The Tsar’s Dwarf

Peter H. Fogtdal

Publisher:
Hawthorne Books

Release Date:
October 1, 2008

Genres:
Historical Fiction

ISBN:
Print
9780979018800

Bookmark Rating:

Reviewed by
Natalie S.

Review Posted:
January 2009

Sorine Bentsdatter is a dwarf and as such, has been an oddity her entire life.  Deformed and female, she was given to Tsar Peter of Russia as a gift.  Peter is intrigued by Sorine and the opening scene of THE TSAR'S DWARF shows his infatuation with Sorine. Well, not really infatuation with Sorine but with her smallness; he has her run through his legs over and over which in turns makes him guffaw with laughter.  Peter takes Sorine to his court where she becomes a jester which she despises but learns to live with and eke out some sort of semblence of normalcy.  Her life is almost enjoyable until the introduction of a priest who feels she needs to be 'saved' because of her dwarfism.  That is when things go from almost okay to horrible. 

As the title of this review states, I was okay until the lice.  The realism of THE TSAR'S DWARF made me itch at times; especially when describing the ailments and skin rashes and lice ridden squalor that Sorine was subjected to. Then, I actually had to put the book down until I was able to read again without being grossed out. Not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. I do like the theme of THE TSAR'S DWARF which is about the ability of the human soul and body to endure. I found Sorine funny and practical.  I wanted her to have a happy ending so very badly and while the book didn't end the way I thought it would, I was content. 

Buy it in Print
at Amazon: