A Russian Sister

In this witty and colourfully peopled novel, Caroline Adderson effortlessly plunges the reader into a nineteenth-century Russian tragicomedy.

Aspiring painter Masha C. is blindly devoted to Antosha, her famous writer-brother. Through the years Antosha takes up with numerous women from Masha’s circle of friends, yet none of these relationships threaten the siblings’ close ties until the winter Antosha falls into a depression. Then Masha invites into their Moscow home a young woman who teaches with her— the beautiful, vivacious and deeply vulnerable Lika Mizanova—with the express hope that she might help Antosha recover.

The appearance of Lika sets off a convolution of unrequited love, jealousy and scandal that lasts for seven years. If the famously unattainable writer has lost his heart to Lika as everyone claims, what will happen to Masha, formerly “woman of the house,” possibly now the “spinster sister”? While she struggles with her uncertain future, love sneaks up on her as well, revealing needs and impulses she has long supressed. From her own heartbreak Masha comes to a moral reckoning: is it possible to be a good sister and a good friend?

A Russian Sister offers a clever commentary on the role of women as prey for male needs and inspiration, a role they continue to play today.  At the same time, the novel is an exploration of sisterhood, both familial and friendly. Chekhov’s The Seagull changed the theatre. A Russian Sister gives the reader a glimpse behind the curtain at the fascinating real-life people who inspired it and the tragedy that followed its premiere.

Buy A Russian Sister:

Read the Globe and Mail interview about A Russian Sister.

Read Caroline Adderson’s interview with the Shoe Project.

Hear Caroline Adderson on CBC radio’s North X Northwest (tune in at the 47 minute mark.)

Hear Caroline Adderson talk about A Russian Sister at the Denman Island Virtual Mini-Fest.

Watch the Munro’s Books event with authors Shaena Lambert and Dede Crane.

  • A Globe and Mail Summer 2020 Hot Read
  • A 49th Shelf Most Anticipated Read of Fall 2020
  • A Savvy Reader Most Anticipated August Release
  • A Globe and Mail Book That Shaped 2020

Praise for A Russian Sister

“highly anticipated…”

The Globe and Mail

“Is there any novelistic gift Caroline Adderson doesn’t have? In her portrait of the complicated relationship between the writer Anton Chekhov and his sister Masha, she creates, apparently effortlessly, a whole Russian world from its beautifully described landscapes and seasons down to its food. But her characters — Anton, who loves humanity but perhaps not individuals; Masha, whose motives for introducing her brother to attractive women are mixed; and beautiful, damaged Lika — always take centre-stage. Their story is a remarkable balancing act of poignance, dark elements and humour. In its wry comedy and its understanding that tragedy and redemption travel hand in hand with the most everyday events, A Russian Sister is truly Chekhovian.”

—Katherine Ashenburg, author of Sophie and Cecilia.

“This novel is Adderson at the height of her powers.  A rare novel, profoundly imagined, the suppressed passions both of Anton Chekhov and his sister Maria revealed in scenes and images that haunt.  Pre-Revolutionary Russian society is the brilliantly evoked background to these driven lives.  A Russian Sister confirms Caroline Adderson’s place among Canada’s most talented writers.”

—John Metcalf, author of The Canadian Short Story.

“Caroline Adderson writes with extraordinary beauty, clarity and intelligence. In the best tradition of the great Russian novelists, she has created a work of remarkable depth, intimacy, and veracity. Her finely realized characters take their place on the stage with charm, wit, and humanity. Masha, artist, teacher, sister of Anton Chekhov, narrates a story that is vivid, immediate, and utterly compelling.”

—Carol Windley, author of Midnight Train to Prague

“You never know what to expect from Caroline Adderson. The versatile Vancouver author, whose works have often appeared on best-book lists, writes in many genres, including novels, short stories, novels told in short stories and a range of kidlit. Now she’s come out with something completely different: a biographical novel set in 19th Century Russia… The book is deeply researched — the main storyline and most of the eccentric details are fact-based. For instance, Chekhov really did adopt a destructive pet mongoose named Svoloch (“Bastard”). And in her author’s note, Adderson tells us she lifted some of the lines from actual letters and from Chekhov’s own writings. Lika is the model for the character Nina in Chekhov’s play “The Seagull.” Since Adderson is writing about Chekhov, who often put his family’s and friends’ deepest secrets into his work, A Russian Sister very cleverly represents art imitating life imitating art imitating life… There are dark, dark passages, heavy-going parts and a heartbreaking ending. The world in which Adderson has immersed us is not a place everyone may want to linger. As brilliant a writer as Adderson is, A Russian Sister is a book that may not garner universal affection, but it certainly warrants abundant respect. Chekhov, I suspect, would love it.

The Toronto Star

“Talk about versatility: After four contemporary novels, two short story collections and several children’s books, Caroline Adderson’s latest literary offering is biographical fiction. A tale of unrequited love, friendship and women’s devotion, her absorbing new novel involves writer Anton Chekhov…. [T]he novel is peppered with droll descriptions [and] wry observations about life… Also commendable is Adderson’s meticulous research on Russian social history as well as on Chekhov and his dysfunctional family. She even includes lines from actual letters in the dialogue and borrows many details from his literary works, thus contributing to the authenticity of the story. In short, this is an incisive novel told by a master storyteller. The book will especially appeal to literary and theatre aficionados and admirers of Chekhov.”

Winnipeg Free Press

“In her latest novel, Vancouver author Caroline Adderson goes Chekhov on Chekhov, drawing back the curtain on the events and people that inspired The Seagull. Adderson’s story is told from an unexpected and ultimately powerful point of view: that of Chekhov’s sister… We feel these characters as we read them, and while we may not always like or understand them, their messy lives and choices – whether cruel, stupid, or guided by purity of heart – draw us in. Chekhov himself would approve.”

Quill & Quire

“If you are a fan of Russian playwright Anton Chekov (1860-1904) you will most certainly enjoy A Russian Sister by Caroline Adderson… Adderson’s book is based on the life of Chekov and is written in the style of a play in Four Acts with other characters playing the roles of Chekov’s real-life family. This is a brilliant and most unusual premise for a novel and is written with great expertise by Adderson who has obviously thoroughly researched the “Golden Era” of Russian literature and late 19th century Russian history, and the life and times of Chekov. Despite a depressing theme, Adderson also manages to inject humour into her story. Notwithstanding its unusual writing style and its collection of bizarre characters, A Russian Sister manages to hold the reader’s attention and effortlessly transport you to Russia’s pre-revolutionary era when the impoverished elite society tried desperately to maintain a lifestyle of importance in the salons of Moscow.”

The Ormsby Review

“As a Chekhov admirer, I appreciate homage to the master, as with the sly, even slapstick humor that punctuates a largely painful tale. Adderson’s prose also follows the Chekhovian model somewhat, relying on sparse, well-chosen physical details… Readers of literary fiction will enjoy the prose, and those curious about 19th-century Russian society will find vivid angles and corners.”

Historical Novel Society

“A Russian Sister is remarkably beautiful. Anton Chekhov’s sister Masha was his lifelong amanuensis and companion, and Caroline Adderson’s working of their lives and their friend Lika’s life into Chekhov’s play Seagull is Chekhovian itself: clear, sensitive, gorgeously Russian and entirely rewarding to read. The creation of character is the best part of this book, even better than Adderson’s immaculate recreation of period and community and the Russian landscape and art and life—all of which Adderson writes about with the kind of authority a reader revels in. A wonderful by-product of this book is the joy of discovering so much more about Chekhov. All his people are here, his difficult family and ferocious friends, and his long and perilous journey to Sakhalin; Adderson’s meticulous research gives the rock-solid sense that this is how their lives really were. When I got to the end, I cried my eyes out, for the tragedy of everything and because I did not want it to be over. Like Chekhov’s own stories, this book is—as Anton and Masha’s lives were—painful and unfair and inevitable, and an exquisite and deeply satisfying read.” 

Wordfest Calgary, Marina Endicott Recommends

“Adderson is an excellent writer and regular injections of humour into the storyline provide enjoyable relief. There are many eccentric characters in the book which keep the reader engaged and entertained. The author’s descriptions of Russian people, locations, and events appeal to all of our senses… Adderson has written a great story that’s informative and entertaining. Like I said, even if you’re not a fan of Russian literature, give this one a go. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.”

BoomerBroadcast

“Adderson is one of those writers that motivates me to pick up her work, regardless of the genre, and she’s quite multi-talented, having released a few children’s books in 2020 alongside this adult novel. Her latest for us big kids, A Russian Sister is historical fiction is based on the life of famous Russian writer Anton Chekhov. If you’re like me and know nothing about Russian literature, have no fear! No prior knowledge is necessary to enjoy this novel, the fact that it’s based on real people will have no bearing on your enjoyment of this book, it’s the characters that makes this one memorable.”

I’ve Read This