MAN FROM ST PETERSBURG

Set against the preliminaries to the First World War, the novel follows a privileged family and their impact on the run up to the involvement of Russia to support the French and British against the German quest for imperialistic rule over the whole of Europe. Tensions are rising and to help tip the balance in their favour, Britain aims to draw Russia into the alliance. Tzar Nicolas's nephew Prince Aleksei is sent to London for secret naval talks with Lord Walden. Walden's wife Lydia is Aleksei's aunt and his wilful daughter Charlotte, idealistic and with an awakening social conscience, is also interested in Aleksei's arrival. So is Basil Thompson, Head of Special Branch, and Felix Kschessinky, a ruthless Russian anarchist. The final private tragedy threatens to shatter the Waldens' complacency. No one would have foretold that Russian Lydia would recognise Felix or that she might put her own daughters' life at risk for his sake. 310pp in Penguin US paperback edition, remainder mark.