The rebellion of the Princess

"The Rebellion of the Princess" by Mary Imlay Taylor is a historical fiction that plunges into the heart of 17th-century Russia, a land gripped by political unrest during the rise of Peter the Great. The story centers around Princess Daria, a woman of striking beauty and rebellious spirit, whose life becomes entangled with Jéhan de Marle, a French nobleman hiding in Moscow as an apprentice goldsmith, after facing issues in the French court. An early scene unfolds in a vibrant Moscow palace yard, where the mistreatment of a serf is comically interrupted, introducing the atmosphere that shapes Jéhan's experiences. Boredom quickly turns to intrigue for Jéhan as he encounters Princess Daria in disguise, drawing him into a dangerous game amid the brewing rebellion of the Streltsi, with the narrative filled with growing tensions, hidden agendas, and the promise of both personal and historical clashes.