L'expiation de Saveli

Set amid the stark Russian steppe, a solitary wooden manor rises from a brick base, flanked by stables, communal houses and a bakery. The road, lined with towering birches, leads to a modest gate that guards a man whose icy blue eyes and unflinching stare have made him a legend of terror. Daniel Bagrianof, the estate’s lord, is known for his unyielding cruelty and a reputation that deters even the boldest.

When he marries the spirited Alexandra Rodionovna, the village breathes a sigh of relief, hoping the feared seigneur will finally be tamed. Yet the marriage quickly turns into a study in silence: the once‑lively bride learns to mute her laughter, her voice, even her tears, under the weight of Bagrianof’s cold affection. Their life is marked by a series of heartbreaking losses—ten infants die young, and the eleventh is taken from her by fear itself—leaving a fragile hope that a stranger’s kindness might yet save the child.