The Chosen Maiden

Listed in the Dance category on Art In Fiction, The Chosen Maiden  (2017) by Eva Stachniak explores an artistic world upended by modernity, immersing readers in the experiences of the era's giants, from Anna Pavlova and Serge Diaghilev to Coco Chanel and Pablo Picasso.   From their earliest days, the Nijinsky siblings appear destined for the stage. Bronia is a gifted young ballerina, but she is quickly eclipsed by her brother Vaslav. Deemed a prodigy, Vaslav Nijinsky will become the greatest and most provocative dancer of his time. To prove herself her brother's equal in the rigid world of ballet, Bronia will need to be more than extraordinary, defying society's expectations of what a female dancer can and should be.       The real-life muse behind one of the most spectacular roles in dance, The Rite of Spring 's Chosen Maiden, Bronia rises to the heights of modern ballet through grit, resilience and fervor. But when the First World War erupts and rebellion sparks in Russia, Bronia—caught between old and new, traditional and ground-breaking, safe and passionate—must begin her own search for what it means to be modern. "Exquisite…. Dance fans will welcome this graceful and entrancing foray into the recent past." — Library Journal Eva Stachniak is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author of six novels, including The Winter Palace and Empress of the Night . She holds a PhD in literature from McGill University. Born and raised in Poland, she moved to Canada in 1981, and lives in Toronto.  Buy Now from Amazon Buy Now from Bookshop