An intriguing look into a unique relationship between two famous people of their time. I hadn't heard of either Turgenev or Viardot before, but I'm a huge history buff and loved learning about this time period and the effect their work had on their time...and that their romance had on their careers. Davidow had a deep knowledge, especially of opera, that bled through, and I thought she did a good job of making a niche topic very interesting. Her prose takes what would be (sometimes) a boring topic and made it light and romantic.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good books about historical figures. It was very interesting.

I was interested in this novel because it was about an opera singer in Russia. However, I struggled with this novel. The story is slow moving and the writing feels stilted. Therefore, I could not get interested in this story. Nevertheless, I recommend this for fans of Midnight Dance, The Court Dancer, and Serenade!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book. This was an interesting book about little known history. I enjoyed it very much!

A very good read for fans of historical fiction. I knew nothing about anyone in this novel (except their names) and after reading this, found myself seeking out more info. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I thought this was a good book, but I found parts of it hard to engage to with. The writing didn't resonate with me much but I liked the plot.

The love story between the Russian writer Ivan Turgenev and the opera singer and composer Pauline Viardot is reimagined in this novel by Joie Davidow. In 1896, letters from Ivan to Pauline were discovered, and in 1910, upon Pauline’s death, more letters were found, but still their relationship isn’t fully known. Davidow tells a compelling story where the reader looks through a window into their relationship.

Ivan first lays eyes on Pauline in 1843, from the upper gallery at the Imperial Theatre in Saint Petersburg. She is “so small yet so majestic,” and Ivan hears “a voice so beautiful, he wants to die listening to it.” Not only is Ivan enchanted by her, but all of Saint Petersburg falls in love, and Ivan’s lifelong obsession with her begins. He leaves Russia, accompanying her to her singing engagements, and becomes part of the Viardot family. Pauline is married to a much older man, Louis Viardot, who is completely devoted to her. He embraces Ivan into his home because Pauline’s happiness is uppermost, and he doesn’t want to “stoop to the pathetic behavior of the jealous old man.” Louis and Ivan enjoy hunting together and working side by side on translations of Gogol’s works. The trio moves within the circle of the literati of their day. In spite of busy lives, Pauline and Ivan are able to steal private moments for themselves. Louis is her “bon papa” and makes her life possible, while Ivan provides her a “passionate friendship.”

Apart from the love triangle, Pauline stands out as a highly talented and intelligent woman. We see Pauline’s struggle in the pull between both lovers, her art, her family, and her status as prima donna. In wonderful prose, Davidow brings to life these two fascinating people who were as passionate about their art as they were about each other.

This is a slow, difficult book. One of my main concerns in a book is the characters--their feelings and their relationships with each other--and I gotta admit they felt flat in this work, as if it wasn't really what Davidown wanted to be writing. I guess it works as a biography if it's what you're looking for, but I'd advise you not to commit the mistake I did of requesting and reading this in hopes of a romance novel.

3 "hopeful, lovely, highly flawed" stars !!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Skyhorse publishing for an e-copy of this novel. This was released March 2021. I am providing my honest review.

I am so glad that I did not abandon this book as I had dearly wanted over the first quarter of this book. I had images of figuratively throwing this book against the wall. However there was this lovely prose that compelled me to keep going and I am so very glad that I did.

I went into this expecting a historical fiction that involved the relationship triangle between Ivan Turgenov (famous Russian writer), Pauline Viardot-Garcia(opera singer and sister of Maria Malibran) and her husband Louis Viardot(writer and art critic). This was not to be ! The characters were not at all well etched. Superficial sketches at best. The relationships were presented with an overwrought, hysterical quality that lacked substance or even believability. This improved a bit as the novel progressed.

Two qualities however saved this read. Firstly ( and most importantly) was the absolute loveliness of the author's prose...light, frothy and descriptive of time, environments and events. The writer has excellent facility with creating atmospheres and cinematic ambience to satisfy all the senses.
The second, was shifting my expectations. I decided to read this as (pretty good) romantic melodrama. Once I was able to do this I was (somewhat) able to put aside the very major flaws in characterization and interpersonal dynamics.

I would definitely read more by Ms. Joie as her prose is a delight. I sincerely hope that she works diligently in adding complexity to her characters and believability to relational aspects. This might have been a substantial work of literary historical fiction rather than a fairly good romantic melodrama (especially when writing about highly esteemed artistic figures).

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence my review.

An Unofficial Marriage: A Novel About Pauline Viardot and Ivan Turgenev by Joie Davidow is a fine new work of historical biographical fiction. I love stories about artists, particularly writers, and their significant others, so I was eager to read this even though I’ve never read Turgenev’s work.

The novel sensitively portrays a love triangle in a way that is poignant without seeming tragic.

Pauline Viardot is a famous nineteenth century European opera star. She marries young, to Louis Viardot, who collects art, translates literature, and hunts obsessively. He’s old enough to be her father. They were introduced by George Sand, who is pleased that Pauline will have a spouse who will support and protect her. Louis acts as Pauline’s agent, shepherding her career. Pauline is fond of him but not in love with him, while he loves her with all his heart.

Her operatic touring brings her to St. Petersburg, where she is an enormous success. Ivan Turgenev attends one of her performances and is smitten. A handsome, young Russian aristocrat, Ivan lives the idle useless life he despises. At first, I found him a bit annoying—complaining that his mother is not quick enough with his allowance while criticizing her for living off the serfs they own. (Eventually though, he will become an advocate for serfs and free his own.) He hangs around Pauline, inserting himself into her circle, fawning. She tries to treat him as merely a friend. However, before long, she can’t do without his devoted presence.

Ivan’s passion for Pauline is all-consuming. Yet he understands that she’s married and pursues her with an almost chivalric idealized love. He’s such a pleasant fellow, and so caring a friend to Pauline, that her husband realizes the best way to defuse the situation is to befriend him as well.

The platonic phase of their relationship can only last so long. Eventually, Pauline and Ivan give into their desire for one another.

For the rest of their lives, the Viardots and Ivan form an odd threesome. They are inseparable in spirit, but not in fact. Pauline goes off alone at times for her career. And Ivan returns to Russia to claim his inheritance when his mother dies. There, he’s arrested for his radical positions. He’s placed under house arrest, unable to leave Russia. He and Pauline (and, at times, Louis) write to one another, though their letters are constrained by the knowledge that censors are reading them.

The politics, epidemics, and upheavals of the mid-nineteenth century influence the progress of their lives, but don’t change the way they feel. Eventually, the three are reunited. Louis, for the most part, swallows his jealousy and possessiveness to smooth the way for Pauline. In turn, Ivan never presses his luck by trying to separate husband and wife. The author manages to make all the characters sympathetic. The triangle succeeds because they all carefully play their roles.

Pauline is the artistic star of the novel. Ivan’s writing career is alluded to but is not central. By the end of his life, he is successful and acclaimed, but we never see him suffering for his art the way Pauline is shown suffering for hers.

The writing is beautiful and I learned a good deal about the life and times of Pauline Viardot. Now I have to read Fathers and Sons.

This book had all the potential of greatness. A fictionalized account of their love would sweep anyone off their feet. With so many primary resources available, as I read the chapters I expected it to get better.

But, the language doesn’t read like the sweet historical romance that it is. That could have been charming, but it felt as though a historian was being forced to write a love story. The past tense added to the confusion in the book.. not allowing the characters to fully come alive.

This was a fascinating look into the lives of the opera singer Pauline Viardot and the writer Ivan Turgenev.. This fictionalized account was well-researched and excellently plotted. A classic love triangle between the two protagonists and Pauline's husband Louis. The novel contains beautiful prose, and gives the reader a sense of time and place. The class struggles in Russia as well as the revolutions in France are strong minor plot lines, to this tale of unfulfilled romance and the struggles of loyalty over longing.

This story will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, as well as Russian literature and opera. A wonderful introduction to the lives of these to historic figures.

I have really been enjoying fictional accounts on real events and this book centering on the affair between famous Russian author, Ivan Turgenev, and the celebrated French opera singer, Pauline Viardot had me wondering what was fact and what was fiction. I spent way too much time googling these people after reading hoping to learn more about them. A great author that wrote an amazing story will make you do that!

3.5 stars

Davidow provides a beautiful depiction of the love affair between the renowned French opera singer Paulina Viardot and the famous Russian writer Ivan Turgenev. This novel spans many decades and takes the reader to many countries across Europe.

Having never read much about either of these personnages, I enjoyed learning about their impact on 19th century Europe. I also love reading books that show just how tightly the art community was woven in the past. While we are used to seeing artists of various backgrounds congregate at awards shows and other events, I always love seeing Charles Dickens hanging out at operas with Chopin and other famous artists from the era.

This book is not for everyone. It is almost entirely character driven. If you need a page-turning plot instead of beautiful prose, this is not for you! However, if you love beautifully-written character driven historical fiction, do pick this one up!

Personally, I really enjoyed this book, but I could have done with a bit more plot. I might have loved this one had I known more about the two main characters going in.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a difficult book to review, because it doesn't fall neatly into a particular genre. It's neither a novel nor a biography, but instead blends elements of both. It doesn't have a the narrative thrust of a novel. Instead, like a biography, it follows the course of the main characters' lives. But it paints fictional scenes and delves viscerally into the characters' emotions in a way a fact-based biography cannot.

If you expect a novel, you will likely be disappointed. But that doesn't take away from the achievement of this book. The research and care that went into constructing this story are significant. It's an engrossing look at the passions and accomplishments of two exceptional artists who should not be forgotten.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

2.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An Unofficial Marriage intrigued me because it was about historical figures I wasn’t familiar with before. However, I found it a difficult book to engage with. While I don’t think knowing more of the background would have benefited, I felt largely distant from the characters, never fully connecting with them. As such, while the story is meant to be emotionally moving, I just never felt that.

The writing style also feels a bit too complex and dense, likely playing a role in my struggle to connect. I did feel Davidow’s expertise come through in conveying a sense of place, especially as I could easily contextualize these characters within the larger world events going on around them, but as it is a love story, it never felt about them.

This book is fine and likely will find an audience in those looking for more literary historical fiction. The style just wasn’t for me.

This book was slow to start & I almost gave up on it, but I'm glad that I continued on with the story. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I love to see a story unfold with characters based on real people.

The love triangle of this story is unlike any other. Two men vying for the affection of Pauline, one her love and the other her husband, both so understanding of each other's relationship with her. It was heartbreaking and commendable at the same time.

If you are a fan of historical romance and don't mind a slower pace throughout the story, this is for you.

*Many thanks to Joie Davidov, Skyhorse Publishing, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
An interesting novel on the complicated acquaintance and then relationship between two prominet figures of their times. I somehow got more engaged in Turgenev's part, having found out a lot of information I was unaware of.
The writing does not flow effortlessly and I often found myself yawning or even rolling my eyes. I believe it was all due to oversentimentality of some fragments.

Joie Davidow's An Unofficial Marriage dives right in to the love story of Pauline Viardot-Garcia and Ivan Turgenev in 19th Century Europe. Within the first few pages, you get a sense that Ivan is completely enamored by Pauline - and thus their story progresses. As successful historical fiction should do, you feel yourself transported to that time period in Europe as you follow along with their travels and see how their relationship grows and changes.

Going into this novel, I had never heard of Ivan and Pauline. Davidow did a good job of building the backstory of these real figures from history so that the reader did not need any prior knowledge to enjoy their journey.

That being said, it had a hard time keeping my interest. I give it a 3/5 - I just don't think the writing style is my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ivan Turgenev's tragic love for the beautiful & talented French Mezzo Pauline Viardot-Garcia is at the centre of this exquisitely well written novel. To my humble opinion it's simply historical fiction at its best!

Pauline Viardot-Garcia was one of the greatest opera singers of the 19th century. Her husband Louis Viardot was a well known theater manager in Paris, a power couple on the Parisian musical scene. For Turgenev it was love at first sight on their first encounter. Smitten from the beginning by Pauline's passionate nature & musical gifts, she embodied for him the feminine & cultural allure of the period. He fell in love with the well mannered opera singer, a pan European cultural force living in Paris. Unable to live without her, Turgenev ended up moving in with Pauline & her husband Louis, their entangled lives a "ménage à trois" that will transformed European culture & became an important presence on the the Parisian cultural & intellectual world.

Joy Davidow has written a magnificent fictional account of their extraordinary relationships to be enjoyed without moderation.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Arcade Publishing for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel prior to its release date