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dearreader 's review for:
Nicholas and Alexandra: The Classic Account of the Fall of the Romanov Dynasty
by Robert K. Massie
Intimidated by his namesake 'herculean father', young Nicholas dreaded the inevitable day he would become Tsar. We are introduced to the Romanov dynasty before Nicholas II becomes Tsar. Instead, we get to know both him and his future wife, Alexandra as they grew up in their respective circles of royalty and privilege. Essentially you receive biographies of each, which, albeit bored me a smidge at first, but it really provided foundational understanding of who they are as people. We learn what drives them, what fears they have and how the two meet and, eventually, blend together. These are all important facets of the Romanov story that has magnetically drawn people.
Massie writes their stories as if it is fiction. While the Romanov dynasty has proven to be interesting on its own, he lyrically narrates their lives with aplomb. As a beginner in the world of historical reading and historical-fiction (which this is not), this is a great book for those who are wanting to dabble more into histories. I'd be certain that Massie is able to enrapture readers with any level of interest in history. I'll be sure to check out his other works.
Dazzling in royal opulence, thick with tradition and national pride, Nicholas and Alexandra desperately clung to their autocracy. I watched as Nicholas fought to keep the throne during a time when Russia was laboring under the ill effects of the Crimean War: food supplies running short when the population was doubling, and a new class of impoverished industrial workers. The timing for Nicholas' seat on the throne couldn't have been worse, especially for a man who didn't even want to be Tsar in the first place. As history tells us, from the Crimean War, to Bloody Sunday, to the Russian Revolution, and World War I all within just mere years of each other, the Russia that Nicholas was to rule over was falling to pieces quickly.
The story gains momentum as we see the fall of Russian autocracy and the rise of the Bolshevik revolution as Vladimir Lenin upstages the Romanov dynasty, bringing communism in the stead of autocracy in a style as violent as it was quick.
The secret of little Alexei's hemophilia was kept for quite a while, and is the driving force between the dependence Empress Alexandra has with the chilling Gregory Rasputin. I'll say no more because, truly, that thread of the story is captivating and weaved well by Massie. You'll have to read it yourself.
As diamonds and gowns are bled out from the Imperial family, we continue to follow them through the dark times as Nicholas steps down from the throne and he and his family are led through a horrifying series of, essentially, imprisonment camps. As the Bolshevik's gained momentum and Nicholas stepped away from the title of Tsar, the ending for the Romanov's was never going to end in their well being.
Authoritative and spell-binding. If you've the slightest interest in the Romanov's, you'll not regret reading this one.
Massie writes their stories as if it is fiction. While the Romanov dynasty has proven to be interesting on its own, he lyrically narrates their lives with aplomb. As a beginner in the world of historical reading and historical-fiction (which this is not), this is a great book for those who are wanting to dabble more into histories. I'd be certain that Massie is able to enrapture readers with any level of interest in history. I'll be sure to check out his other works.
Dazzling in royal opulence, thick with tradition and national pride, Nicholas and Alexandra desperately clung to their autocracy. I watched as Nicholas fought to keep the throne during a time when Russia was laboring under the ill effects of the Crimean War: food supplies running short when the population was doubling, and a new class of impoverished industrial workers. The timing for Nicholas' seat on the throne couldn't have been worse, especially for a man who didn't even want to be Tsar in the first place. As history tells us, from the Crimean War, to Bloody Sunday, to the Russian Revolution, and World War I all within just mere years of each other, the Russia that Nicholas was to rule over was falling to pieces quickly.
The story gains momentum as we see the fall of Russian autocracy and the rise of the Bolshevik revolution as Vladimir Lenin upstages the Romanov dynasty, bringing communism in the stead of autocracy in a style as violent as it was quick.
The secret of little Alexei's hemophilia was kept for quite a while, and is the driving force between the dependence Empress Alexandra has with the chilling Gregory Rasputin. I'll say no more because, truly, that thread of the story is captivating and weaved well by Massie. You'll have to read it yourself.
As diamonds and gowns are bled out from the Imperial family, we continue to follow them through the dark times as Nicholas steps down from the throne and he and his family are led through a horrifying series of, essentially, imprisonment camps. As the Bolshevik's gained momentum and Nicholas stepped away from the title of Tsar, the ending for the Romanov's was never going to end in their well being.
Authoritative and spell-binding. If you've the slightest interest in the Romanov's, you'll not regret reading this one.