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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
A thrilling tale of secretaries turned spies, of love and duty, and of sacrifice—inspired by the true story of the CIA plot to infiltrate the hearts and minds of Soviet Russia, not with propaganda, but with the greatest love story of the twentieth century: Doctor Zhivago.
At 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 dare publish it, and help Pasternak's magnum opus make its way into print around the world. Glamorous and sophisticated Sally Forrester is a seasoned spy who has honed her gift for deceit all over the world--using her magnetism and charm to pry secrets out of powerful men. Irina is a complete novice, and under Sally's tutelage 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 captivating historical detail. And at the center of this unforgettable debut is the powerful belief that a piece of art can change the world.
Review:
Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres. I love how people's lives are affected by world events. The Secrets We Kept, by Lara Prescott, takes place during the Cold War among spies, paranoia in America, and the brutal suppression of dissent in the Soviet Union. Add to that the backstory of the great literary classic, Doctor Zhivago, and you have the makings of an intensely riveting novel.
What I Liked:
Settings:The book alternates between the lives of Poet Boris Pasternak in the Soviet Union, and CIA headquarters in Washington D.C. Both places are full of intrigue. In the USSR, even being associated with Pasternak gets people thrown in prison. The brutality of the Communist government makes the point of how dangerous it is to challenge the system. The novel details the great lengths to which the Soviet government went to suppress even the hint of dissent.
In Washington D.C., the end of WWII is a time of transition for those involved in espionage. Women are "retired" to the typing pool, while the men get to continue their spy games. But a few of the women are still used as couriers. Even those low-level activities are filled with danger. America in the 1950's comes alive with all the male chauvinism of the era. It is infuriating to read what these women had to endure.
Characters:
Most of the action is told through the eyes of the women of the story. In Washington, Irina (a Russian-American) joins the secretarial pool at the CIA. Her beauty, and Russian language skills, are put to good use as she is recruited into being a spy. I loved Irina and her fierce determination to lead a better life.
Sally is a more experienced spy who trains Irina. As they become closer, it's clear that both Sally and Irina have other secrets that are just as dangerous as espionage. Their affair is both lovely and heart-breaking.
In Russia, we follow Olga, Pasternak's fellow poet and mistress. Olga pays a high price for her relationship with Boris when she is torn from her children and thrown in prison. I liked Olga's determination to protect her children, but still support Boris. But she was far from a love-struck woman. As the years progress, Olga begins to notice how Boris has little regard for the danger he has put her in. He chooses to be oblivious about how brutal Olga's prison experience was. And this has an effect on her love for Boris.
In both worlds, women seem to pay a steeper price for their choices.
Narration:
The novel is performed by a full cast. This makes for a very enjoyable and easy listening experience.
Story:
The story is based on actual events and people, following the creation and publication of Boris Pasternak's novel, Doctor Zhivago. If not for a few brave people, the world may never have heard of this book, which sharply criticizes the Soviet revolution. This was also a golden opportunity for the U.S. to broadcast the fact that not all Soviet citizens were enthusiastic about communism. Not surprisingly, the Americans don't seem too concerned if Pasternak and his family are persecuted for the book.
In Washington D.C., we get a glimpse of female office workers who moonlight as spies. While the women do get to lead dangerous and exciting lives, they are primarily used for their youth and beauty. When those things fade, their usefulness evaporates and the women are thrown aside. It's amazing (and sad) to read how oppressed these patriotic women were.
Rating:
Release Date: September 17th, 2019
Author: Lara Prescott
Genre: Historical Fiction
Audio Publisher: Random House Audio
Audio Length: 10 Hours, 56 Minutes
Print Publisher: Knopf
Page Length: 368 Pages
Source: Random House Audio
Format: Audio Book
Recommendation: A compelling historical fiction filled with spies at the height of the Cold War. Very enjoyable.
