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237 reviews for:
Nicolau e Alexandra: O relato clássico da queda da dinastia Romanov
Robert K. Massie, Angela Lobo de Andrade
4.28 AVERAGE
237 reviews for:
Nicolau e Alexandra: O relato clássico da queda da dinastia Romanov
Robert K. Massie, Angela Lobo de Andrade
4.28 AVERAGE
Loved Catherine The Great and decided to read more of Massie's work. Nicholas and Alexandra did not disappoint! It was a rich, historical read. Never dry or tedious, it moved along and kept my interest the entire time. My only regret? I don't have much time to read and it took me a while to finish.
It was very well written, not dry at all. Even though it is a long book it is among the best biographies I've ever read.
This book was informative, but it was also very interesting. I've been very interested in the Romanovs since I was little and the movie Anastasia came out. It was all fictional, of course, but it still piqued my interest.
Reading the real story was very moving. Massie does a good job of making us see their side of the story, and I find it very tragic. Why they had to be murdered is beyond me, but since that's usually a revolutionary's intent when deposing leadership, what boggles my mind is their cousins' refusal to aid them in any way. They didn't even try! So much for familial bonds.
Nicholas really wasn't a bad guy--he was actually a very nice, good-hearted man. The problem is that he was extremely unsuited to ruling anything. He ought to have been a priest or a wealthy philanthropist, devoting his life to helping the poor--it would have suited his disposition and abilities much better.
Alexandra didn't help matters. In modern times, I think most people would see pretty plainly that she was mentally ill and needed help. She was a hypochondriac, paranoid, and probably clinically depressed. Her influence on Nicholas was a bad, bad thing.
So, really, they were victims of circumstance, and their own incompetence, more than anything. Does that justify murdering them? No. It doesn't really justify murdering anyone. The least the revolutionaries could have done to get any sympathy from me is to have not killed the children and the couple's loyal servants, such as Dr. Botkin. I think the girls could have been sent to a convent--actually, Alexei could've been sent there, too, since the whole 'nuns are celibate' thing would've prevented him from reproducing, and his hemophilia likely wouldn't have allowed him to live a very long life (given the times and the state of medicine). Even if they had killed their parents, it would have been more forgivable if they hadn't murdered children and innocent people.
See? This book makes you see their side, and you feel sorry for them. They weren't bad people, they were just very bad at ruling a country.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and anyone interested in the Romanovs or Russian history in general would be remiss not to read it.
Reading the real story was very moving. Massie does a good job of making us see their side of the story, and I find it very tragic. Why they had to be murdered is beyond me, but since that's usually a revolutionary's intent when deposing leadership, what boggles my mind is their cousins' refusal to aid them in any way. They didn't even try! So much for familial bonds.
Nicholas really wasn't a bad guy--he was actually a very nice, good-hearted man. The problem is that he was extremely unsuited to ruling anything. He ought to have been a priest or a wealthy philanthropist, devoting his life to helping the poor--it would have suited his disposition and abilities much better.
Alexandra didn't help matters. In modern times, I think most people would see pretty plainly that she was mentally ill and needed help. She was a hypochondriac, paranoid, and probably clinically depressed. Her influence on Nicholas was a bad, bad thing.
So, really, they were victims of circumstance, and their own incompetence, more than anything. Does that justify murdering them? No. It doesn't really justify murdering anyone. The least the revolutionaries could have done to get any sympathy from me is to have not killed the children and the couple's loyal servants, such as Dr. Botkin. I think the girls could have been sent to a convent--actually, Alexei could've been sent there, too, since the whole 'nuns are celibate' thing would've prevented him from reproducing, and his hemophilia likely wouldn't have allowed him to live a very long life (given the times and the state of medicine). Even if they had killed their parents, it would have been more forgivable if they hadn't murdered children and innocent people.
See? This book makes you see their side, and you feel sorry for them. They weren't bad people, they were just very bad at ruling a country.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and anyone interested in the Romanovs or Russian history in general would be remiss not to read it.
Another fantastic history by Massie. It's interesting that he began his study of the Romanovs with the last of them, but I'm glad that I read his biographies in their historical order rather than their publishing order. It gives great context to the extravagant drama this family was committed to from the very first.
challenging
informative
sad
slow-paced
A very long biography, it filled in many gaps in my knowledge. It is amazing how the course of history can change as the result of one or two random events. A fascinating yet tragic read. Recommended for those who like (Russian) history.
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
I have always been fascinated by the last Romanovs. Nicholas, Alix, Anastasia, Rasputin... the family has always intrigued me. Partly due to girlish romanticism, Partly because I had grandfathers who encouraged my love of history.
570 pages of text.
The last Tsar's whole life story in 570 pages. He was an imperfect man, his wife an imperfect woman, but they loved each other and their children deeply. I believe, even moreso after reading this biography, that they were good people. Their intentions were good, if not misguided.
As I moved along closer to the end, I felt dread. I knew what was coming. A literal execution. Let me tell you... reading historical accounts of an execution that occurred 104 years ago is... heartbreaking. I cried.
Five months and 570 pages later... I feel deflated. I also want to know even more.
570 pages of text.
The last Tsar's whole life story in 570 pages. He was an imperfect man, his wife an imperfect woman, but they loved each other and their children deeply. I believe, even moreso after reading this biography, that they were good people. Their intentions were good, if not misguided.
As I moved along closer to the end, I felt dread. I knew what was coming. A literal execution. Let me tell you... reading historical accounts of an execution that occurred 104 years ago is... heartbreaking. I cried.
Five months and 570 pages later... I feel deflated. I also want to know even more.
adventurous
informative
reflective
informative
slow-paced
This is a really well written book about the life of Nicholas II from his teenage years up through his death. It includes a great amount of detail about his policies and actions as Tsar of Russia, and includes a great deal of information about Alexandria and their family. I think that Alexandria was a misunderstood person in general, and that certainly did not help their public impressions. The book also featured correspondence between Nicholas II and Alexandria, which was personal and enlightening. Overall, a very good book on these two people and Russian history in general.
This was incredibly fascinating for a number of reasons.
First, as a citizen of a democratic republic, I had never really put a ton of thought into autocracy. Most of my thought has been along the lines of 'True monarchy doesn't work because a monarch will always be removed from the needs of people.' The Romanovs are certainly not the family to undo this lesson, but it was interesting to see that autocracy had more shades of gray than I thought. While strife and unrest was rampant, many of the peasantry really did see the Tsar as one ordained by God. They needed their monarch because they didn't know how else to live.
The circumstances surrounding the Romanovs' downfall were tragic... but my desire for lurid sensationalism was certainly satisfied. I actually learned more about the Russian Revolution in High School Biology than History class (Anyone else map out the genetic transmission of hemophilia within European royalty?) so my understanding was basically Oppressed Masses + WWI + Mad Monk Hypnotist + Unpopular Royals = Bloodshed + Revolution - Anastasia. Aside from the glaring point of ignorance, this formula is basically the outline of the book itself. However, Massie's recreation of the events leading up to the overthrow of Russian government was not dull by any means. I went into this book knowing it would end tragically, but I still cried when it did.
I can't end my review without mentioning Rasputin. Perhaps moreso than any other figure in this history, Rasputin still lives in popular culture. Since my mind was filled with half-truths and hyperbole, I was excited to read more about the man from those who actually knew him. I thought this would help me draw the borders on the nebulous outline formed from half-truths picked up from a hundred different sources... But, it didn't. I really don't feel like I know much more about Rasputin than I did when I started, and I've decided that this is a good thing. It is both a testament to Massie's balanced writing and the ongoing fascination with this undefinable figure from history.
First, as a citizen of a democratic republic, I had never really put a ton of thought into autocracy. Most of my thought has been along the lines of 'True monarchy doesn't work because a monarch will always be removed from the needs of people.' The Romanovs are certainly not the family to undo this lesson, but it was interesting to see that autocracy had more shades of gray than I thought. While strife and unrest was rampant, many of the peasantry really did see the Tsar as one ordained by God. They needed their monarch because they didn't know how else to live.
The circumstances surrounding the Romanovs' downfall were tragic... but my desire for lurid sensationalism was certainly satisfied. I actually learned more about the Russian Revolution in High School Biology than History class (Anyone else map out the genetic transmission of hemophilia within European royalty?) so my understanding was basically Oppressed Masses + WWI + Mad Monk Hypnotist + Unpopular Royals = Bloodshed + Revolution - Anastasia. Aside from the glaring point of ignorance, this formula is basically the outline of the book itself. However, Massie's recreation of the events leading up to the overthrow of Russian government was not dull by any means. I went into this book knowing it would end tragically, but I still cried when it did.
I can't end my review without mentioning Rasputin. Perhaps moreso than any other figure in this history, Rasputin still lives in popular culture. Since my mind was filled with half-truths and hyperbole, I was excited to read more about the man from those who actually knew him. I thought this would help me draw the borders on the nebulous outline formed from half-truths picked up from a hundred different sources... But, it didn't. I really don't feel like I know much more about Rasputin than I did when I started, and I've decided that this is a good thing. It is both a testament to Massie's balanced writing and the ongoing fascination with this undefinable figure from history.