A world-famous pianist loses both hands in an accident. When new hands are grafted on, he is horrified to learn they once belonged to a murderer.
A young woman doesn't want to get married, but simply live together with the man she loves. This leads to problems when the man dies and she's left with a child.
The demonic Rasputin is poisoned but survives to continue seducing in evil ways, in this historical thriller.
The proprietors of a small inn on the Italian coast suddenly have to cater for a company of conscripts on their way to a nearby port. One of the sergeants recognizes Resa as a former "camp-follower". When her husband hears of this he becomes insanely jealous and decides to join the company.
Peter the Great, having become Tsar of Russia, using his shipbuilding knowledge acquired in a foreign country to establish a navy, and being able to use it, provokes a war with Sweden, defeating that country at the Battle of Poltava. This battle marks a turning point between Peter and Russia. His only son turns out to be a coward, meets a refugee girl and makes her his Empress, alienating himself from the church and many nobles. All these factors lead to a conspiracy...