On the Red Staircase

On the Red Staircase, published in 1896 by Mary Imlay Taylor, is a historical novel set during the tumultuous period following the death of Czar Feodor in early 18th-century Russia. The story revolves around the political intrigue surrounding the election of a new czar, featuring key figures such as Czarevna Sophia and the young boyar's daughter Zénaïde. The protagonist, Philippe de Brousson, a Frenchman, becomes embroiled in the court's power struggles and seeks justice and love amidst the chaos of the Kremlin's shifting loyalties.