âBrilliantly written; the first ballet novel for grown-upsâTHE TIMES
âA bravura display of high-performance artâGUARDIAN
âBrims with emotion ⌠an accomplished novel embracing both domestic drama and the competitive quest for perfectionâSUNDAY TIMES
is the irresistible story of Joan, a young American dancer who helps a Soviet ballet star, the great Arslan Rusakov, defect in 1975. A flash of fame and a passionate love affair follow, but Joan knows that, onstage and off, she is destined to remain in the shadows.Astonish Me
After her relationship with Arslan sours, Joan decides to quit ballet and make a new life for herself. But as the years pass, Joan comes to understand that ballet isnât finished with her yetâŚ
From the prize-winning author of comes an exquisitely written, fiercely compelling glimpse into the demanding world of professional ballet and its magnetic hold over two generations.Seating Arrangements
âCleverly constructed with some elegant pirouettes of its ownâDAILY MAIL
âA gripping mix of family drama and insight into the world of balletâGOOD HOUSEKEEPING
âShipstead is a gifted writer who examines families and relationships in a poignant, insightful wayâSTYLIST
âA dazzling story rooted in the competitive world of danceâWOMAN & HOME
âSo graceful, so dazzling, so sure-handed and fearless, that at times I had to remind myself to breatheâ Maria Semple, author ofWhereâd You Go, Bernadette
I will be paying close attention to Shipsteadâs career from here on inâ Jeffrey Eugenidesâ
The bestselling author ofNew York TimesGreat Circle