"The Woman of a Thousand Names" by Alexandra Lapierre offers a vivid glimpse into the tumultuous era of the Russian Revolution through the lens of Moura, a Russian aristocrat turned survivor. Lapierre's storytelling skillfully captures the chaotic backdrop and the challenges faced by Moura as she navigates a world in upheaval. The blend of historical events and the personal journey of the protagonist adds depth to the narrative. While the premise is compelling, at times the pacing feels uneven, which can detract from the overall engagement. The character development, though rich, occasionally lacks consistency. Moura's transformation from privilege to struggle is a fascinating arc, yet it sometimes leaves certain emotional connections feeling less impactful. Nevertheless, Lapierre's ability to evoke the era's atmosphere and Moura's resilience is commendable. "The Woman of a Thousand Names" delivers a solid historical novel, but it may benefit from a more consistent pacing and character development to truly shine.

This book's description intrigues me from the start, I am an old movie fan and watched Greta Garbo as the Mata Hari and found the story fascinating. So, this book was of interest to me, reading it gave me more of sense of the woman who was Mata Hari - the baroness. I think the book was a great read and the woman described seemed as she did in the movie, self-centered but wanted to fight for her cause, a spy to the end. enjoyable read ,

This is a retelling of the life of Baroness Budberg. She was the Maya Haiti of her day and was a spy for the Soviet Union. She has to use her wits to save herself. Because Baroness Budberg led a fascinating life, it had the makings to be a juicy novel.

However, I found Baroness Budberg to be an unlikable heroine. She seemed to be a woman fighting solely for herself. She seemed cold and very selfish. She seemed like a woman who could never be trusted. Thus, I find her to be very unlikable. I could not root for her as she strives to survive Russian Revolution.

Overall, this novel is about survival, choices, and courage. The characters seemed very flat, and did not have much depth. The novel was also drawn out, and I would have liked it better had it been shorter. The ending also seemed to peter out in the end because it quickly turned into a nonfiction biography. The best thing about the book was the setting. Thus, the premise was very good, but it was not well-executed. Still, I recommend this for fans of C. W. Gortner, Kate Quinn, and Ariel Lawhon!

The Woman of a Thousand Names by Alexandra Lapierre was a book that totally pulled me in by the time I finished the first chapter until the end. It is a long book; nearly 600 pages. But the story kept me captivated until I finished. And even then, I was invested enough to want to do a little research just to sort some of it out in my own head.

I started this thinking it was a novel and historical fiction. I was wrong! It is definitely a very detailed account of a very interesting life well lived. There were times it was hard to keep track of all the people, places and things. But ultimately, it all starts to fall in place and you feel you are along on a journey right along with Moura (she of a thousand names).

With most of her adult life taking place when her homeland and the world were all at war, there are parts that are very sad and hard to wrap your head around. The cruelty, the desperation, the fear. This is well documented in history and in this story. There are famous figures from history—names we all know—who play a part in this story. Moura went from a very rich childhood where she had the best of everything to be found, to being left penniless, homeless, and hopeless; and everything in between. And yet, she pushed forward.

I want to tell readers, if you enjoy history, not to let the thickness of this book put you off. The author at times deviates from how the story is being told. There will be letters and correspondence that you are left to try and interpret yourself. But this keeps it authentic and keeps you reeled in and thinking. The pages turned quickly, and the chapters labelled in a way that made it easy to find a place to stop and not lose your way.

I received an eARC from Atria Books through NetGalley and ARC through a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are 100% my own.

i really liked Moura as a character and getting to know her in the book, the other characters were great and I enjoyed the setting.

This book tells us a fictional account of the infamous Mati Hari a Russian sone believed to be a spy for England. This is a long book, but it is filled with rich detail and a great plot. I would definitely recommend this book to all fans of historical fiction.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I've been on a Russian kick lately, having just finished WAR AND PEACE a few weeks ago, and I was anxious to delve into this historical novel about the Russian Mata Hari, Moura Ignatyevna Zakrevskaya. Born into the noble class, she lived during a time of change and revolution in her native country, suffering through the October and February Revolutions, the rise of Linen and Stalin, and so many other important historical events.

Rumors have circulated for decades that she was a double agent for both Great Britain and Russia. Since no one really knows what happened, all we can do is speculate. She was definitely a smooth operator, having love affairs with several men, including the literary giants Gorky and H.G. Wells. Interwoven throughout the narrative are passages from historical documents, journals, and articles about this fascinating woman, giving the book a feel of biographical authenticity.

This is a long book, which may be intimidating to some, but a lot of pages were needed to cover all the details of Moura's life. If you enjoy historical novels about real-life figures, you can't go wrong with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the international bestselling author of the “#fascinating epic” Between love and Honor a rich, sweepingly tale based on the true story of the Mata Hari of Russia, featuring a beautiful aristocrat fighting for survival. Author # Alexandra Lapierre will make you forget the time of day with this fascinating woman some called a spy But was struggling to keep her life and family safe.
Thank you,
#Netgalley, #Alexandra Lapierre and #Atria Books📚📚

The Woman of a Thousand Names is a historical fiction novel about Baroness Moura Budbeg. It is an epic story that spans decades and several rebirths. Moura's story goes from her first marriage in Estonia to an affair with a British spy during Lenon's revolution in Russia to Gorky's companion in Italy to a final friendship with H.G. Wells in London. Through all of this the question is who's spy is she if anyone's.

The story really flows from one relationship to another and it is these relationships that transform her into a new version of herself. She will also do what she needs to in order to survive whether it be lie to friends, play the cheka, or give up secrets.

I really enjoy historical fiction but this is not one that ended up high on my list. While I wanted to be drawn into this story it was almost too much for me stay engaged fully. The other issue I had is that while it is fiction there are times where I questioned that Moura knew these people and at the end it became very non-fiction, list format. It was the lets cram the last 3-4 decades of her life in but the novel is already too long so we will just list of what happened.

I know there are people out there that will love this one but I feel like instead of having everything in one book there should have been a more refined focus.

This was a very captivating tale that I truly enjoyed. I am still getting into historical fiction and I felt that this was a fantastic way to do it with such a strong female character.

This book tells the story of the amazing life of the well known Mata Hari. It was very interesting to read the story of her life. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of this book for a copy for my honest review. 4 out 5 stars

This was a story of history and survival with rich detail. I enjoyed learning about Maura’s life. I appreciate the author’s passion in her writing.
Many thanks to Atria Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I did not connect to the story or characters in the way that I'd hoped. There were too many names and relationships to keep straight to enjoy the story.

In her intro, Alexandra Lapierre says that after diving intensely into the life of Maura Budburg, she realized that they only way to express her life was through fiction. Unfortunately, Lapierre doesn't seem to have the knack of an historical novelist to put herself in her subject's head and try to understand her motivation or feelings. This novel is related, not experienced. The writing is a flat, uncomfortable fiction/bio hybrid.

This is a shame because if anyone lived a rich, conflicted, and thrilling life, it was Baroness Budburg. I hope someone else will pick up the thread and give her the exploration she deserves.

Very disappointing. I made it 26% through before giving up.

~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader

I really wanted to love this book. Moura's story is undeniably fascinating, but I can't help thinking that this book (and the subject) would have been better served as a biography. There were too many didactic points and primary sources that took me out of the narrative.

I love stories like this: ambitious in scope, sweeping, intricate and details dropped in sentences that you'd almost miss if you weren't really paying attention. Not a book you can skim, but a tome you need to be committed to, ready to dig and weave through fact and fiction. The story could use some trimming in places, where the meat of the tale gets bogged down in description that adds no value when in other places it makes the pages pop. Fans of the time period coupled with the ambiguity around the main characters actual life should forgive any inaccuracies and find a weekend to go back in time.

"From the internationally bestselling author of the “fascinating epic” (Associated Press) Between Love and Honor comes a rich, sweeping tale based on the captivating true story of the Mata Hari of Russia, featuring a beautiful aristocrat fighting for survival during the deadly upheaval of the Russian Revolution.

Born into Russian aristocracy, wealth, and security, Moura never had any reason to worry. But in the upheaval of the Bolshevik Revolution, her entire world crumbles. As her family and friends are being persecuted by Vladimir Lenin’s ruthless police, she falls into a passionate affair with British secret agent Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart. But when he’s abruptly and mysteriously deported from Russia, Moura is left alone and vulnerable.

Now, she must find new paths for her survival, even if it means shedding her past and taking on new identities. Some will praise her tenderness and undying loyalty. Others will denounce her lies. But all will agree on one point: Moura embodies Life. Life at all cost.

Set against the volatile landscape of 20th-century Russia, The Woman of a Thousand Names brings history to vivid life in a captivating tale about an extraordinary woman caught in the waves of change - with only her wits to save her."

Because every once in awhile you feel a little Russian.

I expected to be drawn into this story from the first sentence. However, I was not. I struggled through reading the first chapter, but I was bored and not finding any enjoyment in what I was reading.

Maria Zakrevskaya Benckendorff Budberg, known as Moura to family and friends, was born into Russian aristocracy in the late 1800s. Although a daughter of privilege she was aware of the suffering of the poor and expressed sympathy for their fight as others ignored the rising tensions. Her marriage to Baron Djon Benckendorff, a Baltic aristocrat, in her late teens brought her to Berlin where her husband was a diplomat and represented the tsar. With the political situation deteriorating and rumors of impending war they returned to St. Petersburg, arriving at the start of the Bolshevik Revolution. The baron retreated to their Baltic estate, but Moura remained and was forced to find work as a typist in the British embassy. It was there that she met Robert Lockhart, a British agent who would become her lover.

With Moura’s connection to the British and her visits to her husband’s estate in German held territory, she came under suspicion as a spy by the Russian Cheka. Arrested by the Cheka, she was forced to spy on Lockhart. While she relayed information to the Cheka, she also felt a responsibility to protect the same people she was forced to spy on. She was reviled by some but also loved by many others. Hers is a story of survival and an ability to adapt to the changes in society. She later re-married and left Russia.

Alexandra LaPierre draws on letters and reports to tell Moura’s story. Her heartbreaking losses and the terror she experiences in the Lubyanka are a contrast to her idyllic days at the lake on Yendel, her estate. Moura eventually died in 1974, but she will stay with you long after LaPierre’s story ends. I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria books for providing this novel for my review.

Being of Russian descent, this book sounded fascinating to me. Unfortunately, it just felt too detailed and the romance parts didn’t quite fit into it for me. Because of that, it also felt really long. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.