Books on the Romanovs, members of the Imperial Family and Russian Tsars

[Jackswife]

Aside from Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra" I highly recommend "The Romanovs: 1818-1959" and "Once A Grand Duchess: Xenia, Sister of Nicholas I", both by John Van Der Kiste, and also Edvard Radzinsky's books "The Last Tsar" and "Alexander II: the Last Great Tsar."

[Lady Jennifer]

Originally Posted by Jackswife

Aside from Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra" I highly recommend "The Romanovs: 1818-1959" and "Once A Grand Duchess: Xenia, Sister of Nicholas I", both by John Van Der Kiste, and also Edvard Radzinsky's books "The Last Tsar" and "Alexander II: the Last Great Tsar."

I've never heard of "Once A Grand Duchess: Xenia, Sister of Nicholas I". Is this a newer book that has just come out or has it been out for a while. It sounds very interesting.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by Lady Jennifer

I've never heard of "Once A Grand Duchess: Xenia, Sister of Nicholas I". Is this a newer book that has just come out or has it been out for a while. It sounds very interesting.

It's "Once a Grand Duchess: Xenia, sister of Nicholas II." and according to Amazon.com, that version has at least been out since 2004.

[Lady Jennifer]

Originally Posted by norwegianne

It's "Once a Grand Duchess: Xenia, sister of Nicholas II." and according to Amazon.com, that version has at least been out since 2004.

Ahh thats why I don't remember hearing about this book.....its been a while since I've been on a royal book buying spree .

[Ygraine]

The Fate Of The Romanovs-Greg King
Anastasia-Peter Kurth
Nicholas And Alexandra-Robert K Massie
The Real Tsaritsa-Lili Dehn
The Woman Who Rose Again-Gleb Botkin
The File On The Tsar-Tom Mangold and Anthony Summers
The Real Romanovs-Gleb Botkin
The Sokolov Report- John F O'Connor

[Ritka]

Anybody can read the Anastasia's Album book, I actually like it a lot even though not a lot was new. I like it because it's based on family life. It was originally written to interest children in the real royals, not the Anastasia of many bad movies. It has 2 pages of rare pictures previously unpublished before.

Don't know about any spanish books but I have a friend in Argentina, I'll ask her.

A "gem" in the context I used was meant to mean something like...a great book I guess.

[photofan]

Oh thank you soo much Ritka!

[Ritka]

No problem. Any questions about Romanov books you can ask me, I have most of the basics here.

[norwegianne]

I borrowed two books at the library the other day: Olga Romanov - Russia's Last Grand Duchess by Patricia Phenix (1999) and The Last Grand Duchess by Ian Vorres (1964). Personally I found the first one too "chatty" and I rather question Phenix' work when she can get a simple fact like when the Germans invaded Denmark, wrong. That aside, it was an interesting book to read, just alone in terms of being allowed access to letters in archives, the DNA testings, etc.

The other book felt more personal as it was based on Olga's personal memories and interviews with her, rather than just letters, and interviews with people around her as Phenix did.

One account I did enjoy very much from Phenix' book was when Canadian journalists came to interview her - and one kept addressing her as "Your Majesty". According to the book, Olga irritated said: "My name is Mrs. Kulikovsky and if you don't want to call me that, it's 'Her Imperial Highness."

[Ritka]

Another book is Romanov Autumn. It's hard to find but I hear from everyone it's worth it. My copy is currently on the way to me and I can't wait! I know that julia.montague has it, she read some to me over Yahoo, and she can probably give a full review of it.

[HRH Kerry]

Originally Posted by Jackswife

Aside from Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra" I highly recommend "The Romanovs: 1818-1959" and "Once A Grand Duchess: Xenia, Sister of Nicholas I", both by John Van Der Kiste, and also Edvard Radzinsky's books "The Last Tsar" and "Alexander II: the Last Great Tsar."

I've seen "Alexander II: The Last Great Tsar" just recently on display at my local bookstore and was wondering if it was worth it. I might have to pick this one up.

Thanks:)

[tenngirl]

Kerry,
One complaint that I have about the book on Alexander II is that it does not deal with the personal side very much. It gives more detail on the actual society of Russia but not his relationship with his family, etc. I had read that complaint somewhere else before I started the book, but I found it to be true!

That part is disappointing but at least there is a book available about him. Since its so hard to find anything about the Tsars in America.

I did enjoy the first part of The Last Tsar. He is a very interesting writer. Although sometimes, I just want to shake Nicky II. What AN IDIOT!!!

Have you read the book on the Grand Duchesses of Russia? It has information on all the daughters of the Tsars and it is really intriguing!

[morhange]

Two fictional books that I've read are, "Summer Day is Done," and "The Snow Mountain" which are interesting. They pertain to the life of Nicholas II's daughter Olga. The second one is interesting because there's a chapter in which her cousin Dmitri asks her if she would involve herself in a plot that would overthrow her father and name her empress. Of course she refuses, but it's an interesting historical what-if.

I would really recommend "The Camera and the Tsars" and "Romanov Autumn," both are very informative, and the first has some excellent pictures of all sorts of Romanovs, not just the last tsar and his family.

[Ritka]

I haven't read either of those fictional books, but I've heard that "Summer Day is Done" has more accurate characters. My three favorite fictional Romanov books are the Anastasia Royal Diary (so innacurate but I liked it), The Kitchen Boy (reads like a real story, and presents an actual theory as what happened, very accurate), and Angel on the Square (which follows a noble girl, Katya, who lives with the Imperial Family and is friends with Anastasia, but goes on after the executions)

[tenngirl]

Originally Posted by morhange

Two fictional books that I've read are, "Summer Day is Done," and "The Snow Mountain" which are interesting. They pertain to the life of Nicholas II's daughter Olga. The second one is interesting because there's a chapter in which her cousin Dmitri asks her if she would involve herself in a plot that would overthrow her father and name her empress. Of course she refuses, but it's an interesting historical what-if.

I loved Summer Day is Done. What a good story! Absolutely unbelievable unfortunately. But I loved the idea. I think it would be neat if they would make it into a movie. So sweet!

Have you read the other book by the same author as "Summer Day..." about Tatiana? Its called Shadows in the afternoon. It is not as good as Summer Day.

I hope to find the Snow Mountain some day. I have heard other people mention it and I want to read it.
Tenngirl

[Toledo]

For those interested in Anastasia I have to share my latest find. I recently bought the 1956 movie Anastasia on DVD and in the special features section of the DVD it contains a free extra documentary from the History Channel on the real Anastasia and the Romanovs. The documentary has many pictures of the Romanovs I've never seen printed in any book like Anastasia's own pictures. I did not know she was a young photographer herself and liked to do self portraits. The documentary also has some family movies and interviews with other Romanovs. But the photos are priceless.

[Eva-Britt]

I've read a lot of books about the Romanovs but I can just remember one title of the last book: the kitchenboy. It could have been true but it isn't.

[Monna]

Does anybody know about a good and detailed book about Nicolai I, Alexandr II or Alexandr III in russian?

[Avalon]

Originally Posted by Monna

Does anybody know about a good and detailed book about Nicolai I, Alexandr II or Alexandr III in russian?

I would highly recommend "Alexander II" by Henri Troyat. It is available in Russian (I have a copy).