Marcus Sedgewick ‘Blood Red Snow White’
'challenging, stark and uncompromising, a thoroughly satisfying read for older teenagers.' (Philip Womack LITERARY REVIEW )
A gripping novel based on Arthur Ransome's, (Swallows and Amazons) eyewitness accounts of the early days of the Russian Revolution and his meetings with its leading figures, Trotsky and Lenin.
Marcus Sedgwick fairy tale explores many factual truths during this time and must have undergone a lot of research prior to writing the novel. For instance, Robert Bruce Lockhart's spying in Russia and the love story of Arthur Ransome and Trotsky's secretary are openly explored.
Based around the Russian Revolution, this novel concerns the well-known novelist who was actually involved in the events that occurred. Set before he was famous for his novel ‘Swallows and Amazons’, this book tells of his amazing life and the part he played in this period of history. Ransome was already a writer, albeit a journalist, when he realised he no longer loved his wife, so decided to leave her and his child (who he adored). He met a woman called Evgenia and fell in love with her. Then he became involved in espionage and was thought to be a spy or double agent. As you read it, he has some incredible adventures and was involved in many hair- raising events.
Its structure is particularly clever as it has three sections.
The first could almost be said to be in a ‘fairy tale’ style with a 70 page opening using a great bear in a forest and a family to explain the Russian revolution in a simplistic way.
The second section, approximately 100 pages long, deals with events over the course of an evening when people presume he is a spy by his movements and explains his dealings with Lenin and Trotsky (and his secretary).
The third and final section details his dangerous, epic journey to get this lady, by returning to Russia, during the throws of revolution, and ensuring that he can be with her forever.
Considering it is a novel designed for children, I was amazed to find that its pace and content was also suitable to an adult reader. It is a great story based on the Russian Revolution and Arthur Ransome’s life in Russia. However, for a book apparently aimed at younger readers, it includes occasional unexpectedly adult themes and language.
As a result, I would recommend it for a more able Year 9, or KS4 reader, especially with an interest in espionage or history.
