The Love Passions of Old Petersburg. Scandalous Novels, Heartfelt Dramas, Secret Weddings and Fatal Widows

"What could be more banal than the words «love conquers all ages»? Nevertheless, this book is indeed about that. Not acting in any way as a judge, nor giving any moral or ethical assessments, the author introduces readers to emotional events of past centuries. Those that, due to various circumstances, became known to the wider public, found their reflection on the pages of the press, books, memoirs… What episodes are collected in this book? The most diverse. Love triangles and family dramas, outrageous amorous adventures, unrequited feelings, runaway brides, secret weddings, fatal widows and husbands, duels in defense of a beloved’s honor, all sorts of unwanted incidents… In the 19th – early 20th century, the Northern Capital experienced a true outbreak of «erotic passions». Compared to this, everything seemed to fade into the background – bloody whirlwinds of the first revolution, cholera epidemics, social scandals, and political intrigues… This book is an attempt to gather love stories, somehow connected with the city on the Neva… Here are both high-society tales and intricate fates of the ruling house of the Romanovs, as well as stories from the life of «Joyful Petersburg».