Set against the unparalleled extravagance and artifice of 18th century St. Petersburg, a world of ice palaces and opera and masquerade balls, THE MIRRORED WORLD is the reimagined life of St. Xenia, one of Russia's most beloved holy women. Narrated from the point of view of her younger cousin Dasha, a devoted friend and companion, THE MIRRORED WORLD follows the friends from their younger years in the lower nobility through the tragedy and madness that transforms Xenia into a revered angel of mercy to the poor and a controversial figure to the upper classes.
Dasha is a young girl in 1736 when her widowed aunt moves into their St. Petersburg home, bringing with her two daughters: Nadya and Xenia. Dasha becomes a devoted third sister, especially to Xenia, a passionate and caring dreamer. Years later, their mothers bring all three girls out into society at once, and their debut, at one of Empress Elizaveta's extravagant weekly Winter Palace balls, will change their lives forever.
On the night of their debut, Xenia falls madly in love with a singer in the empress's imperial choir, a charming and handsome soldier with friends in high places. The two marry after a whirlwind courtship, and the newlyweds welcome the painfully shy Dasha into their home. But the loss of Xenia's first child, followed by the tragic death of her beloved husband, sends the now-twenty-six year old into an excruciating, deep depression. When she does emerge after weeks in a trance-like state and still inconsolable, she empties her purse giving alms to the beggars outside church and in the square. Surrounded by the poor and the homeless, Xenia, in defiance of her family, begins giving away her possessions. She even gives her house to Dasha and the man she believes will be her cousin's husband, the city's most celebrated Italian castrato. Satisfied that Dasha is cared for, Xenia disappears from St. Petersburg.
Eight years later, much has changed for Dasha. Her own beloved husband has died, and she struggles to adapt to life as a widow. Xenia reappears in the worst slums of the city, dressed in the rags of her dead husband's military uniform, answering only to his name. A soothsayer and healer, Xenia becomes famous throughout the city, perceived by many as a sharp rebuke to the lavish excesses of the court of the new empress, Catherine the Great.
Richly told and elegantly written, THE MIRRORED WORLD is a moving historical epic that reimagines the transformation of a regular girl into one of history's most treasured and mysterious saints.
About the Author
A native of Seattle, Debra Dean worked as an actor in the New York theatre for nearly a decade before becoming a writer. She lives in Miami and teaches in the Creative Writing Program at Florida International University.
Industry Reviews
"In her excellent second novel, THE MIRRORED WORLD, Debra Dean has composed a resonant and compelling tale... Dean's writing is superb; she uses imagery natural to the story and an earlier time." -- Seattle Times "For those familiar with the story of St. Xenia, this is a gratifying take on a compelling woman. For others, Dean's vivid prose and deft pacing make for a quick and entertaining read." -- Publishers Weekly "Love affairs, rivalries, intrigues, prophecy, cross-dressing, madness, sorrow, poverty--THE MIRRORED WORLD is a litany of both the homely and the miraculous. Intimate and richly appointed, Debra Dean's Imperial St. Petersburg is as sumptuous and enchanted as the Winter Palace." -- Stewart O'Nan, bestselling author of Last Night at the Lobster "THE MIRRORED WORLD explores the mysteries of love and grief and devotion. Against a vivid backdrop of eighteenth century St. Petersburg and Catherine the Great's royal court, the woman who would become St. Xenia is brought fully to life. Is there a more imaginative, elegant storyteller than Debra Dean?" -- Ann Hood, bestselling author of The Knitting Circle "With evocative, rich prose and deep emotional resonance, Debra Dean delivers a compelling and captivating story that touches the soul. Truly a wonderful read." -- Garth Stein, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain "Transporting readers to St. Petersburg during the reign of Catherine the Great, Dean brilliantly reconstructs and reimagines the life of St. Xenia, one of Russia's most revered and mysterious holy figures, in a richly told and thought-provoking work of historical fiction." -- Bookreporter.com "Dean's novel grows more profound and affecting with every page." -- Booklist "In Debra Dean's skilled hands, history comes alive... Though the world she creates is harsh and cold at times, it is the warmth at its center-- the power of love -- that stays with you in the end." -- Miami Herald
