A Grand Passion - Softcover

Mackey, Mary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553266586 ISBN 13: 9780553266580

Publisher: Bantam, 1987

Synopsis

Natasha Landanova, the illegitimate child of a noted dancer, is succeeded by her daughter, Tatiana Grey, and her granddaughter, Alysa Rochina, on the premiere ballet stages of the world

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

To be a prima ballerina one must have dushasoul, heartas well as technical brilliance. Natasha Ladanova, a provincial boosted to brilliant stardom at the Russian Imperial Ballet School, has all three, coupled with a beauty that makes her mistress of a Grand Duke at 16, even as she pines for the love of an arrogant dancer. After fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution, Natasha dances with Sergei Maximov's Parisian company, and their on-again, off-again affair produces one, or possibly two, daughters. First-born Winn is sweet and practical; it is Tatiana who has her mother's winged feet. Marriage to Sergei's estranged son, Mihail, nearly ends Tatiana's career, but she and her husband attain fame in American films. A hotel fire orphans their daughter Alysa, who works arduously at becoming a ballerina in her own right. Ironically, however (and to Natasha's horror), Maximov proves to be the choreographer whose vision strikes a chord in Alysa, who is unaware that he is her grandfather. Mackey's (McCarthy's List exhilarating family saga brims with vibrant characters. 50,000 ad/promo; first serial to Good Housekeeping; to be TV miniseries; Literary Guild alternate.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In prerevolutionary Russia, the ravish ingly beautiful Natasha Ladanova is one of the leading dancers with the Im perial Ballet. She is hopelessly in love with a self-centered swine named Ser gei Maximov, a dancer who eventually decides to leave Russia and join Diaghi lev's troop in Paris. Natasha, desolate, finds comfort as the mistress of the Grand Duke Alexis. When the Bolshe viks take over, Natasha flees to Paris and Sergei's bed. But, true to form, the cad Sergei leaves a pregnant Natasha for another woman. All of this and more takes place in Book 1. Books 2 and 3 deal with the equally intricate lives of Natasha's daughter and grand daughter. One-dimensional characters dominate this formula novel. Still, there will probably be demand for it. Literary Guild alternate. Patricia Altner, Dept. of Defense Lib., Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0553266586
• ISBN 13: 9780553266580
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 417