The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne - ISBN: 9780552775410
Paperback
A hero’s secret guards a family haunted by Russia’s tragic past.

The House of Special Purpose

$35.89

  • Paperback

    496 pages

  • Release Date

    1 July 2010

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Summary

Russia, 1915. Sixteen-year-old farmer’s son Georgy Jachmenev steps in front of an assassin’s bullet intended for a senior member of the Russian Imperial Family and is instantly proclaimed a hero. Rewarded with the position of bodyguard to Alexei Romanov, the only son of Tsar Nicholas II, the course of his life is changed for ever.

Privy to the secrets of Nicholas and Alexandra, the machinations of Rasputin and the events which will lead to the final collapse of the autocracy, Georgy i…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780552775410
ISBN-10:055277541X
Author:John Boyne
Publisher:Transworld Publishers Ltd
Imprint:Black Swan
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:496
Release Date:1 July 2010
Weight:340g
Dimensions:197mm x 127mm x 30mm
Series:Black Swan
What They're Saying

Critics Review

Boyne is a skilled storyteller… his novel is an exciting, fast-paced story… absorbing and richly satisfying

Boyne is a skilled storyteller… his novel is an exciting, fast-paced story… absorbing and richly satisfying * The Times *John Boyne has a talent for bringing big historical events to life… Boyne has skilfully drawn a living, breathing character who not only witnessed one of the greatest events of the 20th century but also had his own part to play in how the dramatic tale unravels * Daily Express *Boyne writes with consumnate ease, and is particularly good at drawing the indecently rich world of the pre-revolutionary Romanovs * Independent *A wonderful, many-layered novel, written with thought and tenderness… mesmerising * The Irish Examiner *Boyne exercises total control over pace and revelation. A work that chimes perfectly with our times * The Irish Times *Painstakingly researched and the result is ornate and intricate. An engrossing read * Irish Mail on Sunday *A poignant story with epic scope * Good Book Guide *

About The Author

John Boyne

John Boyne is the author of sixteen novels for adults, six for younger readers, a picture book and a collection of short stories.

His 2006 novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema, theatre, ballet and opera. His many international bestsellers include The Heart’s Invisible Furies and A Ladder to the Sky.

He has won four Irish Book Awards, including Author of the Year in 2022, along with a host of other international literary prizes, including most recently both the 2025 Prix Femina Étranger and the Prix du Roman FNAC in France for The Echoes. His novels are published in sixty languages.

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