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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Not quite as engaging as her other work, "The Romanov Sisters," but still well-researched and evocative. I had to listen to the audiobook on 1.5 speed because of the dragging narrator.
Really interesting and informative on this piece of Russian history.
It's abundantly clear Helen Rappaport takes her research serious and it shows through the minute details she's able to provide which makes her content more relatable.
This book focuses on the last two weeks of the Romanov's captivity in Yekaterinburg at Ipatiev House with each chapter's perspective changing to a different member of the family - including Dr. Botkin who willingly followed the family into custody of the Bolsheviks. Each chapter starts and ends with the subject in question but provides a grand picture including what the various Bolshevik and Cheka members were up to and events of global politics within WW1 that influenced the experience of the Romanov family as they approached the night of their murders. Also described is the behaviors of the family as they worked to accept their fate and their interactions with each other.
Rappaport does a phenomenal job covering the annihilation of the family with the upmost respect, clearly laying out the brutality they experienced in their murder and the mutilations post-mortem without cheapening towards a shock-value narrative. It's imperative we understand history so we don't repeat it and so those whom participated can no longer claim anonymity.
This book focuses on the last two weeks of the Romanov's captivity in Yekaterinburg at Ipatiev House with each chapter's perspective changing to a different member of the family - including Dr. Botkin who willingly followed the family into custody of the Bolsheviks. Each chapter starts and ends with the subject in question but provides a grand picture including what the various Bolshevik and Cheka members were up to and events of global politics within WW1 that influenced the experience of the Romanov family as they approached the night of their murders. Also described is the behaviors of the family as they worked to accept their fate and their interactions with each other.
Rappaport does a phenomenal job covering the annihilation of the family with the upmost respect, clearly laying out the brutality they experienced in their murder and the mutilations post-mortem without cheapening towards a shock-value narrative. It's imperative we understand history so we don't repeat it and so those whom participated can no longer claim anonymity.
dark
informative
so bias it's alarming. the last of footnotes means cross referencing any information is near impossible. the chapter structure was compelling but the actual writing was bland. until it got to the assassination at which point it got very graphic and the contrast to the rest of the book made it that much more uncomfortable. it's so anti communist that the parties and people who were anti-boleshevik but still leftist are pitied as being more victims of the evil communists. in the afterward the author seems to respond to critisism about the book but it only reenforces how bias. she doesn't want to cast judgement on the royal family but constantly calls the soviets brutal evil killers. I wanted a book that paralleled the last days of the romanovs with Russian history and stories of the population. instead it's an
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
It’s hard to comment on a book about a true life tragic event. Stepping aside from all politics, it is gruesome and actually really sad. I got emotional at times and I really think that is down to how well this book is written. This isn’t a book full of cold hard facts, but brings with it an emotional intensity that brought the history to life.
As someone already interested in this subject, I learnt new things and will happily be reading the next book in the future.
As someone already interested in this subject, I learnt new things and will happily be reading the next book in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
I have recently been on a Imperial Russia reading kick and I was especially interested in the fate of the Romanovs.
This book is great if you want history from a more human point of view. Some historical biographies can get a bit heavy on politics or details of war but this book balances it.
We learn who each member of the family was, their personal history and personality, and there's a touch of "what could have been", for example, marriage propositions for the daughters. We are given a summary of Nicholas II's reign, as well as those of the previous Romanov rulers. This isn't the book to read if you want a thorough breakdown of Nicholas II's reign, or the full story of Rasputin, this is a book to read if you want to know the family behind the name.
The book simmers with expectation and dread because we know they have a gruesome end. They have dreams of being exiled to the country and living out a peaceful life and it's heartbreaking for us, knowing what comes next.
This book helped me learn about this particular period of history, and how the fate of the Romanovs tied in with the end of WWI, but it also reads like a novel. A novel about a family.
This book is great if you want history from a more human point of view. Some historical biographies can get a bit heavy on politics or details of war but this book balances it.
We learn who each member of the family was, their personal history and personality, and there's a touch of "what could have been", for example, marriage propositions for the daughters. We are given a summary of Nicholas II's reign, as well as those of the previous Romanov rulers. This isn't the book to read if you want a thorough breakdown of Nicholas II's reign, or the full story of Rasputin, this is a book to read if you want to know the family behind the name.
The book simmers with expectation and dread because we know they have a gruesome end. They have dreams of being exiled to the country and living out a peaceful life and it's heartbreaking for us, knowing what comes next.
This book helped me learn about this particular period of history, and how the fate of the Romanovs tied in with the end of WWI, but it also reads like a novel. A novel about a family.
I have every intention of actually finishing this book, it just wasn't the right time for me to read it.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Reading about the Last Tsar and his family is a guilty pleasure of mine, so I read everything that is available on the topic.
If you are familiar with the story and the historical context this is an okay read. I think I dragged a little, mayby the original idea of telling about the last days is not really enough for a whole book. So there was a lot of Information around to fill the pages I wouldn't necessarily need.
I think that the scattered timeline can be pretty confusing for a reader, who is new to the Romanovs.
It served its purpose, not my favourite.
If you are familiar with the story and the historical context this is an okay read. I think I dragged a little, mayby the original idea of telling about the last days is not really enough for a whole book. So there was a lot of Information around to fill the pages I wouldn't necessarily need.
I think that the scattered timeline can be pretty confusing for a reader, who is new to the Romanovs.
It served its purpose, not my favourite.
emotional
informative
slow-paced