On the Sickle's Edge: Book Premiere
Date and time
Description
“SHAPING HISTORY INTO FICTION”
Author Talk by Neville D. Frankel
A unique multi-media book premiere celebrating On the Sickle’s Edge (Diálogos Books, January 2017), the newest work of historical fiction by Santa Barbara author, Neville Frankel.
- Introductory remarks by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
- Russian classical music by Opera Santa Barbara Mosher Studio Artists
- Author book signing & “Russian Tea Room” reception by Seasons Catering
- Program emcee: Dr. David Bisno, lecturer and co-founder of Santa Barbara's VISTAS Lifelong Learning
About the Event
The program will feature a talk by Frankel on the art of writing historical fiction, in which he will describe his research and writing process and the relationship between the novel and the family history that inspired it.
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson will introduce the author and some of the issues highlighted in the novel and their relevance to global current events.
Opera Santa Barbara Mosher Studio Artists will bring the cultural context of On the Sickle’s Edge to life through performances of arias by Russian classical composers — music characteristic of the novel’s historical period.
An author book signing and a Russian-themed reception presented by Seasons Catering will follow the formal program.
Space is limited. Reserve early!
Pre-order the book for delivery in January 2017 or buy an autographed copy at the event.
About the Book
What we cannot keep.
What we cannot lose.
A sweeping masterwork of love and loss, secrets and survival, On the Sickle’s Edge is told through the voices of three characters who lay bare their family’s saga: the endearing, scrappy South-African born Lena, transported to Latvia and later trapped in the USSR; her granddaughter Darya, a true Communist believer whose growing disillusionment with Soviet ideology places her family at mortal risk; and Steven, a painter from Boston who inadvertently stumbles into the tangled web of his family’s past.
Against the roiling backdrop of twentieth-century Russia and Eastern Europe, the novel delivers equal parts historical drama, political thriller and poignant love story. A powerful and inspiring testament to the human capacity for love and endurance in the face of exile and trauma.
Early praise for On the Sickle’s Edge
“Neville Frankel’s ability to combine historical insight and human passion is spellbinding. I couldn’t put it down.“
—Pamela Katz, Author of The Partnership: Brecht, Weill, Three Women, and Germany on the Brink
“In the hands of a masterful storyteller, On the Sickle’s Edge pits the weight of an oppressive regime against individual tenacity and profound personal courage.”
—Rabbi Andrew Baker, Director of International Jewish Affairs, American Jewish Committee
