James Evans

A ménage à trois that worked: Ivan Turgenev and the Viardots

The Russian novelist doted on the singer Pauline Viardot. But the affair cooled to friendship when he moved in with her and her kind-hearted husband Louis

  • Comments

  • The Europeans: Three Lives and the Making of a Cosmopolitan Culture

    Orlando Figes

    Allen Lane, pp. 551, £30

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Trending

Isabel Hardman

Justin Welby quits as Archbishop of Canterbury

In the past few minutes, Justin Welby has announced he is resigning as Archbishop of Canterbury over his handling of serial child abuser John Smyth. In a statement, he said ‘it is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024’. He says he

More on history

Also by James Evans

Latest

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in