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''Zoya'' is a 1987 romance novel by American
Danielle Steel Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel (born August 14, 1947) is an American writer, best known for her romance novels. She is the bestselling living author and one of the best-selling fiction authors of all time, with over 800 milli ...
. It is Steel's 23rd novel.


Plot

Zoya Konstantinovna Ossupov is a Russian countess, a young cousin to Tsar Nicholas II. Escaping the
Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution, social change in Russian Empire, Russia, starting in 1917. This period saw Russia Dissolution of the Russian Empire, abolish its mona ...
with her grandmother and a loyal retainer, she arrives in Paris, penniless, where she must carve a new life for herself and her loved ones. There, she joins Diaghilev's
Ballets Russes The Ballets Russes () was an itinerant ballet company begun in Paris that performed between 1909 and 1929 throughout Europe and on tours to North and South America. The company never performed in Russia, where the Russian Revolution, Revolution ...
. Against the wishes of her grandmother, who objects to consorting with those outside her class, she meets and falls in love with American GI Clayton Andrews. After World War I, they marry and move to America, where Zoya faces many joys and hardships in her life. She struggles through the
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
and
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, then meets and falls for millionaire cloth merchant, Simon Hirsch, who later died in another war.


TV Film adaptation

In the TV movie version, Zoya is portrayed by
Melissa Gilbert Melissa Ellen Gilbert (born May 8, 1964) is an American actress. Gilbert began her career as a child actress in the late 1960s, appearing in numerous commercials and guest-starring roles on television. From 1974 to 1983, she starred as Laura Ing ...
. Her husband, Clayton Andrews, is portrayed by her then-husband Bruce Boxleitner. Zoya's grandmother Evgenia is portrayed by Dame Diana Rigg; Philip Casnoff, David Warner,
Denise Alexander Denise Alexander (November 11, 1939 – March 5, 2025) was an American actress best known for her role as Lesley Webber on ''General Hospital'', a role she originally played from 1973 to 1984 (contract), 1996 to 2009, and a guest stint in 2013 ...
and
Jennifer Garner Jennifer Anne Garner (born April 17, 1972) is an American actress. Born in Houston, Texas and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, Garner studied theater at Denison University and began acting as an understudy for the Roundabout Theatre Company ...
also appear.


References

1988 American novels Historical romance novels Novels by Danielle Steel American novels adapted into films Novels set in the Russian Revolution American novels adapted into television shows American historical novels Delacorte Press books American romance novels {{1980s-WWII-novel-stub