White Blood

By James Fleming

Book Overview

An epic novel of Russia on the eve of revolution The son of an English father and a Russian mother, Charlie Doig is a big man -- big in stature and big in spirit. A naturalist, he roughs it around the world collecting birds and insects for museums. In 1914 he is on a mission for the Academy of Sciences in Russian Turkestan when war breaks out. His pay is stopped and his companion goes off to enlist. Doig, however, has no intention of volunteering to be killed. He returns to the Pink House, his family's home near Smolensk, and to the woman he loves, his cousin Elizaveta. At first the Pink House remains almost untouched by outside events, and the familiar ways continue as before. But imperial Russia is doomed and with it all the old certainties. Trapped by the snow with Doig and Elizaveta are a motley collection of old aristocrats, their servants and hangers-on -- and two soldiers who have sought refuge with them, one of whom, Doig fears, is a Bolshevik out to destroy them all. Beautifully written, richly imagined, by turns savage and tender, this exhilarating novel confirms James Fleming as one of the very best novelists at work today.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 074329940X
• ISBN13: 9780743299404
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Savage yet tender

This is an excellent book that moves the reader comprehensively through all the many facets of human emotional experience. White Blood charts various key life changing events for Charlie Doig and as the book progresses it becomes necessary to re-evaluate ones own perception of right and wrong in order to fully empathise with the large variety of fascinating characters introduced throughout and the way in which they interact. Not every reader will have the wit necessary to fully comprehend the genius of Fleming, but for those that do this is an amazing book, fully engaging and poignant, exhilarating yet lachrymose. Thoroughly recommended!

Great Adventure!

An exciting adventure with something for everyone--besides history and a stirring story, you have war, violence, betrayal, friendship, patriotism, love and death! A wonderful book--plan to read it straight through.

fabulous

This is a wonderful book with a great story that is beautifully told. Flemming's use of language is delicious and his descriptions are highly evocative. It also contains one of the raciest sex scenes I have ever read. I loved it!

GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME

Remarkable! why have we not heard more about this author? I literally could not put the book down,I read with the open mouthed awe that I can only say returned me to the joys of great fiction. The language is original and beautifully textured , rewarding. The novel was so gripping at time's that my heart was pounding out of my rib-cage! yes it was that good! Plenty of historical detail,extraordinaly complex sex and the most terrifying violence ever put onto paper. He writes like a horny Dylan Thomas with his sabre dipped in blood. This is entirely new in the history of fiction. This man will be hailed as the 21st century's greatest writer. I immediatly went out and bought his other books to continue the fix. Long may he write and all power to those brilliant digits. WRITE WRITE WRITE MR FLEMING your FANS DEMAND MORE

superb historical thriller

Naturalist Charlie Doig loves traveling the globe seeking new discoveries that support Darwin's theories almost as much as he enjoys discovering new women; however Charlie also appreciates his respites at his family "Pink House" near Smolensk, Russia. In 1914, the Academy of Sciences sends him to Turkistan, but the war breaks out throughout Europe leaving him without funds and at least for the moment ending his latest pursuit to prove Darwinism is the only religion. His travels has delayed his plans to one day wed his beloved Cousin Elizaveta, but by 1917, he brings her into his home as his wife after her fiancé was assassinated. As civil war breaks out against Tsarist Russia, many come to the Pink House for refuge. When Bolshevik Prokhor Glebov arrives, Charlie recognizes the cunning ruthlessness of the Marxists; he believes they will prove in the short run victorious as the barbarians always take the early triumphs because they understand survival of the fittest means innocent people must die. He also understands social Darwinism that in the long run civilization will return to defeat the barbarian Bolsheviks because they will prove to be the truely fittest, but Charlie doubts he will be there to see it. This is a superb historical thriller that uses Social Darwin theories to provide a powerful look at the survival of the fittest in Russia, which proves by 1917 to be the Bolsheviks as only the ruthlessly strong survive. The story line is action-packed whether Charlie is having adventures in the Far East seeks exotic species or at his Pink House where the prime three groups that make up the Russia struggle to rule converge. Genre readers will appreciate the contrasts between the competitors as each believes they will triumph in a brave new world. Harriet Klausner