The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova

The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova

From the #1 bestselling author of The Historian comes a mesmerizing novel that spans the past and the present--and unearths the troubled history of a gorgeous but haunted country.

A young American woman, Alexandra Boyd, has traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria, hoping that life abroad will salve the wounds left by the loss of her beloved brother. Soon after arriving in this elegant East European city, however, she helps an elderly couple into a taxi--and realizes too late that she has accidentally kept one of their bags. Inside she finds an ornately carved wooden box engraved with a name: Stoyan Lazarov. Raising the hinged lid, she discovers that she is holding an urn filled with human ashes.

As Alexandra sets out to locate the family and return this precious item, she will first have to uncover the secrets of a talented musician who was shattered by political oppression--and she will find out all too quickly that this knowledge is fraught with its own danger.

Elizabeth Kostova's new novel is a tale of immense scope that delves into the horrors of a century and traverses the culture and landscape of this mysterious country. Suspenseful and beautifully written, it explores the power of stories, the pull of the past, and the hope and meaning that can sometimes be found in the aftermath of loss.

Advance praise for The Shadow Land

In The Shadow Land, Elizabeth Kostova, a master storyteller, brings vividly to life an unfamiliar country--Bulgaria--and a painful history that feels particularly relevant now. You won't want to put down this remarkable book.--Claire Messud, author of The Woman Upstairs

In this brilliant work, what appears at first a minor mystery quickly becomes emblematic of a whole country's hidden history. Lyrical and compelling, The Shadow Land proves a profound meditation on how evil is inflicted, endured, and, through courage and compassion, defeated. Elizabeth Kostova's third novel clearly establishes her as one of America's finest writers.--Ron Rash, author of The Risen

The Shadow Land is thrilling, and not just as a gripping tale. It's also thrilling to watch such a talented writer cast her spell. The central character actually begins this deft novel in an urn, only to emerge as one of the most memorable characters I've encountered in a long time.--Richard Russo, author of Everybody's Fool

Transporting . . . draws us into Bulgarian history and character revelation like an elegant, mysterious labyrinth. Page-turning, evocative, and richly imagined.--Dominic Smith, author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos

Praise for Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian

Quite extraordinary . . . Kostova is a natural storyteller. . . . She has refashioned the vampire myth into a compelling contemporary novel, a late-night page-turner.--San Francisco Chronicle

Hypnotic . . . a thrill ride through history.--The Denver Post

Part thriller, part history, part romance . . . Kostova has a keen sense of storytelling and she has a marvelous story to tell.--Baltimore Sun

Praise for The Swan Thieves

Exquisite.--The Boston Globe

Engrossing.--O: The Oprah Magazine

Stunning . . . A beautifully written tale of art, love and an obsession triggered by both.--Associated Press

The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova, is an worldwide bestseller. She received her BA from Yale and her MFA from the University of Michigan, where she was awarded the Hopwood Award for Novel-in-Progress.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780345527868
ISBN 10	0345527860
Title	The Shadow Land
Author	Elizabeth Kostova
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Random House USA Inc
Year published	2017-04-11
Number of pages	496
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.