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marieintheraw's review
4.0
Really well researched and accessibly written while still leaving space for inquire elsewhere by staying on topic. However, do not go in looking for Romanovs go in looking for more Paris based in the storytelling.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
vanitas's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
Helaas iets te niche naar mijn smaak. Vond de verhalen van de mensen die kunst maakten en vooral de schrijvers interessanter dan de adelijke mensen.
mbkarapcik's review
4.0
After the Romanovs by Helen Rappaport covers just that period and beyond, sweeping over the Belle Époque period and ending in the 1950s. With an introduction to the brewing tensions that resulted in the murder of the tsar and his family and the mass exodus of royalty and anyone associated with the Romanovs, it's an interesting look at what happened to all these people.
When all this unrest occurs, many displaced people, including literary and musical luminaries, fled to Paris and places not far from the City of Light. It's a glaring look at the changes that people who barely lifted a finger to work must now completely revamp their lives to survive.
A stark episode involves some of these formerly wealthy people riding on a boat toward their new fates and handing over incredibly expensive jewelry and other priceless baubles to get a piece of bread. The conditions on the boat are truly deplorable with snow blanketing the travelers and large rats running around. It's a shock.
Russians who once held an esteemed place in society must now ferry others in cabs, play doorman, or sew garments for whatever the equivalent of pennies are. It's humbling to them, distasteful and disturbing to others, while some will do anything they can to survive. It's bleak many times and tragedy befalls many of the people who still hold out hope that Mother Russia will return to its roots again.
How ironic that I'm reading this book during all the unrest between Russia and the Ukraine right now. It's almost too appropriate to read this book at the time. You realize that this area of the world combats unrest so often that you wonder if it can ever be a peaceful place. It's not hard to read, just sobering and, at times, dense.
I was offered this book to read, and I took a chance on it because it sounded intriguing. Except for stumbling over the pronunciations of names and keeping track of the long list of people, I really enjoyed the book. And you don't really have to keep track of the "characters"--the stories keep you reading, anyway.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
When all this unrest occurs, many displaced people, including literary and musical luminaries, fled to Paris and places not far from the City of Light. It's a glaring look at the changes that people who barely lifted a finger to work must now completely revamp their lives to survive.
A stark episode involves some of these formerly wealthy people riding on a boat toward their new fates and handing over incredibly expensive jewelry and other priceless baubles to get a piece of bread. The conditions on the boat are truly deplorable with snow blanketing the travelers and large rats running around. It's a shock.
Russians who once held an esteemed place in society must now ferry others in cabs, play doorman, or sew garments for whatever the equivalent of pennies are. It's humbling to them, distasteful and disturbing to others, while some will do anything they can to survive. It's bleak many times and tragedy befalls many of the people who still hold out hope that Mother Russia will return to its roots again.
How ironic that I'm reading this book during all the unrest between Russia and the Ukraine right now. It's almost too appropriate to read this book at the time. You realize that this area of the world combats unrest so often that you wonder if it can ever be a peaceful place. It's not hard to read, just sobering and, at times, dense.
I was offered this book to read, and I took a chance on it because it sounded intriguing. Except for stumbling over the pronunciations of names and keeping track of the long list of people, I really enjoyed the book. And you don't really have to keep track of the "characters"--the stories keep you reading, anyway.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
the_history_shelf's review
5.0
Read my review at Shelf Awareness here: https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=1107#m19324
swymore2692's review
4.0
When the Bolsheviks took over Russia, the Romanovs, along with many other Russians, were forced out of their beloved homeland. Many resettled in Paris, where for the first time in their lives, they experienced poverty, hunger, and prejudice. Rappaport does an excellent job describing the hardships of the Russian diaspora in Paris, their first experiences with manual labor, their transition from royalty to peasantry.
The book is very well-written, thoroughly researched, and surprisingly readable for a work of academic non-fiction. If you are a history buff like me, I highly recommend picking up a copy. This one just came out Tuesday, March 8, 2022, so you should be able to find a copy at your local bookstore.
Thanks to Helen Rappaport, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.
The book is very well-written, thoroughly researched, and surprisingly readable for a work of academic non-fiction. If you are a history buff like me, I highly recommend picking up a copy. This one just came out Tuesday, March 8, 2022, so you should be able to find a copy at your local bookstore.
Thanks to Helen Rappaport, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.