SKU: 52444740753

Parallel Lives A Love Story from a Lost Continent by Iain Pears (Hardcover)

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Parallel Lives A Love Story from a Lost Continent by Iain Pears (Hardcover)This is the simplest tale in the world. Two people meet and fall in love. But the route which brought Larissa Salmina and Francis Haskell to a backstreet Venetian restaurant in 1962 was anything but straightforward. Larissa was born in northern Russia, the daughter of a Soviet army officer from a noble family who survived the siege of Leningrad by eating cats tails and being evacuated over the ice. Francis was the grandson of an Iraqi Jew, forever

This is the simplest tale in the world. Two people meet and fall in love. But the route which brought Larissa Salmina and Francis Haskell to a backstreet Venetian restaurant in 1962 was anything but straightforward.

Larissa was born in northern Russia, the daughter of a Soviet army officer from a noble family who survived the siege of Leningrad by eating cats’ tails and being evacuated over the ice. Francis was the grandson of an Iraqi Jew, forever feeling out of place in his adopted country of England. How they could meet and instantly understand each other so profoundly that both were prepared to risk heartbreak, and in her case, retribution, to be together is the story of this book.

Escaping Leningrad, teenage Larissa lived in the Urals surrounded by Spanish revolutionaries, went feral and after the war rose to become the youngest Commissar in the Soviet Union and Keeper of Italian Drawings at the Hermitage. She took the Russian contribution to the Venice Biennale in 1962 and lost it on the journey. She briefly absconded with her supervisor’s corpse, developed a useful sideline in forgery, and stole (“I didn’t steal it. I liberated it”) a Matisse from the Italian government. She was a trained connoisseur and could spot a Tiepolo at 100 yards.

Francis was a distinguished art historian, comfortably at home in King’s College Cambridge. But he was lonely, self-doubting and had all but abandoned hope of falling in love, or finding anyone who could love him. Larissa swept away all the years of anguish in one meal. Bestselling novelist and art historian Iain Pears’ fabulous book brings into sharp focus the strange world of the Soviet Union, and the even stranger world of a certain variety of the English elite. It seeks to show how leaving the Soviet Union was a sacrifice for her and how it was the English man, not the Russian woman, who was set free because of their meeting.

Iain Pears knew both his principal characters well. His book is a story of Europe; not the Europe of geographical and ideological divisions but of a certain mentality which was common to a few on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Whatever their differences in nationality, language, and politics, both Larissa and Francis were members of a unified, pan-European culture which paid little heed to the divisions which so pre-occupied most people of the age. It also operated by very different rules and values to the societies in which they existed. It was a world of dancers, exiles, and the occasional spy, of artists, aristocrats, and academics. It consisted of people who only felt safe when they were away from home, were comfortable only in the company of foreigners. It is a tale of a world we seem to have lost.

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SKU: 52444740753

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Turkey
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 4
very ergonomic
Color: Deep Black, Color: Deep Black
I bought this as a replacement for one of those gaming chairs that kills your back with a little lumbar pillow and this one is muuuuch better. the back support is everything you’d need and got rid of my neck pain after long periods of sitting and the seat cushion is supportive but still comfortable. It’s the kind of chair that you don’t really think about much because it’s so natural to sit in that you forget it’s there. The armrests flipping is a really nice feature too. One star off only because the head rest is so far back that i can’t really rest my head on it and every part of the chair that’s cloth is made of the same mesh texture like the armrests and seat. but i have no other complaints this is a good chair
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Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2026
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Elva
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Comfortable Ergonomic Chair for Long Workdays
Color: Black, Color: Black
I’ve been using this chair for my home office, and it’s been a great addition to my workspace. The seat cushion is thick and comfortable, even after several hours of sitting, and the mesh back keeps good airflow throughout the day. I especially like the adjustable headrest, which provides extra neck support when leaning back during breaks. Assembly was straightforward, the chair feels sturdy, and the wheels roll smoothly on my floor. The all-black design also gives it a professional look that fits well in any office setup. Overall, it’s a comfortable and affordable ergonomic chair that offers excellent value for the price.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2026
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Emily Hopman
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 3
Sturdy but uncomfortable
Color: Black
The seat itself is sturdy and easy to put together, I’ve now had the product for 8 months and had no issues wear/tear despite nearly daily use, but… it’s not comfy, at all. The seat cushion has a texture to it that scrapes at my legs if I don’t have an extra pillow on it or am wearing shorts. Additionally, the seat pillow is just kind of hard. It doesn’t give very much at all, so if I sit on it for more than an hour or two at a time my butt starts to get really sore. It works as a budget option, but invest in a good seat pillow if you plan to sit in it for any length of time.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
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Jade20
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
A chair that does the job
Color: Black, Color: Black
I’m really happy with this chair overall. I wanted something comfortable, sturdy, breathable, and spacious enough for long hours at my desk when I work from home, and this chair delivered. I’d easily give this chair five stars because it exceeded my expectations in comfort, quality, and overall value. Comfort and Support The mesh back keeps it cool and comfortable during extended use. One of my favorite features is the adjustable lumbar support. You can manually position it exactly where your lower back needs support, and it fits the curve of my back perfectly. It provides great support without feeling too firm or uncomfortable. Build Quality and Design The chair itself feels solid and well-built. It doesn’t creak or make noise when shifting around, which makes it feel stable and high-quality. The seat is roomy and comfortable, and the overall design looks clean and modern. Easy Assembly It also came with an instruction manual that was extremely simple to follow, and assembly was very easy. I was able to put the chair together by myself in about 20 minutes without any help. Armrest Functionality I also like the armrests. They aren’t adjustable by height, but they do flip all the way up, which is surprisingly convenient. You can easily slide the chair under a desk or use it as an armless chair when needed. Packaging and Presentation Another thing worth mentioning is the packaging. Everything arrived extremely well-packed. Every individual part of the chair was wrapped securely, including bubble wrap protection for the components. The hardware and accessories were neatly organized, and the chair even came with the necessary tools for assembly in case you don’t own a drill or tool set. The presentation and packaging were excellent and showed real attention to detail. Overall Impression Overall, this is a fantastic office chair for the price: comfortable, supportive, sturdy, easy to assemble, and packaged exceptionally well. I’d absolutely recommend it and would confidently give it a five-star rating.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2026
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Melissa Alvarado
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Solid quality and comfortable
Color: Light Grey, Color: Light Grey
Wonderful quality chair, solid and sturdy, it was easy to put together, the directions were very clear and all the pieces fit together perfectly without issue. It is made of breathable material and I love that the arms flip up easily. You can raise it up or down and it has an adjustable headrest. It also has adjustable lumber support. It rolls easily and the color is the only reason I might return, I think I want a different one instead. The chair is comfortable for a petite person but equally comfortable for a tall person. We have both in our family and it is great for both. The armrests are comfortable and there is really nothing negative to say about this chair at all. Considering the quality, it is a great value for the money.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2026

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