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An alluring, exotic novel set in the late eighteenth century, based on the life of the famous and much-painted courtesan, La Belle Phanariote.Young, beautiful, fallen, Sophie Glavani has brought shame on her family. She realises that she must now learn the art of seduction in order to survive in turbulent times.Her beauty and charm are so great that the world is entranced. Men are driven to madness, women moved to jealousy. She leads the King of Poland in the Polonaise.Now, dying and surrounded by her family, Sophie relives her life's dance for the final time. Her journey from fallen woman to Countess, the men she has captivated, the hearts she has broken. Eva Stachniak creates a brilliant eighteenth-century world and weaves a compelling tale of a courtesan's love, her life and her death.Brilliantly written, cleverly constructed with a strong cast of characters, both real and fictional, and vivid scenes, Dancing with Kings is an alluring, sensuous and exotic saga.
After falling from grace and bringing shame upon her family, Sophie Glavani must master the art of seduction to navigate the volatile social hierarchies of the eighteenth century. Sophie’s objective is survival in a world where her beauty serves as both her greatest asset and her most dangerous liability. She faces opposition from jealous rivals, societal judgment, and the shifting political tides of the Polish court. The narrative utilizes a reflective framework, with an elderly Sophie recounting her life’s trajectory from a disgraced young woman to a celebrated Countess as she nears her final days.
This novel presents a character-driven examination of the courtesan archetype within the rigid structures of the Enlightenment era. The narrative focus on Sophie Glavani suggests a deliberate attempt to humanize a figure often reduced to a historical footnote or a subject of portraiture. The prose emphasizes the atmospheric tension of the Polish court, highlighting the precarious balance between public adoration and private isolation. The work likely appeals to readers interested in the intersection of personal agency and historical constraints during the late eighteenth century.
Page Count:
464
Publication Date:
2010-04-21
Publisher:
HarperCollins
ISBN-10:
0007180454
ISBN-13:
9780007180455
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