Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. Collection in 2 volumes (Novellas of the Russian Court. The Sultan’s Woman). Gift books bound in genuine leather

Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. Collection in 2 volumes (Novellas of the Russian Court. The Sultan’s Woman). Gift books bound in genuine leather.

The two‑volume collection of works by the famous Austrian prose writer Leopold von Sacher-Masoch brings together pieces devoted to the turbulent history of 18th‑century Russia, viewed through the prism of the author’s favourite themes — boundless female power, passion and submissiveness.

Contents:
Volume 1. “Novellas of the Russian Court”
This collection of captivating and spicy stories transports the reader to the brilliant and cruel era of Catherine the Great’s reign. Sacher‑Masoch focused his attention on the secret mechanisms of power, hidden intrigues, and unbridled passions that simmered behind the scenes of the Winter Palace. At the center of the narrative is invariably the empress herself — a great, powerful, and voluptuous woman who controls the fates of men and the state. The courtly gentlemen and favorites appear here as defenseless toys in the hands of a regal temptress. The author describes the luxury, extravagance, and cynical mores of St. Petersburg’s high society in a grotesque manner. In each story, the historical setting harmoniously combines with the writer’s signature psychological subtext. The book offers an alternative, deeply emotional, and sometimes ironic perspective on Russia’s great history.
Volume 2. “The Female Sultan”
This large‑scale historical novel is devoted to an earlier, but no less dramatic, Elizabethan era of the Russian Empire. At the centre of the plot is the capricious, passionate and despotic Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. The title of the book emphasises her unlimited, oriental power over her subjects and favourites, who succeed one another at the foot of the throne. The writer masterfully recreates scenes of grand palace coups, masquerade balls and brutal behind‑the‑scenes reprisals. Special emphasis is placed on the emotional turmoil and hidden vices of the ruler, who combines piety and despotism. Sacher‑Masoch does not idealize Russian reality, honestly revealing the contrast between the splendor of the favorites and the harsh everyday life of the common people. The plot develops rapidly, turning the historical chronicle into an engaging psychological drama about the intoxication of absolute power.