Wanda, Vol. 1 (of 3)

"Wanda, Vol. 1 (of 3)" by Ouida is a story that takes place in Russia and Austria during the late 1800s. It explores ideas around being noble, dealing with sadness and loss, and figuring out who you are as things around you change. Countess Wanda von Szalras is trying to cope with the death of her brother, while Prince Paul Ivanovitch Zabaroff is dealing with things he did in the past, which includes thinking about his son, Vassia. The book starts by showing us a picture of the Russian countryside, where Prince Zabaroff realizes he owns an old, broken-down mansion. Then, we learn about his son, Vassia, who doesn't know he's actually a prince and is being raised by an old woman named Maritza. At the same time, Countess Wanda is very sad about her brother and doesn't want to go back to society, even though the Empress wants her to. The book creates a feeling of sadness and hints that these characters' lives will become connected as the story goes on.