The Flight Of The Romanovs: A Family Saga

by John Curtis Perry, Constantine V. Pleshakov

A saga of love and lust, personal tensions and rivalries, antagonisms and hatreds, The Flight of the Romanovs describes the last century of the Russian imperial dynasty, the Romanovs, from the youth of the future tsar Alexander III in the 1860s until the death in 1960 of his daughter, Olga Alexandrovna, the last grand duchess.John Curtis Perry and Constantine V. Pleshakov use a wealth of previously untapped sources, including unpublished diaries of many of the principal characters, interviews with people who knew them well, and never before published photographs to create a history of a family and a time. Along the way we learn of the relationships between Alexander III and his children, the conspiracy against Rasputin, Duke Dimitrie's affair with Coco Chanel, the hostile behavior of the House of Windsor toward the Romanovs, and the war between the Romanovs and the secret police.Concluding with a discussion of the imperial restoration movement in Russia today, The Flight of the Romanovs is a must-read for anyone interested in the Romanov family, Russian history, and the history of European royalty.

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

448 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1999

About the author

John Curtis Perry, also known as John Perry, was an East Asian and Oceanic studies professor and historian. He was the Henry Willard Denison Professor of History at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. He was also the director of that school's Maritime Studies program and founding president of the Institute for Global Maritime Studies, until his retirement in 2014.
Perry wrote history books and articles on topics including Pacific Asia-US relations, the American occupation of Japan, American expansionism toward the Pacific Ocean, and Singapore's history. His writing style is characterized by artfully conveying history to the general reader with pith, wit, and clarity. The Japanese government awarded him the Imperial decoration of the Order of the Sacred Treasure for his contributions to US-Japan relations.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining and informative history of the Romanovs beginning with the assassination of Alexander II grandfather of the unfortunate and misguided Nicholas II, last real Tsar of Russia if you don’t count his little brother who unofficially was Tsar for a very, very short time. With the revolution and collapse of the Romanov dynasty there was a rush for the borders. The Dowager Empress, Grand Dukes, Princes etc. and some of their hidden jewelry left Russia forever.

Russia pre-1917 was a top heavy place of fabulous wealth and power for the very few and a place of utter misery for the vast majority. The Tsars were terrible at judging politics and how their subjects were doing, especially the hapless and ineffective Nicholas and Alexandra. The end came quickly and it was violent.

This book follows the 17 Romanovs who managed to flee to Europe and one surprising family who had been exiled by Nicholas II to be forgotten and hide in plain sight in Tashkent. Everyone else left behind was executed. 18 Romanovs including the Tsar, his immediate family plus Grand Dukes, Duchesses, Princes etc. lost their lives in the deluge.

As for the 17 who managed to escape, Perry follows the fortunes and misfortunes of the Romanovs in Europe and North America, mostly sitting on their thumbs waiting to be called back to rule Mother Russia. Mostly, they didn’t adapt all that well. They’d never worked and hadn’t a lot of skills beyond sitting on horses in flashy Russian uniforms. There wasn’t much call for those skills in pre World War II France, Greece, Italy, Denmark, Germany, and England. The author points out England as turning a particularly cold shoulder on the Romanovs.

Several branches are still lingering out there as pretenders, the most visible branch a rather chubby, unlikely group. It turns out that King Charles of Britain has 1/32 Romanov blood, the same as the chubby pretender. As Charles is busy now I’d suggest his sister Anne. She sits a horse well and is fond of uniforms.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read the Radzinsky's Alexander II: The Last Great Tsaron the reign on Alexander II, which concludes with Alexander's death. This book by Curtis Perry doesn't skip a beat from that scene. The authors define the players in this family, giving personalities to the people on its very good genealogical chart. The first third or so, introduces their roles so we know something about their lives and characters before their executions or flight.

While the authors seem sympathetic to the Romanov's, I couldn't help but be struck about how self deluded this family was. When a Duma finally meets, and the citizens of Russia enter the magnificent palace--- I believe it is Minnie, the Empress, --- who is amazed that "they hate us".

In their flight, the Romanov's continue to pursue their former positions. They never talk about what they could do for Russia if they had then back. I don't think it occurs to them that their family corporation is supposed to have responsibilities to the people. The Romanov general, Nikolasha, has a constituency among some monarchists, but it seems to be by default: he seems to be a gentleman and hasn't done anything bad (but the army to war without shoes on his watch).

The flight is characterized by the same bad decisions that got the Romanov's in their predicament. They resent all those who will help them, and the White Russian army, (presumably proxy for the Tzar's army) similarly teams up with the wrong side in WWII.

The women fare better than the men and the young better than the old. It would be interesting to have an update in another 10 years, inclusive of the descendants of Olga and of Alexander II and his second empress.

After reading this book, I visited some internet sites, and the Romanov family is still active, bickering with each other as to who is the proper claimant to the throne. They cite LAWS.. yes, Laws. They cite arcane policies and traditions about who should be the Tzar. Some say that it must be a descendant from the male line through a marriage of a royal or equivalent status taking place in the right church.

This book was absorbing and helped me to better understand this chapter of Russian history.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is generally a good, well-researched, detailed, and engaging account of the fate of the entire Romanov family, not just the immediate imperial line. The book goes beyond the commonly told story of Nicholas II and his immediate family to tell the story of the wider Romanov clan and their diverse fates in exile in a lively, dramatic account drawing on a wealth of sources, including diaries, private papers, and interviews, to provide a rich and detailed account.

Overall great fun and full of fascinating titbits.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very well researched, and well written. There were certain parts that felt a bit choppy, but I think that was more from jumping around in the timeline a bit. Overall though I found this to be an enjoyable and interesting read.

[Aldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the decline of the Romanov monarchy over a span of 100+ years. Particularly a great starting point if - like me - you like to get a general context of who is who and what happened to whom and why, and then pick from that overview the specific persons or events about whom you might want to read about in more detail (I need all available books on Olga Alexandrovna, stat!).

I was rather glad for the map and genealogical tree in the front of the book, because I did need to refer to them quite frequently ("wait, which Dmitri is this? Whose children are these? WHY DID EVERYONE NAME THEIR CHILDREN NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDER?") but in general the author did a great job of keeping things clear, and I enjoyed the style, which was often reminiscent of prose.

A minor publishing/printing gripe: this edition has a number of typesetting errors throughout, with letters frequently superimposed over each other - it even affects the pagination for a whole section. Annoy.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a great beginning overview of the history of Russia from the 1800s to Yeltsin. In my gazillion years of education, not once did I take a Russain history class or read any Russian literature--kind of pathetic really. All of my references to Russia have been through the filter of ballet so it was nice to see where the Tsars fit in with Diagilev, Balanchine, Mathilde Kschessinska (who taught Margot Fonteyn) and others. I was also interested in the description of the TREST program, which was a trap by the Soviets to lure the monarchists from exile and back into Russia where they could be assasinated. All in all, very enlightening. I think I'm going to explore more Russian literature from this period.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expertly researched and well-written book about how Romanovs dealt with the end. However, the favourites of the authors became obvious very quickly. Additionally, it was strange to see them spend so much time on the period before the revolution (a little over 1/3 of the book), when the title implies that the book deals mostly with how the Romanovs got out and dealt with life after. A strange omission from this book was that the Romanov Family Association was not mentioned at all, which essentially demonstrates that the authors' focus at the end was the Vladimirovichi, and not the other descendants that left and were still alive, such as the kids of Xenia and Sandro who helped found the Association with all Romanovs but Vladimirovichi in it.

[Kenneth Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book on the Romanovs was interesting because it did not focus on the fate of Nicholas II and the royal family. It’s theme was on the seventeen Romanovs who escaped from the revolution. The book relates where the family was during the revolution and how they reacted to the events and then their eventual escape to Europe and beyond. Many felt the Bolsheviks would collapse and the Romanov dynasty would be returned to power. It was interesting where the various family members sought refuge and how they were received by other foreign ruling families.
The story then relates the controversy over who was the rightful heir to Nicholas II, and would become Tsar upon the expected restoration. Amazingly these arguments are still being discussed today among the descendants of the family. The various attempts to return Russia from communist rule and the part played by the Romanovs is also detailed. An interesting book on the “other Romanovs.”

[Anne Vandenbrink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting with the assassination of Alexander II, this book follow the Romanov family to the 1990s. Their extravagant lifestyle, numerous castles, and extensive collection of jewels made them completely out of touch with the masses. By the early 1900s the family dynasty was falling apart. Germany was taking their land, Lenin and the Bolsheviks were fighting for power along with the dynasty's White army and the revolutionary's Red army. The Romanovs and all their elite followers were driven to exile, but not before many were barbarically slaughtered. Reading this in the fall of 2021, it's eerily similar to fight for power in Afghanistan.

[Tami Quiring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well researched, with an easy to read style. It was very interesting to read about the plight of the Romanovs and other nobles as the Bolsheviks began to take control of Russia. In some ways one can almost feel sorry for them, if it weren't for their naivety and irresponsible lifestyles. Still, I don't believe that anyone should be subjected to the cruelty that many of the family member experienced.

[Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author is clearly smart and knows every little detail, but the organization of the book is atrocious. Each chapter has about 50 different topics of discussion so it’s basically impossible to stay on track. I didn’t get too far into the book before calling it quits, but I didn’t get even get to Nicholas II yet, which is what I thought I’d be reading about, with the name of the book. Oh well, I’ll find another book.

[Peter Goggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of anecdotes and perspectives recorded by the Romanov's themselves, this book serves as a great reference point to any assertion regarding the Romanov Dynasty's fall due to their own incompetence/bickering/moral rot. Perry allows the reader to slowly become fed up with the Romanov's nonsense slowly.

Perry does a great job of attaching descriptors to each of the family's names, in order to allow the reader to keep track of a family that shares a number of names.

[Dmitry Merener · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have now read it about 4 times in my life and it does not disappoint. Aside from the usual history of the Czar, it goes deep into every less known grand duke, prince and other royal family member. It compares their wealth to what it would have cost today. It is an addictive read that was hard to put down and I am disappointed that there is no Audio version of it but I believe it is time for a re-read. Amazing book, I highly recommend.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8! A really well-researched and organized novel recounting the legacy of the Romanov family. Though historical pieces are generally not up my alley, I really enjoyed reading this one. Some areas were admittedly a bit confusing as the timeline was occasionally choppy and there are a ridiculous amount of names and places to keep check of.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subject matter of this book was exactly what I had been looking for: what happened to the Romanov’s after they fled from Russia during the Revolution and civil war. These Russian exiles, so clearly traumatized, understood in our times perhaps better than their own.

[Robyn Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iv got most of the Romanovs books . A passion iv always had . This book has added a little more for me .. It's written with good depth.
It's another good insite for any who has the passion .

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This books is very detailed and heavily researched, but not so well written. The chapters seemed to meander about various people and topics without rhythm or reason. Something about this book made me very, very sleepy.

[Sara Marques · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for those who are interested in the Romanovs beyond Nicholas, Alexandra and their children, particularly the 17 Grand Dukes and Duchesses who survived the revolution, as about half the book is about their lives in exile. A very good read nonetheless.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know. For such an interesting period, it's surprisingly boring. Divorced from the drama. Pretty emotionless, lacks any payoff, lacks any flow. Not a favourite - I am so sorry John Curtis Perry.

[Kathywalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intriguing. Lots of great detailed information of all the Romanovs. Generated more questions in my mind.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read, just so hard to keep track of all of the Russians.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that was pretty easy to get through, got a little slow with some overdone detail

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything to do with Russia and especially the Romanovs and this book was so well written it was one of my favourites!

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a good view on the star-crossed Romanov family, as we see the downward spiral until much of the royal family is killed off and the remainder flees into exile. The volume features an extremely helpful genealogy at the beginning. I found it useful to refer to it from time to time to keep the "players" straight.

The story begins with Tsar Alexander II, a reformer, who was rewarded by assassination. In some senses, this was most unfortunate for Russia, since his efforts at reform moved a far piece from the backward, insular, autocratic system preceding his reign. His successor, Alexander III, learned a lesson from this: no more reform. As the text reads (page 29): "Alexander III checked the liberal course abruptly; extreme conservatism resulted."

He suffered from Bright's Disease and succumbed in 1894. The successor? Nicholas II (of Nicholas and Alexandra). With the Kerensky government and then the Bolshevik Revolution, the Romanovs were swept from power, and many executed by the Bolsheviks. Others escaped.

The volume follows the survivors over their life course. It also provides great detail on other of the Romanovs before the Revolution. Some were quite able; others were of little moment and possessed little talent.

The book provides a good picture of the family from Alexander II and his reform efforts to the death of the final "inside" members of the royal family in the late 20th century.

The book is a fascinating portrayal of a royal family. Sometimes, the detail becomes almost excessive, but that also enhances the richness of the historical perspective. All in all, a nice volume.

[Amy Salamon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was pretty ho-hum about this book halfway through. I think a major reason was because there were just too many Romanovs to keep track of! They were everywhere.

I chose this book in the first place because it was an era of history that I knew next to nothing about. I think this book did help some but by no means could I write a comprehensive essay or talk at length at a dinner party about the Romanov family. And that's due to how much I absorbed from the story - not due to the writer's skill. He was very thorough in describing the Romanovs. The only critique I have is that it was very matter-of-fact; I didn't get a sense of sympathy or aversion toward any of the characters or events. But that's also the point in a non-fiction book.

He does have moments that were brilliantly written, though, like the opening story of the tsar Alexander I's death.

I was also hoping for more details on the Russian revolution in itself. I think that would have filled in some of the gaps, for me. However, I also realize that's probably beyond the scope of this book.

Good, in-depth description of this royal family and I appreciate how he traced them to today (which I think was in the late 90's in this book). Interesting to see if and how the royal dynasty will play out in the future, particularly with the very current dissatisfaction with Russian leadership (Putin). I hope that I've retained enough to have a good, general sense of this family. It's always good to be well-informed of our world and its history. But now on to some fiction!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows the story of the brutal murder of Tzar Nicholas, his wife and children, in an Ekaterinburg basement, but what became of their surviving relatives? Flight of the Romanovs delves into that chapter of Russian history.

First the author provides readers with an account of the Romanovs lives on the eve of war, then sweeps you through the Russian Revolution, their escape from Russia, and finally, lets you discover what life was like for the surviving Romanovs in the Revolution's aftermath.

Their fates were varied. Grand Duke Nikolai's exile in France, marred by Bolshevik kidnaping attempts. Grand Duke Cyril's self-aggrandizement and eventual support of the rising Nazi Party. The Empress Maria Feodorovna's bitter exile in Denmark, where she fled after being sent away from Britain. Grand Duchess Olga's life as a farmer's wife in Ontario. Grand Duke Dimitry's relationship with designer Coco Chanel (he allegedly helped inspire the famous perfume Chanel #5) and later failed marriage to an American heiress. His sister Marie's failure as a designer and ultimate success as a writer and public speaker. Prince Yusupov's callous behavior, living off the notoriety gained by murdering Rasputin.

This is a thoroughly entertaining read. Recommended to anyone with an interest in Imperial Russia.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe the idea is political: underline the nonsensical nature of monarchy by lining up boring Romanov life after boring Romanov life. "You see, this system and, thus, these people are awful." I sort of thought we had already arrived at that point by the book's 1999 publication (or 1917, it would seem) but I digress.

Yet desperately uninteresting human material does not necessitate punitively emulating their lives through directionless storytelling. Yes, they were dull but interesting things happened around and to them. Hell, limited people overwhelmed by circumstance is one of THE stories.

The book does its best to obscure these realities. Nicholas II is plainly not up to the task but the dissonance between his arch-reactionary rule and swift abdication is barely realized, let alone explored. The run up to the royal family assassination (everything from where they were held to the rationale for it) is barely hinted at. Their execution is dispensed with in less than a page.

Maybe the desire for the latter details makes me gauche but after the fifth controversy over royal versus morgantic marriage I wanted blood.

[Sera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides an excellent, comprehensive overview of the Romanov dynasty from Alexander II to the late 1990s, but the authors have been able to put this important part of Russian history in easy to read terms. The book is impeccably researched and provides an objective overview of the fall of the monarchy, which posits that most of the family contributed to this downfall, rather than simply Nicholas II and his immediate clan.

I love the Romanvos - so strong in many ways, but so ignorant in others, and ultimately tragic in the end. I've read a number of books about Nicholas II and Alexandra so many of the details surrounding them and their family aren't captured in this book. However, the author's broad focus, while capturing the events of history during the time period in question, makes for a fascinating read. I also found it interesting that as late as 1997, when Yeltsin was in power, that there was still a voice for the reestablishment of monarch rule in Russia, with some of those voices crying out for that rule to be Romanov rule.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This unfolding story of the lives of the many Romanovs picks up in the late 1800's when Alexander III becomes Tsar of Russia. Books like this have the potential to be more like a textbook, but the writing was engaging. I have read books on this subject before, but I learned a lot. It did take me a couple of weeks to read it as I sometimes took breaks from reading for a day or two. But I kept going back to it. The focus of this time period is almost exclusively on Nicholas and Alexandra's immediate family, so I enjoyed learning about their other family members and their experiences (and sometimes deaths) during the same time. I did have trouble keeping up with all the various family members and how they were related, but there is a family tree in the front for reference. Overall an informative and enlightening read.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Provides a good wider scope of the extended Romanov family (whereas most works on the Russian Revolution will dwell only on Nicholas II and his immediate family). However, the author has a few favorite family members, and his bias becomes more and more obvious as the text progresses. In the end his attention to his favorites tends to drown out the rest of the family history.

Finally, I sincerely doubt his epilogue, in which he describes the re-burial of Nicholas II, his wife, and their children at the Peter and Paul Cathedral in 1998, is historically accurate. It is tinged by an extreme (and frankly bizarre) anti-Imperial bias, and does not match other given historical accounts.