Download or read book The Pearl written by Douglas Smith and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Set against the backdrop of imperial Russia, this tale of forbidden romance is the stuff of a great historical novel. It presents the account of the love between Count Nicholas Sheremetev, Russia's richest aristocrat, and Praskovia Kovalyova, his serf and the greatest opera diva of her time.