Tsar Nicholas II (1868-1918) and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix) (1872-1918) - Page 31

duchessrachel · #**601** 04-04-2020, 09:08 PM

I have read many books on the British Royal Family and became interested in reading about the Russian Royal family from my reading on Queen Victoria. I would like to read a book on Nicholas and Alexandra. There are quite a few available and I was just wondering if someone could tell me the best one to start with. Thanks.

Moonmaiden23 · #**602** 04-04-2020, 09:22 PM

Probably the best "beginner" book on Nicholas and Alexandra that I can think of is Robert Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra". It is considered a classic.

The 1971 film of the same name was based on this book.

Curryong · #**603** 04-04-2020, 10:12 PM

Robert Massie's 'Nicholas and Alexandra' is immensely readable and I've enjoyed it several times over the years. It is very elderly, having been written in the 1960s and has been criticised more recently for being overly sympathetic to both the last Tsar and Tsarina. However, I'd agree, it's a terrific book to get an overall view of this couple.

After that, for something a bit newer, I liked Virgina Cowles' 'The Last Tsar and Tsarina' and would recommend it. But try Massie first.

duchessrachel · #**604** 04-07-2020, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonmaiden23

Probably the best "beginner" book on Nicholas and Alexandra that I can think of is Robert Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra". It is considered a classic.

The 1971 film of the same name was based on this book.

Thank you.

duchessrachel · #**605** 04-07-2020, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curryong

Robert Massie's 'Nicholas and Alexandra' is immensely readable and I've enjoyed it several times over the years. It is very elderly, having been written in the 1960s and has been criticised more recently for being overly sympathetic to both the last Tsar and Tsarina. However, I'd agree, it's a terrific book to get an overall view of this couple.

After that, for something a bit newer, I liked Virgina Cowles' 'The Last Tsar and Tsarina' and would recommend it. But try Massie first.

Thank you.

duchessrachel · #**606** 04-17-2020, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curryong

Robert Massie's 'Nicholas and Alexandra' is immensely readable and I've enjoyed it several times over the years. It is very elderly, having been written in the 1960s and has been criticised more recently for being overly sympathetic to both the last Tsar and Tsarina. However, I'd agree, it's a terrific book to get an overall view of this couple.

After that, for something a bit newer, I liked Virgina Cowles' 'The Last Tsar and Tsarina' and would recommend it. But try Massie first.

I have one other question about these books. Do they cover Nicholas and Alexandra's childhoods or do they start with their marriage?

Curryong · #**607** 04-17-2020, 09:13 PM

It's been such a long time since I read 'Nicholas and Alexandra' that I can't remember! As Massie was interested in their lives together it covered the marriage well, but then most books about them do that.

The Cowles book 'The Last Tsar and Tsarina' covers Nicholas's childhood and adolescence, relationship with his parents, the atmosphere in which he grew up etc quite well (though not chapter by chapter) but there is little about Alexandra as a child in it.

If you wanted a more intimate look at the young Alexandra you'd be better off with a book like 'The Last Empress' The Life and Times of Alexandra' by Greg King, which I have and enjoy reading. It covers her parents' marriage, Alexandra's birth, her childhood, siblings etc and her courtship by Nicholas before marriage. Perhaps you could start there.

duchessrachel · #**608** 04-19-2020, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curryong

It's been such a long time since I read 'Nicholas and Alexandra' that I can't remember! As Massie was interested in their lives together it covered the marriage well, but then most books about them do that.

The Cowles book 'The Last Tsar and Tsarina' covers Nicholas's childhood and adolescence, relationship with his parents, the atmosphere in which he grew up etc quite well (though not chapter by chapter) but there is little about Alexandra as a child in it.

If you wanted a more intimate look at the young Alexandra you'd be better off with a book like 'The Last Empress' The Life and Times of Alexandra' by Greg King, which I have and enjoy reading. It covers her parents' marriage, Alexandra's birth, her childhood, siblings etc and her courtship by Nicholas before marriage. Perhaps you could start there.

Thank you so much. I want to read all the books you have recommended. I became interested in Nicholas and Alexandra after reading the book "Queen Victoria's Matchmaking". It covered their courtship in there but it was only a small part of the book. It made me want to learn more about the both of them as children and when they were courting.

Alison H · #**609** 04-20-2020, 03:22 AM

The Robert Massie one, already mentioned, is the classic.

Alexandra: the Last Tsarina by Carolly Erickson is a recent one - not bad at all (although I think that might be the one which annoyed me by occasionally calling her Alexandra before her marriage ... but I could be confusing it with something else!).

victor1319 · #**610** 05-04-2020, 12:15 PM

The youtube channel "The Romanov Royal Martyrs" has a new vid out: It is about the life of the Empress and has a voice-over out of a radio broadcast.

I link this with some headaches, since it is very apologetic of the Empress and the vid advertises a book of the same title (and I get no cash-back

).

But it has some interesting photos and facts, so... I try to link this indirectly, I hope it works.

https://youtu.be/UgFE7UnpaYc

edelweiss.kb · #**611** 06-10-2020, 04:43 PM

His priority was his family. He wasn't trained properly for the role of Tsar but did his best in rising to the occasion. In the end, though, it wasn't enough for the Russian people.

victor1319 · #**612** 06-10-2020, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edelweiss.kb

In the end, though, it wasn't enough for the Russian people.

How do we know, that "it wasn't enough for the Russian people"?

It was not enough for a small clique in Sankt Petersburg and Moscow, this might be pretty sure... - but the majority of the Russian people, really? How do we know?

Stalin, the bearded bandit turned Czar, died peaceful in his bed with full power over All Russias and much more: Is this a sign, that his deeds were cool for the "Russian people" and "enough"?

BTW Welcome to The Royal Forums!

Alison H · #**613** 09-06-2020, 03:16 AM

Alexander II was also murdered. So was Peter III. Not too many lucky names ... although Paul was murdered because he upset his own courtiers, so I can see why she wasn't keen on that idea.

Dalriada · #**614** 09-06-2020, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edelweiss.kb

His priority was his family. He wasn't trained properly for the role of Tsar but did his best in rising to the occasion. In the end, though, it wasn't enough for the Russian people.

By most accounts it was his domineering wife that failed to rise to the occasion while the Tsar toiled on the war front. Her “regency” was the ruin of them.

rominet09 · #**615** 09-06-2020, 06:30 AM

I read a lot of books about them, it is clear that he was a nice man but not a leader. Some people are naturally born with this authority and some aren't... Fate gave a role to a man who was not born for it.

Meraude · #**616** 09-06-2020, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dalriada

By most accounts it was his domineering wife that failed to rise to the occasion while the Tsar toiled on the war front. Her “regency” was the ruin of them.

I don't know if Alexandra had anything to do with the attempts with the russification of Finland, but Nikolai definitively was involved in the try to abolish the cultural and administrative autonomy of non-Russian minotities, from Finnish point of view he was the worst of the Russian tsars governing over the Grand Duchy of Finland, (as well as other non-Russian parts of the empire).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ...ion_of_Finland

CyrilVladisla · #**617** 09-07-2020, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alison H

Alexander II was also murdered. So was Peter III. Not too many lucky names ... although Paul was murdered because he upset his own courtiers, so I can see why she wasn't keen on that idea.

Nicholas II had declared that there had been enough usage of the names of Alexander and Nicholas.

duchessrachel · #**618** 10-06-2020, 11:20 AM

I am about to finish reading "Nicholas and Alexandra" by Robert K. Massie. Does anyone know of a reputable book on Rasputin? I am looking at this one and wonder if anyone has read it. I would appreciate any other recommendations.

CyrilVladisla · #**619** 10-07-2020, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duchessrachel

I am about to finish reading "Nicholas and Alexandra" by Robert K. Massie. Does anyone know of a reputable book on Rasputin? I am looking at this one and wonder if anyone has read it. I would appreciate any other recommendations.

Rasputin: The Untold Story by Joseph T. Fuhrmann
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rasp...ann/1110872144

duchessrachel · #**620** 10-07-2020, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

Rasputin: The Untold Story by Joseph T. Fuhrmann
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rasp...ann/1110872144

Thank you so much! Also, I want to read Robert K. Massie's book "The Romanovs: The Final Chapter". Apparently there is an updated version that was published in 2012. Do you have any idea what the difference is in it from the original publication?