Family
In this collection, we see the significance of family, whether it is living loved ones or ancestors of the past. For example, in "The Leopard," we see a strained relationship between two brothers, marked by betrayal and political complications. In "Granddaughters," Galina connects to her culture and ancestry through her grandmother, a ballerina who had been censored from a painting.
Russian history
This collection includes a number of stories set during various times in Russian history, giving a sense of how culture and attitudes have changed over time. The stories are interwoven, and connected through the generations, showing how things have changed but also how people share similarities to their ancestors, and how their lives are constantly impacted by events that happened in the past.
