---
product_id: 105737205
title: "The Adventures of Vaclav the Magnificent and his lovely assistant Lena Paperback – 3 May 2012"
brand: "haley tanner"
price: "A$5"
currency: AUD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 5
category: "Books"
url: https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/105737205-the-adventures-of-vaclav-the-magnificent-and-his-lovely-assistant
store_origin: AU
region: Australia
---

# The Adventures of Vaclav the Magnificent and his lovely assistant Lena Paperback – 3 May 2012

**Brand:** haley tanner
**Price:** A$5
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Adventures of Vaclav the Magnificent and his lovely assistant Lena Paperback – 3 May 2012 by haley tanner
- **How much does it cost?** A$5 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.au](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/105737205-the-adventures-of-vaclav-the-magnificent-and-his-lovely-assistant)

## Best For

- haley tanner enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted haley tanner brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

Review
        	
        	
        		
        			&quot;Like all the best tricks, Hayley Tanner&apos;s novel leaves you wondering how it&apos;s done. [A] Brighton Beach Romeo and Juliet... Funny, warm and smart - and with a peppery twist that suggests truth and love don&apos;t always sit easily - this is a magical summer read.&quot; (Financial Times)&quot;Tanner infuses their relationship with sunlight but never sentimentalises the immigrant experience... A uniquely charming first novel.&quot; (Kate Saunders The Times)&quot;[A] wonderful and wrenching debut novel ...She offers a case of love so mighty that you believe that it will end up rescuing a traumatized young woman.&quot; (New York Times)&quot;Haley Tanner has painted in this touching, sparsely written and powerful love story set in New York&apos;s Russian community, a vivid portrait of childhood and young adulthood that is likely to appeal to teenage readers and adults alike...It&apos;s not often a book comes along that can leave you literally nodding in agreement with the clarity of its insights - but this one has to be a contender.&quot; (Daily Mail)&quot;Tanner has fun re-creating the shimmering world of child co-conspiracy...The story is winningly conveyed...and Tanner doesn&apos;t dodge the more unpalatable elements.&quot; (Guardian)
				    	
					
        		
        		
        	
        
        	
        		About the Author
        	
        	
        		
        			Haley Tanner was born in 1982 in New York. She holds an MFA from The New School and a BA from Clark University. She lives in Brooklyn. This is her first novel.

## Images

![The Adventures of Vaclav the Magnificent and his lovely assistant Lena Paperback – 3 May 2012 - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51UKXnljv7L.jpg)
![The Adventures of Vaclav the Magnificent and his lovely assistant Lena Paperback – 3 May 2012 - Image 2](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51SdsF7l-DL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved the story
            
*by S***S on 21 August 2012*

Copied on my book blog at [...]Vaclav and Lena are two immigrant Russian children living in Brighton Beach, in Brooklyn.  Vaclav is very verbal and bright in school. Where Lena is quiet, and struggling learning in school.Vaclav loves magic, he is protected and loved by his parents. But, Lena is taken care of by her aunt.  Her home life is terrible. She is left by herself, most times when her aunt works at the club.  It is thought, and hinted that she lives in a abusive home, and her aunt is a drug addict.Vaclav wants Lena to be in he's magic act and be he's assistant.  He agrees that he will do her homework if she will be he's assistant in he's magic act.  Vaclav brings Lena home, and he's mother observes Vaclav's doing her homework, she is eating from their refrigerator. She doesn't like this, but she is aware of her home life, and feels for her, and says and does nothing.Instead Vaclav's  mother takes Lena under her wing, tries to be a substitute mother to her. She adores Lena and tries to help her in different ways.They continue to practice the magic act.  The day before the magic act, Lena doesn't show up for class.  Vaclav comes home, and worries something is the matter. He tells his mother, she goes to Lena's house to find out what is the matter.  Vaclav's mother doesn't come back till the next day.  We find out that his mother, tells him half truths, not the entire truth of the story of what happens.Lena, like the magic trick, she vanishes. For seven years Vaclav doesn't know where Lena is. He feels something will happen to her if he doesn't say goodnight. They meet each other on Lena's birthday, when she turns 17. He finds out all along she was still in Brighton Beach.He's life is interrupted by Lena coming back in he's life.  They learn, and we the readers learn the history of what happens to Lena's parents. How she came to the United States from Russia.My Review: I have been wanting to read Vaclav and Lena since it came out. I did not know what the story was about.  It looked different than most other books I have read. At times I like to read magically, and quirky books.  This novel did fit the bill.  I am so happy, I read the novel.I don't read books in one day usually three or four days. This one I read in one day.  I loved the writing style of the author. It actually felt like I was reading short stories.  The book takes place first when they are 7 years old.  Then when they are absent from each other. The last part when they find each other.  Then when we fast forward seven years.It is a bittersweet  magical story of Vaclav and Lena. It is also the love of a mother and son. The love and magic of the two friends helped Lena survive.  It is possible that things can change for the better. It was a story about two friends trusting each other.  The story did not focus on the tragic life of Lena, but her moving on past her childhood.  It was a sad story, but the end made it a satisfying read. I am glad I read Vaclav and Lena.Not everyone will enjoy reading, but if you like to read stories that are magical,  like I do, you will appreciate it this book quite awhile ago. I love books that are a bit quirky, this fit the bill.
  

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great read
            
*by S***2 on 28 July 2015*

This was a book I had once picked up while browsing and ultimately not bought. Then it stayed with me and for probably six months, without remembering the author or title, I tried to find it again. Finally I stumbled across it at B&N and bought it, and I loved it.This was an excellent, beautiful, sad book. I recommend it.Likes: I loved the writing and prose; I found myself highlighting a lot of quotes. The characters were awesome and well developed. I thought that Vaclev's momma, a big, brash Russian immigrant, was glorious in all her homely looks and beautiful momma soul. I loved that Vaclav and Lena were Russian immigrants and it leant to their bond and their differences to other kids. I loved that they were both children and young adults so you could see how it began, and how it began again.Dislikes: Well, it is quite sad, although it's not really a dislike, but it did not make me feel like liking it when it was describing some sad things.
  

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Interesting and clever characters
            
*by C***K on 25 April 2016*

I enjoyed this book, but it was interesting to read in the reviews how much the Russian community felt this book preyed on immigrant and Russian stereotypes.  Overall I felt the characters were interesting and clever, and since many novels use exaggerated characters to make stories more vivid and interesting, this didn't bother me.  This novel reminded me of The Language of Flowers, another novel which deals with the combination of young love and adoption issues, with equally exaggerated characters.  Overall, I would give this a thumbs up, although it did not feel like a must read novel.
  

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*Product available on Desertcart Australia*
*Store origin: AU*
*Last updated: 2026-03-16*