The Chill from Siberia

This is a moving tale about mid-19th century Poland, based on the experiences of the author's forebears, during the time when her country was under the yoke of Tsarist oppression. The story is about a young noblewoman, Kamila, in the struggle to retain her inheritance, following the arrest and deportation of her parents to Siberia following their involvement in the struggle for Poland's freedom. The novel opens in the Eastern half of the country with the execution of her two brothers during that year of European revolutions of 1848. With the deportation of her parents two years later - and from whom she was never to hear again - her aunt marries her off to an only surviving son, Karol, on his deathbed, to ensure that her property would not also be confiscated. On the death of Karol from consumption, Kamila, who is still in her teens, is obliged to take over the management of the estate, and when shortly thereafter her aunt dies also, she is left without relatives for the guidance of her life ahead. The story then follows her trials and tribulations, including the malice of a dismissed employee who makes an attempt on her life. She is forced to learn quickly about the ways of the world, and through the support of old and new friendships, she triumphs over adversity, and the fact-based story concludes with a happy ending. The book presents a vivid picture of provincial Poland in the 19th century, and is a gripping read for enthusiasts of the realistic-romantic genre.