Review
A richly researched and subtly nuanced mystery that explores the intimate relationships of one of Russia’s best loved writers and poses intriguing questions about the fine line between art and deception. (Kathleen Tessaro, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfume Collector)
“Luminous. . . . It is the bittersweet tone and elegantly entwined portraits of three remarkable women that make The Summer House so transporting.” (Seattle Times)
[Anderson’s] prose is the height of elegance. Here’s hoping that she follows this novel with more of her own. An exceptional novel about the transcendent possibilities of literature, friendship, and contemplation. (Kirkus Reviews (starred review))
Elegant.... This alluring and deceptively ingenuous novel demands close consideration from its readers, contains an internal mystery, and packs a heartbreakingly lovely emotional punch. (Booklist (starred review))
The Summer Guest gives us all of the pleasures of a superb mystery novel, but most of all it is a profound meditation on the power, and necessity, of the imagination. What a deeply moving novel. (Ron Rash, New York Times bestselling author of Serena)
“The portrayal of a great writer is a difficult feat for any novelist to pull off, but Alison Anderson succeeds. Her Chekhov is warm, engaging, possessed of a good sense of humour and a down-to-earth perspective.” (National Post)
Beautifully crafted and richly evocative, The Summer Guest offers sharp insight into the humor and humanity of [Anton Chekhov], and vivid transport to the verdant countryside of 1880s Eastern Ukraine. (Cathy Marie Buchanan, author of The Painted Girls)
“Subtle and haunting.” (Publishers Weekly)
The book blurs the line between firsthand experience and imagining worlds one cannot know, either because of blindness or the removals of time and geography, and renders authentic and memorable portraits of its three heroines. (New York Times Book Review)
“An effable Russian atmosphere. . . . Leaves ample room for the delights of the imagination, with that little extra touch of soul.” (Muriel Barbery, author of The Elegance of the Hedgehog)
“In an enchanting era-spanning novel, Anderson crafts a literary mystery that goes beyond the limits of time.” (Entertainment Weekly, “Must List”)
From the Back Cover
THREE EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN ARE BOUND TOGETHER BY THE STORY OF A MISSING MANUSCRIPT: A LOST NOVEL BY A YOUNG ANTON CHEKHOV
In the summer of 1888, Zinaida Lintvaryova, a young doctor prematurely blinded by a fatal illness, forges an unexpected and deep friendship with a young man whose family is renting a cottage on her father’s estate. She chronicles their time together in a diary. His name is Anton Pavlovich Chekhov.
In the winter of 2014, Katya Kendall’s London publishing house and marriage are both in shambles. But she believes the publication of Zinaida’s diary will save not only her business but also her relationship with her husband. All she needs is a translator . . .
During the painstaking job of translating the diary, Ana Harding discovers tantalizing clues suggesting that Chekhov—known for his plays and short
stories—wrote a novel. Ana embarks on a journey to discover the truth, and with each clue, a clearer picture—one that leaves her stunned—emerges from a deep mystery.
Inspired by historical events, The Summer Guest is a masterfully written paean
to friendship that transcends time and place. It is also a contemporary story of two women finding solace as they contemplate all that’s missing in their lives.
About the Author
ALISON ANDERSON, a native Californian, works as a literary translator in the Swiss Alps. Her many translations include the Europa edition of Muriel Barbery’s The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Ingrid Betancourt’s memoir, and the work of JMG De Clezio. She has also written two previous novels and is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literary Translation Fellowship, as well as fellowships at the prestigious MacDowell Colony and the Hawthornden Retreat for Writers.
www.alison-anderson.com
