The Sowers

Against the bleak sweep of the Russian steppe, The Sowers opens with a journey that is as political as it is physical. Karl Steinmetz, a blunt, capable German adviser, rides beside Paul Howard Alexis, a seemingly quiet English gentleman who is secretly Prince Pavlo Alexis, heir to vast Russian lands and obligations. Their talk exposes the peril of his position: he has been tied to a League of Charity devoted to education and social reform, only to see it betrayed, leaving him vulnerable to reprisals, confiscation, and arrest in a country where idealism can be fatal. The road itself turns ominous when they discover a riderless horse dragging the body of a starving dead man. Paul's compassion and medical eye clash with Steinmetz's hard practicality as they uncover the tragedy of poverty, isolation, and neglect. In Tver and Petersburg, the novel widens into a web of social maneuvering: the calculating Baron de Chauxville insinuates himself into the Lanovitch circle, flatters the Countess, unsettles Catrina, and draws near Etta with polished insincerity. Meanwhile, Maggie Delafield and Paul share a quieter, more intimate bond, both wary of Chauxville and the dangerous intrigues gathering around them. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.