hard because there are sides, and Eva and him are on different ones. Also, Arthur does love his daughter, although he doesn’t love Ivy anymore. He struggles between the family man and wanting to be with the one he really loves. Although there wasn’t a character I disliked, I didn’t really feel that invested in any of the other characters either.
When it comes down to this novel, I did like it, but I didn’t have a sense of depth when reading this novel. I didn’t care about it enough to love it particularly well. I fell in love with the cover, but that’s as far as my emotions go for the novel itself.
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
This novel is told in a fairytale writing style. In the beginning, I was in awe of it. I thought it added a sense of magic to the entire story, and it worked well with the symbolism that was in place for the Russian Revolution. But as the whole novel continued on, this writing style seemed a little annoying, and the too short chapters became frustrating. I just wanted it to be written a normal writing style and get on with the story. And sure enough, the further into the novel I got, the more the writing style seemed to fade away, almost as if the author was done with that illusion too.
The plot was decently good. It was grounded in the history of the Russian revolution, and then in the world war that followed it. Arthur is a journalist who gets caught up in the political and violent Russia which he has fallen in love with. We get to see a lot of horrors unveiling, but the author keeps us slightly distant from them as he is keeping this a friendly novel than one full of graphics to scare away young readers. I liked the plot well enough.
The characters were decent. We have Arthur, our passionate and slightly clueless main character. He has a child and a wife who he has left behind in England, and then he falls in love with Eva in Russia. Of course, romance in Russia is hard because there are sides, and Eva and him are on different ones. Also, Arthur does love his daughter, although he doesn’t love Ivy anymore. He struggles between the family man and wanting to be with the one he really loves. Although there wasn’t a character I disliked, I didn’t really feel that invested in any of the other characters either.
When it comes down to this novel, I did like it, but I didn’t have a sense of depth when reading this novel. I didn’t care about it enough to love it particularly well. I fell in love with the cover, but that’s as far as my emotions go for the novel itself.
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
January 19, 2019
3.5 stars
I'm on a bit of a Russian Revolution kick, spurred by The Gentleman in Moscow. Blood Red, Snow White was a beautiful way to follow up and to enhance my understanding of yet another piece of the Bolshevik puzzle. This book is beautifully written; I have not read any of Marcus Sedgwick's previous work, but I thought that the opening chapters were dreamily penned, compellingly told, and beautifully rendered. The imagery (particularly of the slumbering bear in the forest rousing to a war cry against the Tsar) was gorgeous and powerful.
Yet, for all its beauty, the book is confusingly told in back-and-forth moments in time, gliding between England and Russia. With so many flashbacks and jolts back to the present, the character development is murky, especially amongst the British government agents and the Bolshevik revolutionaries, so the plots and subplots and the nuances were somewhat lost on the less informed reader.
I can't help feeling that this story in the hands of another writer would have been a compelling spy thriller; and if Sedgwick had continued to write the magical realism fairy tale story it started out being, this would have been a swirling and surreal tale. In the end, reality merged with fantasy, and the bleakness and difficulty of this tale was revealed. I appreciated the realism, but without having been led toward it properly informed, it was still compelling (because you are rooting for Arthur and Evgenia, and for peace), but less powerful than it could have been.
This is so not a children's book; it's very adult in its themes and in its prose. Yet, it doesn't quite ascend into the places it could have gone - the magical realism masking the utter tragedy of the Revolution; nor the fast-paced thrill ride of a Russian spy novel (personally I would have loved the former) - or live up to its full potential.
Megan wrote the best review for this book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1709598996?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
I'm on a bit of a Russian Revolution kick, spurred by The Gentleman in Moscow. Blood Red, Snow White was a beautiful way to follow up and to enhance my understanding of yet another piece of the Bolshevik puzzle. This book is beautifully written; I have not read any of Marcus Sedgwick's previous work, but I thought that the opening chapters were dreamily penned, compellingly told, and beautifully rendered. The imagery (particularly of the slumbering bear in the forest rousing to a war cry against the Tsar) was gorgeous and powerful.
Yet, for all its beauty, the book is confusingly told in back-and-forth moments in time, gliding between England and Russia. With so many flashbacks and jolts back to the present, the character development is murky, especially amongst the British government agents and the Bolshevik revolutionaries, so the plots and subplots and the nuances were somewhat lost on the less informed reader.
I can't help feeling that this story in the hands of another writer would have been a compelling spy thriller; and if Sedgwick had continued to write the magical realism fairy tale story it started out being, this would have been a swirling and surreal tale. In the end, reality merged with fantasy, and the bleakness and difficulty of this tale was revealed. I appreciated the realism, but without having been led toward it properly informed, it was still compelling (because you are rooting for Arthur and Evgenia, and for peace), but less powerful than it could have been.
This is so not a children's book; it's very adult in its themes and in its prose. Yet, it doesn't quite ascend into the places it could have gone - the magical realism masking the utter tragedy of the Revolution; nor the fast-paced thrill ride of a Russian spy novel (personally I would have loved the former) - or live up to its full potential.
Megan wrote the best review for this book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1709598996?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
November 23, 2014
Wow. I have to say that this was one of the best historical fictions that I have ever read. The author is absolutely fantastic in the way that he manages to weave such a gripping story while still making it completely historically accurate. I loved the style of writing as well and the way it changed, as though the narrator was speaking right out of the book and reading it to me, in the first third of the book, but then the style was slowly altered until the story was being told from Arthur Ransom’s point of view.
I have to say that although I was thoroughly impressed, I also got a bit bored closer to the end of the book. It seemed as though it had lost its sparkle and was dragging on a little. It soon righted itself though. By the final few pages, I was completely hooked again and couldn’t put it down.
I absolutely loved this book, but that might just be because I am a complete history nerd. I loved the way that it was different to all the other historical fictions that I usually read in the way that it was more accurate and focused more on telling the story of the Russian Revolution rather than telling a love story. Although there was a bit of a love story, the author managed to keep it subtle and didn’t let it get in the way of the main storyline, which really impressed me. I also really enjoyed the way he managed to portray Vladimir Lenin throughout the book. The way in which he managed to imply that he was either a weak leader or extremely intelligent close to the beginning of the book was simply genius (the scene where Lenin explains to Arthur how he managed to get a neat bullet hole in his window). I also loved loved loved the way he used metaphors disguised as fairytales in the beginning of the book to explain the rise of the Reds against the Tsar (with the bear symbolizing Russia and Vlad and Lev who manage to convince it to eat the Tsar).
It was, overall, an incredible read. I would recommend it to any other history nerds out there who are looking for an accurate but gripping fictional account of the Russian Revolution.
I have to say that although I was thoroughly impressed, I also got a bit bored closer to the end of the book. It seemed as though it had lost its sparkle and was dragging on a little. It soon righted itself though. By the final few pages, I was completely hooked again and couldn’t put it down.
I absolutely loved this book, but that might just be because I am a complete history nerd. I loved the way that it was different to all the other historical fictions that I usually read in the way that it was more accurate and focused more on telling the story of the Russian Revolution rather than telling a love story. Although there was a bit of a love story, the author managed to keep it subtle and didn’t let it get in the way of the main storyline, which really impressed me. I also really enjoyed the way he managed to portray Vladimir Lenin throughout the book. The way in which he managed to imply that he was either a weak leader or extremely intelligent close to the beginning of the book was simply genius (the scene where Lenin explains to Arthur how he managed to get a neat bullet hole in his window). I also loved loved loved the way he used metaphors disguised as fairytales in the beginning of the book to explain the rise of the Reds against the Tsar (with the bear symbolizing Russia and Vlad and Lev who manage to convince it to eat the Tsar).
It was, overall, an incredible read. I would recommend it to any other history nerds out there who are looking for an accurate but gripping fictional account of the Russian Revolution.
February 1, 2009
Sedgwick's authorial voice is nothing short of sensational, the fairytale quality running under his retelling the bloody Russian Revolutions through the eyes of Arthur Ransome. The novel is split into three parts, and Sedgwick jumps between stories until they lace into one another and never once lose pace or connection with the reader. It is an exceptional piece of writing, and reminded me strongly of other quasi-factual works such as The General in his Labyrinth, The Red Necklace and The Book Thief.
I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it without hesitation.
I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it without hesitation.
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 25, 2016DNF at 25%--my standard policy for DNFing a book.
While I enjoyed the writing style and the premise, it didn't hold my attention. In the beginning, it seemed as if the reader was going to get a Russian fairy tale but it's less fairy tale and more of a Russian history lesson. I kept waiting for the story to take off but up to the point that I read, it didn't. I found the characters, the ones not based on real people, to be confusing and superfluous. Maybe I'll try again at a different time but for now I'm putting this down.
While I enjoyed the writing style and the premise, it didn't hold my attention. In the beginning, it seemed as if the reader was going to get a Russian fairy tale but it's less fairy tale and more of a Russian history lesson. I kept waiting for the story to take off but up to the point that I read, it didn't. I found the characters, the ones not based on real people, to be confusing and superfluous. Maybe I'll try again at a different time but for now I'm putting this down.
October 24, 2016
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
This book was such a gem. It's historical fiction, yes, but so much of it is just plain authentically historical, with some fictional bits. So if you are going into this expecting a fairytale, this isn't one. In fact, the protagonist is a real person , an author in fact. But the fictional and fairytale bits brought the story together so well for me, and made it so appealing!
The story is set primarily in Russia, in a time of tremendous upheaval, not only in Russia but the world as a whole. I adored that we not only got to see inside World War I, which is so rare in books, but got to see it from a European viewpoint. If you are curious, you may want to read the synopsis of this Goodreads edition , because it kind of gives you a bit more to go on than the US version. Because this is part fiction, yes, but also partly biographical to an extent, and most certainly historical. I also don't really understand its marketing as Young Adult in the US if I am being perfectly honest, because there isn't really much room for even crossover- I think this is just straight up historical fiction, though that's just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.
I enjoyed all the aspects of this story, it was so eye opening. I liked and empathized with Arthur, though I didn't quite have an emotional connection to him. I still was able to find him incredibly relatable, which is no small feat considering I have basically not a thing in common with this man. There is romance, there is war, there is deception. Family and friendships also play a huge role, as does politics of the time period. Basically, there are a great many things that can appeal to the reader, no matter what you enjoy reading about.
Bottom Line: I loved reading Arthur's story, as well as the story of Russia in the early twentieth century. It's such an incredibly fascinating and somber time in history, and I thought the author did a tremendous job of exploring it. That said, it is most definitely historical, and quite a bit factual, so just be prepared for that going in. If you are into historical books, I absolutely recommend this one!
This book was such a gem. It's historical fiction, yes, but so much of it is just plain authentically historical, with some fictional bits. So if you are going into this expecting a fairytale, this isn't one. In fact, the protagonist is a real person , an author in fact. But the fictional and fairytale bits brought the story together so well for me, and made it so appealing!
The story is set primarily in Russia, in a time of tremendous upheaval, not only in Russia but the world as a whole. I adored that we not only got to see inside World War I, which is so rare in books, but got to see it from a European viewpoint. If you are curious, you may want to read the synopsis of this Goodreads edition , because it kind of gives you a bit more to go on than the US version. Because this is part fiction, yes, but also partly biographical to an extent, and most certainly historical. I also don't really understand its marketing as Young Adult in the US if I am being perfectly honest, because there isn't really much room for even crossover- I think this is just straight up historical fiction, though that's just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.
I enjoyed all the aspects of this story, it was so eye opening. I liked and empathized with Arthur, though I didn't quite have an emotional connection to him. I still was able to find him incredibly relatable, which is no small feat considering I have basically not a thing in common with this man. There is romance, there is war, there is deception. Family and friendships also play a huge role, as does politics of the time period. Basically, there are a great many things that can appeal to the reader, no matter what you enjoy reading about.
Bottom Line: I loved reading Arthur's story, as well as the story of Russia in the early twentieth century. It's such an incredibly fascinating and somber time in history, and I thought the author did a tremendous job of exploring it. That said, it is most definitely historical, and quite a bit factual, so just be prepared for that going in. If you are into historical books, I absolutely recommend this one!
June 12, 2018
I'm going to be honest, I thought this was a completely different book from the title and cover. So color me a little shocked when I read the description right before starting the book and found out it was more historical fiction set in Russia. And while this book wasn't my normal cup of tea, I found myself completely sucked into the beginning. This wasn't my first Sedgwick book, but it had been awhile since I read him and I had forgotten how different his writing is. He has a way of putting you into the narrative rather than just watching from the sidelines.
Now let's talk about the book. I find it interesting that so many people classified this book as YA. The main character is much older and the subject matter a little more heavy. This book focused heavy on war games and espionage. But that wasn't how it started or what captivated me. The book started off with a young man who wanted to write down Russian fairy tales so other cultures can experience them. So the whole beginning of the book was like a fairy tale come to life as we navigated this new world. Then the war grew and the plot and story changed becoming more serious and spy gamey.
What I found a little offputting with this book was how good the first part was and then as it went on, I found it growing a little monotonous and dragging. It's almost like it was two separate books. I also never really connected with any of the characters and didn't understand why Arthur continually kept leaving his child and I didn't feel his relationship with Evgenia and why he was so in love with her. I don't know. Nothing really clicked for me character wise.
What I did enjoy, aside from the beginning, was the description of the time period and location. I know very little about Russia and their internal wars so this was a nice little look inside. But I just didn't love it.
Now let's talk about the book. I find it interesting that so many people classified this book as YA. The main character is much older and the subject matter a little more heavy. This book focused heavy on war games and espionage. But that wasn't how it started or what captivated me. The book started off with a young man who wanted to write down Russian fairy tales so other cultures can experience them. So the whole beginning of the book was like a fairy tale come to life as we navigated this new world. Then the war grew and the plot and story changed becoming more serious and spy gamey.
What I found a little offputting with this book was how good the first part was and then as it went on, I found it growing a little monotonous and dragging. It's almost like it was two separate books. I also never really connected with any of the characters and didn't understand why Arthur continually kept leaving his child and I didn't feel his relationship with Evgenia and why he was so in love with her. I don't know. Nothing really clicked for me character wise.
What I did enjoy, aside from the beginning, was the description of the time period and location. I know very little about Russia and their internal wars so this was a nice little look inside. But I just didn't love it.
June 4, 2012
Like all fairy tales, this story is told in three parts. The main story is the adventures of Arthur Ransome, yes that Ransome, in Russia during the revolution. The first part of the novel is told like a fairy tale. In fact, Sedgwick captures the tone and feeling of Old Peter's Tales. The second is told in third person, and the last section is told by Ransome himself.
Sedgwick includes some interesting things in the appendix.
While the book does get classified as fantasy, it is fantasy more in tone than in actual plot. Yet the plot concerns spies and counterplots, lover affairs and such. The book is a quick read and is utterly charming.
Sedgwick includes some interesting things in the appendix.
While the book does get classified as fantasy, it is fantasy more in tone than in actual plot. Yet the plot concerns spies and counterplots, lover affairs and such. The book is a quick read and is utterly charming.
August 26, 2020
اگر اهل خواندن قصههای پریان روسی باشید حتماً اسم آرتور رنسام را شنیدهاید. او روزنامهنگار و نویسندهای بریتانیایی بود که در ابتدا فقط ماجرا را مشاهده و گزارش میکرد، اما بعداً خودش تبدیل شد به بخشی از انقلاب ۱۹۱۷ روسیه. رنسام در این داستان روایت نزدیکی از عشق، ماجراجویی و سیاست را تجربه میکند. داستان «سرخی خون، سفیدی برفِ» مارکوس سجویک دربارهی او و بخشی پنهان شده از تاریخ و زندگیش است.
*ریویو کامل رو میتونین در مجله سفید بخونین*
https://b2n.ir/90538
*ریویو کامل رو میتونین در مجله سفید بخونین*
https://b2n.ir/90538
June 23, 2018
The Good: You could probably argue that Russia has the most interesting history of any country on Earth. It’s full of unruly monarchs, revolution, corruption, secrets, scandals, and whatever the heck Rasputin was. Blood Red, Snow White is a fictionalization of real events that took place around the Russian Revolution. The main character, Arthur Ransome, was a real journalist and children’s book author who got roped into spying for Russia and England. His story is strange and harrowing. He’s a pawn who’s being manipulated by forces that are much more powerful than him. Luckily for him, he’s resourceful enough to talk himself out of deadly situations.
What I love most about Marcus Sedgwick’s novels is that he’s not afraid to experiment with structure and writing style. This book is no exception. Arthur Ransome wrote fairytales, so the first section of the novel is written like a fairytale. As the story goes on, it becomes more realistic. I (mostly) like the structure. It’s unusual, but it’s also jarring, and most of the fairytale stuff gets dropped by the end. I can see why this structure divides readers. You’ll either like it, or you won’t.
This is going to sound very nerdy, but my favorite part of this book is the real-life documents that the author includes at the end. I enjoyed reading the communications between British government officials as they’re trying to work out if Arthur Ransome is a double agent.
The Bad: Like I said, the structure is experimental. Toward the end of the book, I got frustrated with it. The chapters are extremely short and choppy. The book covers 14 years of complicated Russian history in a small amount of space. I badly wanted the author to slow down and go into more detail about everything. It’s a fascinating story. There’s just too much information that comes at the reader too quickly. I was tempted to start Googling because I felt like I was missing parts of the story.
The Bottom Line: I love Marcus Sedgwick and will eventually read all of his novels, but I would have rather read a nonfiction book about Arthur Ransome.
Want to see more reviews? I have a blog!
What I love most about Marcus Sedgwick’s novels is that he’s not afraid to experiment with structure and writing style. This book is no exception. Arthur Ransome wrote fairytales, so the first section of the novel is written like a fairytale. As the story goes on, it becomes more realistic. I (mostly) like the structure. It’s unusual, but it’s also jarring, and most of the fairytale stuff gets dropped by the end. I can see why this structure divides readers. You’ll either like it, or you won’t.
This is going to sound very nerdy, but my favorite part of this book is the real-life documents that the author includes at the end. I enjoyed reading the communications between British government officials as they’re trying to work out if Arthur Ransome is a double agent.
“The time for princes and tsars and holy madmen was gone. In its place came a world of war and revolution, of tanks and telephones, murder and assassination.” – Blood Red, Snow White
The Bad: Like I said, the structure is experimental. Toward the end of the book, I got frustrated with it. The chapters are extremely short and choppy. The book covers 14 years of complicated Russian history in a small amount of space. I badly wanted the author to slow down and go into more detail about everything. It’s a fascinating story. There’s just too much information that comes at the reader too quickly. I was tempted to start Googling because I felt like I was missing parts of the story.
The Bottom Line: I love Marcus Sedgwick and will eventually read all of his novels, but I would have rather read a nonfiction book about Arthur Ransome.
Want to see more reviews? I have a blog!
August 11, 2016
"Let me tell you a fairy tale.
I used to tell stories like this all the time; it used to be so important. It even saved my life once. Now let me see, how do fairy tales begin?"
My first Sedgwick novel was back in June 2015. Like this one, it was historical fiction, but was set in WWI in England. I was gripped by the first few chapters, and soon found myself finishing it in two sittings around two days. I adored the story, the writing style, and the voices of the characters. It was a 5 star read, a favorite even, and Sedgwick became one of my favorite authors, and I knew I just had to get ahold of more of his books.
Once again, Sedgwick does not disappoint.
Blood Red, Snow White is a novel surrounding the Russian revolution, following three different parts:
❥ A Russian Fairy Tale
❥ One Night in Moscow
❥ A Fairy Tale, Ending
The first part introduces us to all the characters that make up the whole novel. It is essentially a collection of short fairy tales, but we get to know how some of them end. The narrator tells us how we're all used to fairy tales having happy endings, but by giving us a few examples within the novel, we quickly learn how quick the twist can come.
Thats especially highlighted at the end of the first part, where most of our characters stories intertwine.
"The time for princes and tsars and holy madmen was gone.
In its place came a world of war and revolution, of tanks and
telephones, murder and assassination."
The second part of the story revolves around Arthur Ransome, the British journalist who wanders in Russia. We were introduced to him as a stranger in the first part, but he's actually a very important part and the main character of this novel, because most of the things that happen are through his accounts.
I wont go into too much detail on that because of spoilers.
We follow up on the Russian Revolution as its breaking out, and we follow Arthurs life, through Russia and his job as a respected English man, working between England and Russia. And of course, we also meet new characters along the way. A lot of betrayals and shocking things happen as we near the end of the part.
"And how much do we ever know?
How much do we ever know of our own stories, as we live them?
I thought I knew what I was doing, and why. Or should I say, who
I was doing it for, but life is never that simple, and with hindsight
we see our lives laid out behind us and we think; God damn me to
Hell, I was a fool."
The third and last part is all about how the main character reflects upon his choices and the things that have happened since he chose to go to Russia. All his past choices, present, and future is laid out on the table and he's pondering whether or not he's chosen the right thing.
A lot of things happen, wars still going on, both personal and around him. Choices and risks are taken.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, though I wish the pacing was a bit faster. I especially loved how it started out as a fairy tale story. I enjoyed all the characters, I loved how the stories came together in a subtle way, and the writing was mesmerizing and lyric.
Definitely an eloquent story, I highly recommend if you want a short historical fiction about the Russian revolution, though be aware that the story can be very slow and dragging at times.
February 6, 2014
Revolutionary Russia, and Arthur Ransome as spy... what's not to LOVE... but what a clunky and disjointed mix of styles. It's a "Concept". Ugh. First, allegory and fairytale prose in Part I, then pseudo-mysterious present-tense in Part II, and then past-tense spy novel Part III. I just wish he'd stuck with the story, and used the fairy-tale pieces to knit it together a little more artfully--and less "art-ey". Could have been great. Interesting reading about Ransome, though, and the beginnings of intelligence gathering.
October 8, 2016
What I enjoy most about Marcus Sedgwick novels are how unusual they are and how different they are from one another. It took a bit of time for me to warm up to this one. While it's definitely interesting to learn more about Arthur Ransome, I just found the storytelling style a touch dry.
January 11, 2019
دوستش نداشتم.
به نظرم یه کتاب بی مخاطب بود، کتابی که به خاطر لحنش یک بزرگسال دوستش نخواهد داشت و به خاطر طرحش یک کودک - نوجوان ازش لذت نخواهد برد...
به نظرم یه کتاب بی مخاطب بود، کتابی که به خاطر لحنش یک بزرگسال دوستش نخواهد داشت و به خاطر طرحش یک کودک - نوجوان ازش لذت نخواهد برد...
June 15, 2012
By his own admission, “a sense of place” is what often inspires Marcus Sedgwick’s storytelling. Combined with Sedgwick’s almost gothic flair and often Unheimlich and atmospheric way of writing, this has resulted in a couple of gems. In Revolver, for instance, that setting is the Arctic, suitably evoked in an almost claustrophobic way. The 2007 novel, Blood Red Snow White, is quintessential Sedgwick too: a unique setting (Russia during the Russian Revolution) and a mesmerizing style (especially in parts 1 and 2 of the book) contribute to draw in the reader like a magnet.
Blood Red Snow White is a fictionalized biography of the writer Arthur Ransome during his extended stay in Russia. However, it is not like any other biography you are likely to read: part fairytale, part spy story, part romance we do not only follow Arthur Ransome, writer, journalist and potential spy but also the fate of the Russian bear in its rebellion against the regime of the Tsar.
This story is told in three distinct but clearly connected parts. Part one tells the story of how Ransome – disillusioned by a loveless marriage – sets off for Russia, leaving behind a daughter, Tabitha, who he loves very much. At the same time, Sedgwick introduces us in the most allegorical of ways, almost mimicking traditional Russian folklore, to the key players of the Russian Revolution who manage to send the great Russian bear out of the forest and into Tsarist territory: “One was a Russian, the other a Jew, and they were firm friends, though they spent much of their time arguing. They would argue about all sorts of things, but each would listen politely to what the other had to say. First, the Jew, whose name was Lev, would argue that the people of Russia should be its true masters, and while he did, the Russian, whose name was Vladimir, would stroke his small and excellent beard. Then they would swap, and Vladimir would argue that while what Lev had to say was true, they should not forget that people needed guidance from enlightened minds. And Lev would stroke his own small and excellent beard.”
If part one reads like a classic Russian folktale, then Sedgwick switches voices in part two to introduce us to Ransome as a potential spy, recruited by his friend Lockhart, when it becomes obvious that Ransome clearly has questions about some of the actions of the Russian revolutionaries. This part almost reads like a spy thriller, with each chapter also suitably time-stamped. When Ransome decides against helping out Lockhart, because he feels the future of Russia is nobody’s business but the Russians, we get to part three in which the romance between Ransome and Evgenia, who also happened to be Trotsky’s secretary, is the main focus. Ransome returns to England, but because of his previous sympathies for the Russian Bolshevists he finds himself out of a job and fearing for Evgenia’s safety.
Parts one and two are stylistically clearly the strongest parts of this sophisticated and captivating read. This is mainly because the language is so fittingly haunting. Part one is dark and sparsely told, as any good fairy tale should be. Part two bears all the typical spy story elements: it’s tense and threatening with an acute sense of betrayal to keep you at the edge of your seat. That is why it is a bit of pity that a novel that is so good loses much of its tension in the last third as we return with Ransome to England and then follow him into Sweden so he can go and get Evgenia.
That being said, Blood Red, Snow White is still one of the best historical novels slash biographies you will encounter. Sedgwick is one of those authors who effortlessly crosses the artificial boundaries between children’s, young adult and adult literature. This should come as no surprise because anyone who can write this compellingly, and has such a distinctive voice deserves the largest audience possible. About Revolver, Sedgwick said: “[…] that’s what makes writing teenage fiction so exciting: you can do almost anything, unconstrained by the obsessions with style and genre that plague adult fiction.” Restrictions of any kind, though, are obviously in the eye of the literary critic (in most cases), and luckily for this reader, Sedgwick is not one to be bound by them.
Review first featured on http://ringothecat.wordpress.com/2012...
Blood Red Snow White is a fictionalized biography of the writer Arthur Ransome during his extended stay in Russia. However, it is not like any other biography you are likely to read: part fairytale, part spy story, part romance we do not only follow Arthur Ransome, writer, journalist and potential spy but also the fate of the Russian bear in its rebellion against the regime of the Tsar.
This story is told in three distinct but clearly connected parts. Part one tells the story of how Ransome – disillusioned by a loveless marriage – sets off for Russia, leaving behind a daughter, Tabitha, who he loves very much. At the same time, Sedgwick introduces us in the most allegorical of ways, almost mimicking traditional Russian folklore, to the key players of the Russian Revolution who manage to send the great Russian bear out of the forest and into Tsarist territory: “One was a Russian, the other a Jew, and they were firm friends, though they spent much of their time arguing. They would argue about all sorts of things, but each would listen politely to what the other had to say. First, the Jew, whose name was Lev, would argue that the people of Russia should be its true masters, and while he did, the Russian, whose name was Vladimir, would stroke his small and excellent beard. Then they would swap, and Vladimir would argue that while what Lev had to say was true, they should not forget that people needed guidance from enlightened minds. And Lev would stroke his own small and excellent beard.”
If part one reads like a classic Russian folktale, then Sedgwick switches voices in part two to introduce us to Ransome as a potential spy, recruited by his friend Lockhart, when it becomes obvious that Ransome clearly has questions about some of the actions of the Russian revolutionaries. This part almost reads like a spy thriller, with each chapter also suitably time-stamped. When Ransome decides against helping out Lockhart, because he feels the future of Russia is nobody’s business but the Russians, we get to part three in which the romance between Ransome and Evgenia, who also happened to be Trotsky’s secretary, is the main focus. Ransome returns to England, but because of his previous sympathies for the Russian Bolshevists he finds himself out of a job and fearing for Evgenia’s safety.
Parts one and two are stylistically clearly the strongest parts of this sophisticated and captivating read. This is mainly because the language is so fittingly haunting. Part one is dark and sparsely told, as any good fairy tale should be. Part two bears all the typical spy story elements: it’s tense and threatening with an acute sense of betrayal to keep you at the edge of your seat. That is why it is a bit of pity that a novel that is so good loses much of its tension in the last third as we return with Ransome to England and then follow him into Sweden so he can go and get Evgenia.
That being said, Blood Red, Snow White is still one of the best historical novels slash biographies you will encounter. Sedgwick is one of those authors who effortlessly crosses the artificial boundaries between children’s, young adult and adult literature. This should come as no surprise because anyone who can write this compellingly, and has such a distinctive voice deserves the largest audience possible. About Revolver, Sedgwick said: “[…] that’s what makes writing teenage fiction so exciting: you can do almost anything, unconstrained by the obsessions with style and genre that plague adult fiction.” Restrictions of any kind, though, are obviously in the eye of the literary critic (in most cases), and luckily for this reader, Sedgwick is not one to be bound by them.
Review first featured on http://ringothecat.wordpress.com/2012...
February 16, 2020
3.5
“You have life written all over you. Some people bear tragedy on their faces; loss, death, whatever it might be. But you have life.”
...
When writer Arthur Ransome leaves an unhappy marriage in England to become a journalist in Tsarist Russia, he has little idea of the violent revolution about to erupt. What's worse, as the Bolsheviks continue to gain power, and his homeland presses him for intel, Arthur falls in love with Trotsky's secretary.
I didn't know this before picking up Blood Red Snow White, but Arthur Ransome is actually a real person. He's a famous author who wrote the Swallows and Amazons series, as well as several books about the Russian revolution. Arthur's story in Sedgwick's reimagining takes off because the young English author wants to translate Russian fairytales for English children, and the fairytale elements of this book were extremely well-written.
Strange enough, the first 80 or so pages of Blood Red Snow White were basically a fairytale allegory of the history of the Russian Revolution. It was atmospheric and strange, characteristic of most of Sedgwick's work. I enjoy Marcus Sedgwick so much as an author because he's not afraid to take risks, and the first half of this book was whimsical and fascinating.
“The time for princes and tsars and grand duchesses and especially holy madmen was gone. In its place came a world of war and revolution, of tanks and telephones, of murder and assassination. The bear had already become what it had been waiting to be, and the men who set it on its journey changed too. Lev became Trotsky, Vladimir took the name Lenin, and they stepped into a bright and furious modern world; blood red, and snow white.”
The settings of Tsarist and post-revolution Russia were beautifully well-realized. I learned a lot about the time period, and the addition of fairytales was an added bonus. I also connected with Arthur as a character, and was particularly taken by the relationship between him and his daughter. It pulled at my heart-strings, and I also enjoyed the political thriller elements of this story as well.
Where this book faltered for me was the romance. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't swept up by it like I thought I'd be, and while I really enjoyed most of this book, the last third of Blood Red Snow White seemed to drag on for longer than necessary. A more concise ending would have benefitted the narrative.
I did, however, like the large scope of this story. When I closed the book, it really felt like I had been through most of what Arthur endured, and it was a harrowing experience. Even though this wasn't one of my favorite books by Marcus Sedgwick, his talent still shines through in this story, and I really enjoyed it.
If you want to read a historical fiction book set during the Russian Revolution, I highly recommend this one!
...
“There never was a story that was happy through and through.”
“You have life written all over you. Some people bear tragedy on their faces; loss, death, whatever it might be. But you have life.”
...
When writer Arthur Ransome leaves an unhappy marriage in England to become a journalist in Tsarist Russia, he has little idea of the violent revolution about to erupt. What's worse, as the Bolsheviks continue to gain power, and his homeland presses him for intel, Arthur falls in love with Trotsky's secretary.
I didn't know this before picking up Blood Red Snow White, but Arthur Ransome is actually a real person. He's a famous author who wrote the Swallows and Amazons series, as well as several books about the Russian revolution. Arthur's story in Sedgwick's reimagining takes off because the young English author wants to translate Russian fairytales for English children, and the fairytale elements of this book were extremely well-written.
Strange enough, the first 80 or so pages of Blood Red Snow White were basically a fairytale allegory of the history of the Russian Revolution. It was atmospheric and strange, characteristic of most of Sedgwick's work. I enjoy Marcus Sedgwick so much as an author because he's not afraid to take risks, and the first half of this book was whimsical and fascinating.
“The time for princes and tsars and grand duchesses and especially holy madmen was gone. In its place came a world of war and revolution, of tanks and telephones, of murder and assassination. The bear had already become what it had been waiting to be, and the men who set it on its journey changed too. Lev became Trotsky, Vladimir took the name Lenin, and they stepped into a bright and furious modern world; blood red, and snow white.”
The settings of Tsarist and post-revolution Russia were beautifully well-realized. I learned a lot about the time period, and the addition of fairytales was an added bonus. I also connected with Arthur as a character, and was particularly taken by the relationship between him and his daughter. It pulled at my heart-strings, and I also enjoyed the political thriller elements of this story as well.
Where this book faltered for me was the romance. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't swept up by it like I thought I'd be, and while I really enjoyed most of this book, the last third of Blood Red Snow White seemed to drag on for longer than necessary. A more concise ending would have benefitted the narrative.
I did, however, like the large scope of this story. When I closed the book, it really felt like I had been through most of what Arthur endured, and it was a harrowing experience. Even though this wasn't one of my favorite books by Marcus Sedgwick, his talent still shines through in this story, and I really enjoyed it.
If you want to read a historical fiction book set during the Russian Revolution, I highly recommend this one!
...
“There never was a story that was happy through and through.”
December 20, 2016
Arthur Ransome is a British author. Because he isn't happy with his wife he wants to get away from her as far as possible and decides to travel to Russia. He taught himself the language, so it seems like a natural choice to find out more about the country. This is his introduction to journalism. It's a time of unrest in Russia and the English newspapers need someone to report about it. Through his work Arthur makes important friends among the Bolsheviks and he even falls in love with Trotsky's secretary, Evgenia, which makes him an interesting source of information for numerous parties.
Arthur is friendly with many different people and doesn't seem to have taken a side in the war. This makes him a suspect as well. They think he's a spy and they can't determine exactly who for, so he must be a double agent. When things are becoming too dangerous Arthur wants to leave the country together with Evgenia. There's one side he's clearly on and that is the side of love.
Marcus Sedgwick has written a very interesting story. I was fascinated from the start by both the Russian history and Arthur Ransome himself. I always love it when a beautiful story is based on facts. Blood Red Snow White is both informative and compelling. Arthur is an intelligent man. He's easy to like and therefore has a lot of friends. Somehow he always manages to meet the right kind of people. He isn't afraid and I admired him for that. His life is turbulent and perilous and there's always something important going on, which was fantastic to read about.
Marcus Sedgwick's writing flows easily. He mixes facts with wonderful writing. It's clear this novel is based on solid and thorough research. Blood Red Snow White gripped me immediately. I loved to read about Arthur Ransome's life and Marcus Sedgwick effortlessly manages to pass on passion and enthusiasm for his subject. He portrays Arthur as an honest, often impulsive, sometimes naïve and always clever man, which makes him get out of plenty of difficult situations. He's in Russia at a terrible time, but because of that his life is also a big adventure. That had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning. I really enjoyed reading this amazing impressive story and highly recommend it.
Arthur is friendly with many different people and doesn't seem to have taken a side in the war. This makes him a suspect as well. They think he's a spy and they can't determine exactly who for, so he must be a double agent. When things are becoming too dangerous Arthur wants to leave the country together with Evgenia. There's one side he's clearly on and that is the side of love.
Marcus Sedgwick has written a very interesting story. I was fascinated from the start by both the Russian history and Arthur Ransome himself. I always love it when a beautiful story is based on facts. Blood Red Snow White is both informative and compelling. Arthur is an intelligent man. He's easy to like and therefore has a lot of friends. Somehow he always manages to meet the right kind of people. He isn't afraid and I admired him for that. His life is turbulent and perilous and there's always something important going on, which was fantastic to read about.
Marcus Sedgwick's writing flows easily. He mixes facts with wonderful writing. It's clear this novel is based on solid and thorough research. Blood Red Snow White gripped me immediately. I loved to read about Arthur Ransome's life and Marcus Sedgwick effortlessly manages to pass on passion and enthusiasm for his subject. He portrays Arthur as an honest, often impulsive, sometimes naïve and always clever man, which makes him get out of plenty of difficult situations. He's in Russia at a terrible time, but because of that his life is also a big adventure. That had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning. I really enjoyed reading this amazing impressive story and highly recommend it.
January 2, 2017
First sentence: The years slip away.
Premise/plot: Set during the Russian Revolution, Blood Red Snow White is narrated by Arthur Ransome, children's book writer and journalist. Though a fictionalized account it does have a historical basis. The writing is lyrical.
My thoughts: What a book!!!! This one should not be forgotten when Cybils comes around again next year. I love the writing. It is beautiful and amazing. The story itself is compelling; the details are fascinating.
The title brings to mind fairy tales. Ransome loved fairy tales, and even wrote a collection of Russian fairy tales for children. While this one is not a fantasy exactly, fairy tale lovers may find it well worth their time! It very much celebrates storytelling.
Favorite quotes:
Beyond the sunrise, halfway to the moon, and so very far away it would make your feet weep to think about it, lies a land vast in size and deep in sadness. (7)
The typewriter was a marvel of miniaturization, made from steel and rubber and ivory. A simple enough thing, though to him, a miracle in itself, for in that box was the potential to write everything that could ever be written. Every word, every sentence, every thought that could ever be, was waiting to be made from the machine in the box. Every single idea ever was in there. And that in itself was a wonderful idea. One day I'll write a story about a closed wooden box. (31)
Stories twist and turn and grow and meet and give birth to other stories. (41)
Language is a subtle but vicious killer. (119)
Premise/plot: Set during the Russian Revolution, Blood Red Snow White is narrated by Arthur Ransome, children's book writer and journalist. Though a fictionalized account it does have a historical basis. The writing is lyrical.
My thoughts: What a book!!!! This one should not be forgotten when Cybils comes around again next year. I love the writing. It is beautiful and amazing. The story itself is compelling; the details are fascinating.
The title brings to mind fairy tales. Ransome loved fairy tales, and even wrote a collection of Russian fairy tales for children. While this one is not a fantasy exactly, fairy tale lovers may find it well worth their time! It very much celebrates storytelling.
Favorite quotes:
Beyond the sunrise, halfway to the moon, and so very far away it would make your feet weep to think about it, lies a land vast in size and deep in sadness. (7)
The typewriter was a marvel of miniaturization, made from steel and rubber and ivory. A simple enough thing, though to him, a miracle in itself, for in that box was the potential to write everything that could ever be written. Every word, every sentence, every thought that could ever be, was waiting to be made from the machine in the box. Every single idea ever was in there. And that in itself was a wonderful idea. One day I'll write a story about a closed wooden box. (31)
Stories twist and turn and grow and meet and give birth to other stories. (41)
Language is a subtle but vicious killer. (119)
January 4, 2017
I don't know what the story was I thought it would be. A snow white re-telling maybe? The blood, the rose....this is definitely a case where I should have read the synopsis.
But I did like this one. History abounds on an area and culture and time I know very little of. The story of Arthur was a new one and I did enjoy it. But the story telling, at first, is more fairy tale. it takes you through a bear and a forest and through quite a few timelines and tales.
But it slowly morph, so stick with it, because after that it's Arthur's story and it's fascinating and unexpected.
But I did like this one. History abounds on an area and culture and time I know very little of. The story of Arthur was a new one and I did enjoy it. But the story telling, at first, is more fairy tale. it takes you through a bear and a forest and through quite a few timelines and tales.
But it slowly morph, so stick with it, because after that it's Arthur's story and it's fascinating and unexpected.
January 10, 2011
I bought this book because of the gorgeous cover, and the fact that it was about Russia. I didn't know it followed the lifeline of a historical figure until I finished it. I thought the characters stayed a bit flat, and it took me a while to get 'into' it. Nevertheless, it was a good read a nice way to read about the Russian Revolution.
Favourite quote: "He lived, and now, being a character in a book who has survived to the final page, he lives forever." (p. 202)
Favourite quote: "He lived, and now, being a character in a book who has survived to the final page, he lives forever." (p. 202)
September 7, 2017
I was expecting something different based on the aspect. I know, I know - ''never judge a book by its cover'' but I couldn't help it. The cover was fabulous, the pages had a vintage touch and the text was red = love. Furthermore, the beginning was super fairy tale-ish with beautiful writing and a style that induced a dreamy mood.
I know this is a historical fiction BUT I was still expecting more fantasy to it. I felt as if the first half of the book was in a story and the second in another. At points it was plain a bit rushed, contradicting the beautiful writing in which it stared.
This being said, I didn't love or hate it. I will try to reread it at one point just to see how I feel about it then.
I know this is a historical fiction BUT I was still expecting more fantasy to it. I felt as if the first half of the book was in a story and the second in another. At points it was plain a bit rushed, contradicting the beautiful writing in which it stared.
This being said, I didn't love or hate it. I will try to reread it at one point just to see how I feel about it then.
June 6, 2019
While not a biography this is a case of truth being as fantastic as fiction as we follow journalist and author Arthur Ransome through Russia at an incredible time in it’s history. As ever Marcus Sedgwick’s writing is wonderful.
February 11, 2021
I’m sorry to the people that like is book , I can’t get into it I really don’t like the way he writes
February 19, 2023
'Beyond the sunrise, halfway to the moon, and so very far away it would make your feet weep to think about it, lies a land vast in size and deep in sadness.' Marcus Sedgwick has a way with words I absolutely admire. This is, at least in my opinion, not his best book but his choice of words to tell a story is absolutely stunning.
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