Praise for Tsarina: A vivid page-turner of a debut ? The TimesMakes Game of Thrones look like a nursery rhyme -- Daisy GoodwinWith its sprawling canvas and huge cast ... it's an entertaining romp through the endless intrigue, violence and debauchery of court life ? Mail on SundayThe extraordinary life and career of Catherine I of Russia is brought to life in Alpsten's colourful novel ? Sunday Times, Summer Reading Picks 2020As detailed as the jewels and enamel inlay on the creations of Faberge -- Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker's WifeAlpsten recounts this remarkable woman's colourful life and times -- Count Nikolai TolstoyLuscious and brilliant -- Natasha Pulley, author of the international bestseller The Watchmaker of Filigree StreetTsarina should come with a health warning - once you start reading, it's impossible to stop -- Hannah Rothschild, bestselling author of House of Trelawney Ellen Alpsten was born and raised in the Kenyan highlands, before attending L'Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris. Whilst studying for her Msc in PPE she won the Grande École short story competition with her novella Meeting Mr. Gandhi and was encouraged to continue writing. Upon graduating, she worked as a producer and presenter for Bloomberg TV in London. She contributes to in ternational publications such as Vogue, Standpoint and Conde Nast Traveller. Her debut novel Tsarina was published by Bloomsbury in 2020. She lives in London with her husband and three children.