Scan barcode
taneilcasey's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible. I learned so much that I never knew before about the last Czar and his family, the events leading up to the Revolution, and the Russian Revolution itself. I had no idea that so much politics were involved, although it should have been obvious. Rasputin was much more of an influence then I ever imagined. He was also much more disgusting than I ever imagined, and if you are going to read this book, I would be careful when reading the parts about Rasputin.
This book shows the life of Nicholas Romanov clear from before he was married, to the end of his life in the cellar of a house in the Ural Mountains. You learn to know the personality of the Czar, the hardships that his family endured. You come to know the family, and mourn heavily at the end.
I also learned a lot about a part of history that I never learned much about, and it was facinating. I am becoming more and more interested in Russian History, and this book was amazing in how it showed how each separate event came together as a whole, to influence people, Russia, and the world.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Russia, and the last Czar, only, as I said, please use discretion in reading the parts about Rasputin.
This book shows the life of Nicholas Romanov clear from before he was married, to the end of his life in the cellar of a house in the Ural Mountains. You learn to know the personality of the Czar, the hardships that his family endured. You come to know the family, and mourn heavily at the end.
I also learned a lot about a part of history that I never learned much about, and it was facinating. I am becoming more and more interested in Russian History, and this book was amazing in how it showed how each separate event came together as a whole, to influence people, Russia, and the world.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Russia, and the last Czar, only, as I said, please use discretion in reading the parts about Rasputin.
jlbates's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book, and in a sense I did. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about a period of history I came to realize I knew very little about, and it gave a thorough picture into people only really spoken of in legend (Romanovs, Rasputin, Lenin, etc).
However, in an effort to be thorough the author spends so long discussing very trivial matters that it is exhausting. I hit the 50% mark and couldn't believe after all of that reading I still had so much to go. I enjoyed the writing style of the author, just not the lack of brevity around (what I at least considered) trivial matters. I hate giving up on a book I started, but at 50% I was for too interested in reading other things and wikipedia made an acceptable summary of the action yet to come.
However, in an effort to be thorough the author spends so long discussing very trivial matters that it is exhausting. I hit the 50% mark and couldn't believe after all of that reading I still had so much to go. I enjoyed the writing style of the author, just not the lack of brevity around (what I at least considered) trivial matters. I hate giving up on a book I started, but at 50% I was for too interested in reading other things and wikipedia made an acceptable summary of the action yet to come.
_catherine_samaroo_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
bluestjuice's review against another edition
3.0
This is a story to which everyone knows the end, but the fascination to be had is in the slow burn of building tensions that eventually leads to the ultimate conclusion, brick by damning brick. Russian history is not a great love of mine, so there was lots of fresh and interesting information to be had here, and although the book is fifty years or so in print at this point (meaning that there are at least a few new pieces of information that are not addressed), most of the history is pieced painstakingly together from journals and letters and other contemporary accounts, and remains illuminating. The author seemed to like the people he was studying - at least, he induced me to like them as well. Even their flaws seemed to be laid out with the gentle honesty of a friend. Maybe that isn't the most objective reading of Nicholas II's reign, but as someone without a great deal of background in the subject matter, I found it more reasonable than a heated diatribe against the couple.
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
As I approached the final chapters, and thus the fate of the Romanov family, I grew so sad. Massie does an excellent job of creating a vivid image of Imperial Russia and the many characters who appear in the book. Massie is sympathetic to the Tsar and Tsarina and allows the reader to understand these complex historical figures. In Massie's depiction, the Tsar is a kind family man but is ultimately unable to meet the challenges Russia faced effectively. Alexandra is not an incompetent woman in over her head but a caring Mother who desperately wanted to ease the pain her son felt due to his hemophilia.
Overall, this is a very good general biography for those who are interested in the Romanov family. It explains the historical and cultural context necessary to understand this time period and is written in a very engaging way that makes it very easy to turn the pages.
As I approached the final chapters, and thus the fate of the Romanov family, I grew so sad. Massie does an excellent job of creating a vivid image of Imperial Russia and the many characters who appear in the book. Massie is sympathetic to the Tsar and Tsarina and allows the reader to understand these complex historical figures. In Massie's depiction, the Tsar is a kind family man but is ultimately unable to meet the challenges Russia faced effectively. Alexandra is not an incompetent woman in over her head but a caring Mother who desperately wanted to ease the pain her son felt due to his hemophilia.
Overall, this is a very good general biography for those who are interested in the Romanov family. It explains the historical and cultural context necessary to understand this time period and is written in a very engaging way that makes it very easy to turn the pages.
ilovestory's review against another edition
4.0
Well written and researched book that made me feel like I had actually had the chance to meet Nicky and Alix & their kids. It was interesting to think about how various factors influenced their overthrow -- they married for love, but would a different spouse have allowed Nicholas to remain as tsar, given how many Russians hated his wife for being German, or because of her devotion to Rasputin? The older daughter had the opportunity to marry and move out of Russia, and therefore would have lived, but wanted to wait to marry for love, etc.
The only part I didn't enjoy was the fact it wasn't entirely chronological & that sometimes made events a little confusing to place into a timeframe with the other events I'd learned about in other sections of the book.
In sum, well worth reading. I have a new-found interest in visiting Russia.
The only part I didn't enjoy was the fact it wasn't entirely chronological & that sometimes made events a little confusing to place into a timeframe with the other events I'd learned about in other sections of the book.
In sum, well worth reading. I have a new-found interest in visiting Russia.
arnoldzenio's review against another edition
5.0
Massie is great. This book brings the story of WWI alive and the tragedy of Nicholas and Alexandra and their sad lives.
Helps you understand modern day Russia a bit more.
Helps you understand modern day Russia a bit more.
mfreader's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating biography of events I was previously only vaguely aware. The lives of the Romanovs are made real using actual excerpts from letters between Nicholas and Alexandra. I read this as a casual read and not for any research reason. As a result I lost track of some of the names of characters (I didn't feel any need to go do research to remind me) but nonetheless I didn't feel that it took away from the impact it had on my new understanding of the lives of the Romanovs and the events that framed their fate.