It is a fairy-tale account of the circumstances leading to the Russian Revolution, featuring the poor woodcutter, the orphaned children, the romantic but oblivious Royal family, the mad monk, the sleeping bear and the two conspirators in the wood.

The final part, "A Fairy Tale, Ending", focuses on Ransome's private life, shifting into first person narration.

Ransome's supposed Bolshevist sympathies bring him under suspicion when the Red Terror begins, but he redeems himself by helping to free Lockhart from the Kremlin.

On what is intended to be a brief visit to England, he meets unexpected difficulties, being questioned by the authorities and losing his job with the Daily News.

It includes an account of Ransome's possible spying activities and reprints some Secret Service documents released by the National Archives in 2005.

Historical figures featured in the book include Rasputin, Vladimir Lenin, Lev Trotsky and the secret agents Robert Lockhart and Sidney Reilly.

Blood Red, Snow White was favourably reviewed by the major British newspapers [3] and was shortlisted for the 2007 Costa Children's Book Award.