The Lost Souls of Angelkov

“As enchanting as a Tchaikovsky ballad, as heady as vodka…this novel is as intriguing as a matryoshka. We no sooner open one doll but there is another and another to tempt us further into the heart of this tale. Set just after the Emancipation Act of February 1861 when Czar Alexander II freed the serfs, the book explores this painful period in Russian history as the country struggled to free itself from the bounds of ignorance and feudalism. From the Countess’ luxurious manor house to the miserable huts of the serfs, Holeman explores the forbidden liaisons, treachery, sexual longing and revenge of the unhappy people who inhabit this isolated estate. The reader will emerge with a deeper understanding of the class struggle and tortured relationships which shaped Russian history.” Robert Rich, author of The Midwife of Venice.