The Secret City

The Secret City, published in 1919 by Hugh Walpole, is a historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution (1917-1921). The story follows young Henry Bohun, an Englishman who arrives in Petrograd with romantic ideals, only to confront the stark realities of life in a tumultuous society. Through his interactions with the Markovitch family and other key figures, the novel explores themes of identity, cultural dislocation, and the complexities of foreign relations during a period of significant upheaval in Russia.