Crystal Den

More about the book

Set in the 1890s, the narrative unfolds through the perspective of Olive Schreiner, revealing the tumultuous final years of Eleanor Marx's life. Central to the plot is Eleanor's common-law husband, Edward Aveling, whose hidden marriage precipitates her tragic suicide. The story also delves into family secrets, including the scandal surrounding Eleanor's half-brother, Freddy Demuth. As she grapples with betrayal, Eleanor, with the assistance of Israel Zangwill, confronts her Jewish heritage, which her father, Karl Marx, had denied.