Imperial Dancer: Mathilde Kschessinska and the Romanovs

by Coryne Hall, Natalia Makarova (Foreword by)

Mathilde Kschessinska (1872-1971) was the mistress of three Russian Grand Dukes and the greatest ballerina of her generation. She is in almost every book about the Romanovs, but so many myths surround her that she has become the stuff of legend. After her own memoirs, this title aims to reveal the real story by looking at what she did not say.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Russia, Biography, Russian History, Royalty, Romanovs

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2005

About the author

Coryne Hall is an historian, broadcaster and consultant specialising in the Romanovs and British and European royalty. She was born in Ealing, West London and developed a fascination for Imperial Russia in childhood when she learnt that her great-grandmother was born in St Petersburg, an almost exact contemporary of Nicholas II. The author of six books, she is a regular contributor to Majesty magazine, The European Royal History Journal, Royal Russia, Sovereign and Royalty Digest Quarterly. She acted as consultant on the Danish television documentaries “A Royal Family” and “The Royal Jewels.”
Coryne has lectured at royalty conferences in England, Denmark, Russia and America. Her media appearances include Woman’s Hour, BBC South Today, the documentaries “Russia’s Lost Princesses” and "13 Moments of Fate", live coverage of Charles and Camilla’s wedding for Canadian television and co-hosting live coverage of Prince William’s wedding alongside John Moore for Newstalk 1010, Canada. She was also the last person to have a private audience with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She lives in Hampshire.

Reviews

[Laura Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before even reaching page 100, the message was clear. Kschessinska was a spoiled, egotistical, materialistic, conniving b****. If she had a good side, it was not aptly conveyed in this book. And dry paragraphs listing dates for births, weddings and deaths were tedious and far too frequent. Also, continually alluding to an ongoing affair with Nicholas II (which most historians agree ended once he married) before reluctantly conceding the fact proved wearisome and only seemed meant to titillate. A real shame the author never addresses facts which might prove interesting, such as Kschessinska's training regime. As stated in the book, she was still quite fit at the age of 38 and I was curious to know her more about her professional life which was overlooked in favor of sensationalism. Overall, a real disappointment.

If you want to find an interesting title dealing with Romanovs in history, check out either of the following.

"Nicholas and Alexandra" by Robert Massie
"Sophia: Regent of Russia 1657-1704" by Lindsey Hughes

Both are far better reads than "Imperial Dancer".

[Suzannah Rowntree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since Miss Dark and her crew are currently visiting Imperial Russia, I decided to read this biography of Mathilde Kschessinska, queen of the Russian ballet at the turn of the twentieth century and most famous these days as the one-time mistress of Nicholas II, before he married Alexandra. This biography was not the most fascinating reading as it refrained from diving too deep into commentary on Kschessinska's life - a life which neverthess was full of dizzying highs and awful lows. "Little K" climbed the ladder of the Maryinsky Theatre with boundless ambition, ruthlessly exploited her relationship with Nicholas long after it was over, was the mistress of at least three Romanov princes in quick succession, parleyed this success into astonishing wealth and a brilliant dancing career - suppressing the careers of goodness knows how many more talented dancers in the process - most likely made a small fortune in profiteering during World War I, lost it all in the Revolution and had to flee on foot over the Caucasus, before spending the final half of her long life working herself like a dog as a dancing-mistress in Paris to support an extensive family of impoverished Russian emigres. Bad Girl Makes Good, to wildly simplify things. I learned a lot about the imperial Russian ballet system, though not as much as I'd like, and came away with perhaps more questions than ever. It's tempting to wonder whether "Little K" ever wished she'd lived a life of blameless and prosperous obscurity rather than soaring too close to the sun, before plummeting so disastrously to earth. But I don't think she did, and moreover, a life of blameless obscurity did not save millions of Eastern Europeans at this time from horrific deaths. I still really wished we'd heard more about the WAR PROFITEERING though.

[Redfox5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up this book to read, I thought maybe it would be dull and dry. This was a history book about a woman I'd never heard of, set in a time I know little about. It was also about ballet, something I've never been into.

It ended up being one of those magical books that smashes all your low expectations and drags you into the pages.

Mathilde Kschessinska is a fascinating woman. A famous Russian ballerina, mistress to 3 members of the Romanov family, including the Tsar. Her life story is told here from her life in Russian society, to during her last days in Paris where she is poverty stricken.

I don't know anything about the Romanovs or the Russian revolution apart from the fact that they were murdered. I have no idea what the other side of that was, so it's hard for me to be anything but shocked at the murder of the Tsar and Tsarina, especially since she is linked to the British Royal family. This has really piqued my interest and I'm going to make sure to read more about this.

I also didn't understand when the rest of the Romanov family fled Russia, that the European royal families did very little to help or house them. This seemed odd, since they were all linked by family. But again, maybe I just don't know enough about the situation.

I still can't decide if I liked Mathilde or not. It's hard not to admire her at times but she also seemed very selfish and self centred. This book also claims that Mathilde made things up in her own memoirs and this tries to set the record straight by discrediting some of the things she said with dates etc

While reading this, I looked her up on YouTube and saw a film had been made about her life, I watched the trailer, it was in Russian. But then saw a news article that one of the cinema's it had been shown in, had been burned down. I guess people still have strong feelings about her and what she used to represent.

This was a great book, it kept me entertained with Mathilde's life story and also has made me want to find out about the Romanovs. And people say History is dull!

[Elizabeth]

I gave up all TV except for movies this past months and it has definitely influenced my reading habits. This book I've been absorbing in fits and starts for the past two years. Finished! Tada! It reads a little bit like a grocery list, but it is very thorough and good at filling in some historical gaps. I've always been very interested in ballet from the turn of the 20th Century until the 50s or so, so this is yet one more character to add to that story.

Kschessinska would be much more fun novelized. The vixen who had a torrid affair with the Czar of Russia? Or the innocent who everyone assumed the worst of? Both of those stories would have been fun to read. Either way, the book is so balanced that I found myself really wishing that it took more of a stand one way or the other. But I imagine that the writer was going for that approach.

[Victoria Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating portrait of decadence to poverty, and the indomitable spirit of a ferociously talented woman. I longed for photographs, though.

[Paola A Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I saw the 2017 movie about Mathilde’s life, I was totally interested in her journey. She was part of a world about to crumble and send her to a path of danger and misery, but she still survived her lovers, her arduous experiences and war itself. So, of course, I was so interested in reading about her life, and I don’t regret doing it one bit.
SOME PARTS WERE A LITTLE TOO MUCH FOR ME.
I admit there were parts where I became so bored, I mean, there were the repetitive experiences of Kschessinska proving to everyone she was the queen of Russian Imperial valley and that she would get her way no matter what, it was so repetitive that the only thing changing were the names of the people involved. I know that ballet was a huge part of her life, but still, I was starting to lose interest in reading.
OF COURSE, THE ROYALS DIDN’T SEE ANY DANGER.
From the moment, they had to run away from her house. These people should have been gone anywhere in Europe, instead of running through Russia until they ere almost starving and dying of cold and fear. Then, when WW1 was setting over then, they still chose to remain in France, they should’ve taken the first ship to America and run the fuck away. And, let’s not start with pampered Vova joining revolutionaries like an oaf, I am sorry , but even though Joseph was not the crispiest chip on their family bag, he was still a better parent that Mala and Andrei when it came to raising their kids to be ready for their life.

[Alyssa]

lol every account of her personality is exactly the same so it makes one wonder you know? It could be a collective bias but most people including her dance peers, family, and instructors wrote of how vain, conceited and entitled she was. They also would note how she was very ambitious and ruthless when it came to rivalries in either dance or her personal life. She used her good connections to the romanovs to get what she wanted. A lot of her career is actually due to action from the imperial court bc homegirl was fucking nicky and his cousins 😗

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest look at the life of the mistress of Nicholas II and one of the ballet's greatest performers. Mathilde Kschessinska was a survivor...rising through the ranks of the ballet in Russia, capturing the eye of the then Tsarevich, and becoming one of the movers and shakers of ballet society, this lady led a charmed existence until the Russian Revolution. Cast out of her country, Kschessinska continued to make a name for herself in France, marrying a Grand Duke and raising her son while supporting herself by running a ballet school and writing her memoirs. An interesting read.

[margaret tapscott · Rating 5 out of 5]

FACINATING!

I couldn't put this book down and wished it could continue. Not only was the subject of this period in Russian history of interest to me, but also the author made for an interesting read. I find myself going back and rereading certain sections and also getting sidetracked researching some of the family members. I enjoyed reading this book very much.

[Madeleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and fascinating!

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good biography about Mathilde Kschessinska, the mistress of Nicholas II before he married Alexandra Feodorovna. Here the author stays within the known facts and reveals the ballerina, warts and all, and does a fairly good job of it. Recommended.

For the longer review, please go here:
http://www99.epinions.com/review/Book...

[Dina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very tiresome reading. Too many names, dates, dry facts and only a little psychological analysis. I would have expected to know more about her dancing, rather than her jewels and dresses. However, it seems that the latter was more important to her and the dance was only the way to approval and wealth.