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The Secrets We Kept
368 pages, 2019
fiction
1382 booksAt the height of the Cold War, two secretaries are pulled out of the typing pool at the CIA and given the assignment of a lifetime. Their mission: to smuggle Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR, where no one dares publish it, and help Pasternak's magnum opus make its way into print worldwide.
Glamorous and sophisticated Sally Forrester is a seasoned spy who has honed her gift for deceit worldwide--using her magnetism and charm to pry secrets out of powerful men. Under Sally's tutelage, Irina is a complete novice and quickly learns how to blend in, make drops, and invisibly ferry classified documents.
The Secrets We Kept combines a legendary literary love story--the decades-long affair between Pasternak and his mistress and muse, Olga Ivinskaya, who was sent to the Gulag and inspired Zhivago's heroine, Lara--with a narrative about two women empowered to lead lives of extraordinary intrigue and risk.
From Pasternak's country estate outside Moscow to the brutalities of the Gulag, from Washington, D.C. to Paris and Milan, The Secrets We Kept captures a watershed moment in the history of literature--told with soaring emotional intensity and fascinating historical detail.
And at the center of this unforgettable debut is the powerful belief that a piece of art can change the world.
The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott explores the power of literature to influence society and politics. The book shows how a novel, in this case, 'Doctor Zhivago', can be used as a tool for propaganda and to spark change. It's a reminder of how powerful words can be.
Prescott's book gives us a glimpse into the often overlooked roles women played in history. The female characters in the book, from spies to secretaries, show us that women have always been part of important historical events, even if their stories aren't always told.
The Secrets We Kept isn't just about literal secrets, but also the personal and emotional costs of keeping them. As you read the book, you'll see how the characters' lives are shaped by the secrets they keep and the lies they tell.
If you're interested in the Cold War era, you'll find this book fascinating. Lara Prescott does a great job of painting a picture of what life was like during this tense time in history. It's a great way to learn about the past while enjoying a gripping story.
At its heart, The Secrets We Kept is a story about love and betrayal. It explores the complexities of relationships, both personal and professional, and how they can be tested by extraordinary circumstances. It's a book that will make you think about the nature of love and loyalty.
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