The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure

 This story brings the opulent life of Russian aristocracy. And the poor peasants being used as an argument to start pogroms against Jews. An argument of Jews taking advantage of simple peasants when lending money.

Imperial Russia, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov is an esteemed architect and engineer, always looking for new architectural challenges, which is explained by his upbringing. His father didn’t want him to “become the usual aristocratic wastrel,” thus when noticing Dimitri’s artistic talent, he encouraged it. The Tsar greatly admires his abilities, involving him in many projects. They become close friends.

One day, while passing through Kishniev, Dimitri notices a wagon full of dead bodies. And that image edged in his mind keeps resurfacing and worrying him. Why the pogrom against the Jews and why there was an attempt on Tsar’s life?

At a ball, Dimitri meets Katya, one of the first female doctors in Russia. He joins her for arts circle on Thursday nights, where the talk with time starts evolving around current political situation – the pogroms against the Jews ordered by Tsar.

Will Dimitri stay loyal to the Tsar or will he stand up for the oppressed?

The brutal history against the Jews is a sad part of this story, which needs to be told. So we don’t repeat the history. This story brings the Kishniev pogrom. Kishniev was the capital of Bessarabia province. “The province also happened to be in the Pale of Settlement, where all Jews in Russia were required to live.”

There is also a cultural part of this story. The famous jeweler of St Petersburg - Peter Carl Faberge is the official jeweler to the Imperial Court, who also sets the taste of St Petersburg society. There is a tradition of creating two Easter eggs each year: one for the Dowager Empress and one for the Tsarina. Each year’s Easter egg design is the most closely guarded secret in the Russian Empire. This year’s Faberge Easter egg is called the “Peter the Great Egg” - its outside detailing miniature painting of the Winter Palace outlined in little diamonds and inside holding a miniature gold statue of Peter the Great on a horse. This cultural part and the descriptions of the eggs are very enjoyable.

This story is very informative with an elaborate plot. The protagonist of aristocratic blood, who is not expected to be working, has a skill and a life of substance. He lives the life of privilege, but his eyes open to the hardships of peasants and pogroms against Jews. He goes through personal turmoil while the country is going through a revolution. Will he be part of the revolution?

Interesting drawn-characters infused with social standards and expectations. Brilliantly executed plot, which is fast paced. And attention-grabbing narrative that moves the story forward swiftly. Thus, making it an engrossing read.

Release date: 5 January 2021

Source: Severn House Publishers