Who Is to Blame: A Russian Riddle
Jane Marlow’s debut novel begins with the doomed relationship between two young serfs, Elizaveta and Feodor, in Russia in 1840. Their families prevent them from proceeding in their relationship, and their lives are taken out of their hands. Theirs is a heartbreaking story of poverty and pain during an unforgiving time, and Elizaveta’s story, in particular, transports the reader to a cold and hard Russian izba as her life unfolds. In alternating chapters, Marlow tells about the Maximov family, the nobility for whom the serfs work. By showing the families side by side, the reader gains an appreciation for the trials and tribulations of both, recognizing that money and circumstance cannot dictate any certain outcome.
Their stories cover the next 25 years, a span which includes the Emancipation Reform of 1861, which abolished serfdom, during Emperor Alexander II’s reign. Inclusion of this historical event gives Marlow the opportunity to show both sides of that affair, from the serfs’ perspective and how the events financially impacted the nobility. The riddles preceding each chapter give clues to what one may expect to encounter in the next few pages, and also allow readers to question the overall nature of who is to blame in the game of life.
Readers with an appreciation for mid-19th-century Russian literature will enjoy this book. Marlow captures a lot of the storytelling skills of the masters, though unlike the masters, Marlow’s book is short in comparison and may have benefited from even more details about Russian history and culture. Still it will be exciting to see what Marlow brings us in the future. My hope is for a sequel.
