Lady of the Snakes
by Rachel Pastan
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About This Book
ISBN13: 9780151013692 |
Review-a-Day (What is Review-a-Day?)
"[I]t is Pastan's understanding of the real-life tortures that juxtapose the true beauty of being a mother against a woman's inner ambitions, as well as her ability to write in several voices, that make this novel noteworthy. Perfect for book club discussion, Lady of the Snakes is a flawed, but wholly enjoyable novel." Danielle Marshall, Powells.com (read the entire Powells.com review)
Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
Jane Levitsky is a bright light in the field of nineteenth-century Russian literature, making her name as an expert on the novels of Grigory Karkov and the diaries of his wife, the long-suffering Masha Karkova. Jane is also wife to sweet, reasonable Billy and mother to lovable (if demanding) Maisie, roles she’s finding surprisingly challenging to juggle along with her ambitions. But when Jane uncovers evidence that Masha may have been more than muse and helpmeet to her famous husband, she seizes her ticket to academic superstardom. Little does she know that she has set in motion a chain of events that will come perilously close to unraveling both her marriage and her career. Lady of the Snakes will be instantly familiar—and instantly unforgettable—to any woman who has ever aspired to have it all.
Review:
"The woes of being a scholarly mom are highlighted in this highbrow chick lit entry from Pastan (This Side of Married). Jane Levitsky's research concerns Maria (Masha) Karkova, the fictional, gifted wife of the fictional philandering genius of 19th-century Russian literature, Grigory Karkov. Jane is in her first year of a tenure-track job at the competitive University of Wisconsin — Madison as she struggles to untangle the web of intrigue surrounding Masha and Grigory. Husband Billy has moved with her from California along with toddler daughter Maisie, but Jane doesn't have much time for either of them, a fact of which live-in nanny Felicia is well aware. Further, Jane's office is next door to the professor she has been hired to replace, the irascible but charming Otto Sigelman, who was responsible for bringing Karkov's literary works to light; though he's meant to be retired, Otto is still very much invested in the reputation of his literary hero, and Jane's researches may be a threat. Fast-paced, well-written and entertaining, Pastan's latest has a winning feminist twist and should turn up in more than a few faculty lounges." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Review:
"Can a woman have both a fulfilling career and a storybook family life? ... If you want to see the dilemma smartly dramatized in the experience of an appealing, intelligent heroine, read Rachel Pastans crisp novel, Lady of the Snakes."
Review:
"Pastans writing is fluid and frank, and her characters are luminescent."
Synopsis:
Jane Levitsky is a bright light in the field of 19th-century Russian literature. Seizing her ticket to academic superstardom, she sets in motion a chain of events that will come perilously close to unraveling both her marriage and her career.
About the Author
Rachel Pastan is the author of This Side of Married. Her short fiction has earned a number of awards, including a PEN Syndicated Fiction Prize. She lives with her family in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and teaches at Swarthmore College and the Bennington Writing Seminars.
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Product Details
- ISBN:
- 9780151013692
- Author:
- Publisher:
- Harcourt
- Subject:
- General
- Subject:
- General Fiction
- Subject:
- Working mothers
- Subject:
- Teachers
- Publication Date:
- January 2008
- Binding:
- Hardcover
- Language:
- English
- Pages:
- 308
- Dimensions:
- 8.94x6.40x1.05 in. 1.25 lbs.











