What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel: Romanovs, Revolutionaries, and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World
The hidden history of Emanuel Nobel, one of the world’s most successful corporate titans, a rival to the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds, integral in the creation of the Nobel Prize, whose legacy was erased in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution.
Other than the Tsar, Emanuel Nobel was likely the wealthiest man in early 20th-century Russia. He and his father, Ludwig, rose from bankruptcy to become the owners of an oil company that rivaled John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil. They imported the best practices from America and then used their own innovative ideas to improve on them, transforming everything from refining technology to transportation methods. They even invented the oil tanker. And all the while, in an industry famous for exploitation of its workers, they built homes and parks and schools for their employees, earning their enduring affection.
When young Emanuel Nobel took the reins of the company in 1888, he was only twenty-nine years old. Among his first duties was to host Tsar Alexander III and the imperial family, who wanted to see the famous Nobel oil operations firsthand. Emanuel acquitted himself with grace and aplomb, and, as a result, the Tsar offered him Russian citizenship on the spot. With the Tsar’s seal of approval, the Nobel fortunes grew exponentially.
Working in a nearby oil field around the same time was a troubled young man from a peasant family in Georgia. Educated to be a priest, his life took a different path when he was exposed to the revolutionary ideas of Karl Marx. In and out of prison in Siberia, charismatic and committed, always at the center of a fight, this young man would become known to the world in just a few years as Joseph Stalin, one of the leaders of the Russian Revolution. After the Tsar, the man Stalin most wanted to destroy was Emanuel Nobel, who represented everything he loathed about capitalism and its imbalance of power. As the world turned upside down, Emanuel found himself in the Bolsheviks’s crosshairs and began to plan a life-or-death escape from Russia. But would he make it out in time? And what would happen to the empire his family had built over three generations?
Sweeping across more than a hundred years of history, from the Crimean War to World War I and the Russian Revolution, this utterly compelling book chronicles one of the most influential men in history, whose name has been stricken from memory, and returns him thrillingly to life.
Other than the Tsar, Emanuel Nobel was likely the wealthiest man in early 20th-century Russia. He and his father, Ludwig, rose from bankruptcy to become the owners of an oil company that rivaled John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil. They imported the best practices from America and then used their own innovative ideas to improve on them, transforming everything from refining technology to transportation methods. They even invented the oil tanker. And all the while, in an industry famous for exploitation of its workers, they built homes and parks and schools for their employees, earning their enduring affection.
When young Emanuel Nobel took the reins of the company in 1888, he was only twenty-nine years old. Among his first duties was to host Tsar Alexander III and the imperial family, who wanted to see the famous Nobel oil operations firsthand. Emanuel acquitted himself with grace and aplomb, and, as a result, the Tsar offered him Russian citizenship on the spot. With the Tsar’s seal of approval, the Nobel fortunes grew exponentially.
Working in a nearby oil field around the same time was a troubled young man from a peasant family in Georgia. Educated to be a priest, his life took a different path when he was exposed to the revolutionary ideas of Karl Marx. In and out of prison in Siberia, charismatic and committed, always at the center of a fight, this young man would become known to the world in just a few years as Joseph Stalin, one of the leaders of the Russian Revolution. After the Tsar, the man Stalin most wanted to destroy was Emanuel Nobel, who represented everything he loathed about capitalism and its imbalance of power. As the world turned upside down, Emanuel found himself in the Bolsheviks’s crosshairs and began to plan a life-or-death escape from Russia. But would he make it out in time? And what would happen to the empire his family had built over three generations?
Sweeping across more than a hundred years of history, from the Crimean War to World War I and the Russian Revolution, this utterly compelling book chronicles one of the most influential men in history, whose name has been stricken from memory, and returns him thrillingly to life.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Douglas Brunt
6 books263 followersDouglas Brunt is an American novelist, historian, podcast host for SiriusXM, and entrepreneur. He was the CEO of Authentium, Inc., an Internet security company, which he sold in 2011.
Brunt is The New York Times bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction. His narrative history titles include THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL and THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL.
More information at www.douglasbrunt.com
Brunt is The New York Times bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction. His narrative history titles include THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL and THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL.
More information at www.douglasbrunt.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 22, 2026
I had a mixed reaction to Douglas Brunt’s Rudolf Diesel biography, but it was very readable and he had picked an interesting subject. His latest, about Emmanuel Nobel (nephew to Alfred Nobel, of the prizes), is a much improved effort. Once again, Brunt has chosen a fascinating, and as he persuasively argues, under known historical figure. The fascinating story of the Nobel family carries this book--Emmanuel Nobel’s petroleum empire was built from nothing, and at his zenith of power, he was mentioned alongside Standard Oil. But when the Russian Revolution came, he lost it all, and now it’s been largely forgotten by history.
Brunt’s writing is serviceable. It doesn’t get in the way, but it won’t stir your soul. If you’re not already sold on biographies of business tycoons, this book won’t make you a convert. But if you are interested, you will be entertained.
I received an advance copy in exchange for this honest review.
Brunt’s writing is serviceable. It doesn’t get in the way, but it won’t stir your soul. If you’re not already sold on biographies of business tycoons, this book won’t make you a convert. But if you are interested, you will be entertained.
I received an advance copy in exchange for this honest review.
June 4, 2026
The most readable history of the late Tsar era and the Russian revolution that I’ve read.
June 3, 2026
I’ve come to believe that you need to write novels first, or at least dabble in crafting plot, character, dialogue, and drama from the recesses of your mind, to stare at a blank screen with nothing but your wits and imagination, before venturing into the tedious and time-consuming world of narrative nonfiction. Great fiction writers learn how to build tension, develop story, force the reader to feel something for the characters, to understand their inner workings and motivations. The biggest compliment you can give a narrative nonfiction book is, “It reads like fiction.”
Enter Doug Brunt who had a bestselling fiction catalogue before shifting gears with the wildly successful “The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Deisel,” which I praised to the rooftops when it hit. But there is always the risk of a sophomore slump. Many great writers have one book in them. The follow-up always tells the tale.
Well, fear not. Brunt’s newest book “The Lost Empire of Emmanual Nobel” is at least as good if not better than his first. Like Deisel, most people only know the name Nobel because of Emmanual’s uncle, Alfred, the inventor of dynamite who created the Nobel Prize. But what you don’t know is that Alfred didn’t conjure his invention out of some dream. His father, Immanual, was an explosives’ expert who created the first contact mine to protect ports in time of war, and Emmanuel, the nephew, stood up to the king of Sweden who wanted the family to contest Alfred’s will. There wouldn’t be a Nobel Prize if not for Emmanual Nobel, about whom you probably know nothing.
When I was in grade school, we were taught that the world’s first billionaire and the richest man alive at the turn at the 20th century was John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil. That is probably untrue. Nobel was likely the richest man on earth prior to WWII. His fortune came from Russian oil, munitions, steel, and other manufacturing endeavors that he ran with incredible success.
Unlike Rockefeller, Nobel was known throughout Europe for his honorable treatment of employees and concerns for his communities. He was the first person to transport oil in a tanker ship – one he created – and the first to create his own currency to stabilize the money supply when the rest of Russia lost its mind.
But this isn’t just a book about an industrialist, although it would be excellent if that was the only storyline. This is the most fascinating history you will ever read about the Romanovs, Rasputin, Lenin, and especially Joseph Stalin. Brunt takes you places your history professors dared not tread for fear of ticking off the cranky old commie department head with dandruff on the shoulders of his tweed jacket and teeth the color of Naugahyde. If you want the real story of the Russian revolution, its devastating impact on the Russian people, Europe, and rest of the world, read this book.
There’s more, though. Brunt never writes this – the best ones don’t – but the subtext of “Nobel” is that the revolutionary impulses that darkened Eastern Europe and led to 70 years of death, haven’t gone away. Like evil itself, they live in the heart of every man. We must recognize that fact and stand against the current rising forces, or we too will be relegated to the obscurity of Emmanual Nobel, once the world’s richest man.
In the meantime, read this and recommend it to others. You won’t regret it.
Enter Doug Brunt who had a bestselling fiction catalogue before shifting gears with the wildly successful “The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Deisel,” which I praised to the rooftops when it hit. But there is always the risk of a sophomore slump. Many great writers have one book in them. The follow-up always tells the tale.
Well, fear not. Brunt’s newest book “The Lost Empire of Emmanual Nobel” is at least as good if not better than his first. Like Deisel, most people only know the name Nobel because of Emmanual’s uncle, Alfred, the inventor of dynamite who created the Nobel Prize. But what you don’t know is that Alfred didn’t conjure his invention out of some dream. His father, Immanual, was an explosives’ expert who created the first contact mine to protect ports in time of war, and Emmanuel, the nephew, stood up to the king of Sweden who wanted the family to contest Alfred’s will. There wouldn’t be a Nobel Prize if not for Emmanual Nobel, about whom you probably know nothing.
When I was in grade school, we were taught that the world’s first billionaire and the richest man alive at the turn at the 20th century was John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil. That is probably untrue. Nobel was likely the richest man on earth prior to WWII. His fortune came from Russian oil, munitions, steel, and other manufacturing endeavors that he ran with incredible success.
Unlike Rockefeller, Nobel was known throughout Europe for his honorable treatment of employees and concerns for his communities. He was the first person to transport oil in a tanker ship – one he created – and the first to create his own currency to stabilize the money supply when the rest of Russia lost its mind.
But this isn’t just a book about an industrialist, although it would be excellent if that was the only storyline. This is the most fascinating history you will ever read about the Romanovs, Rasputin, Lenin, and especially Joseph Stalin. Brunt takes you places your history professors dared not tread for fear of ticking off the cranky old commie department head with dandruff on the shoulders of his tweed jacket and teeth the color of Naugahyde. If you want the real story of the Russian revolution, its devastating impact on the Russian people, Europe, and rest of the world, read this book.
There’s more, though. Brunt never writes this – the best ones don’t – but the subtext of “Nobel” is that the revolutionary impulses that darkened Eastern Europe and led to 70 years of death, haven’t gone away. Like evil itself, they live in the heart of every man. We must recognize that fact and stand against the current rising forces, or we too will be relegated to the obscurity of Emmanual Nobel, once the world’s richest man.
In the meantime, read this and recommend it to others. You won’t regret it.
June 1, 2026
I’ve read a few histories of the oil industry, most of which focused on the emergence of the U.S. industry and its consolidation by Standard Oil. Brunt’s book shifts the focus to Russia, and to the emergence of global competition that broke the American monopoly.
The vast majority of Russian oil came from the Black Sea port of Baku, now in Azerbaijan. Baku had produced oil for more than a millennium. By the 14th century, Marco Polo noted that the region was famed for a “spring from which gushes a stream of oil.” Polo wrote that the oil was “not good to eat,” but was useful for burning and as a salve for wounds. For centuries, production in the region remained small-scale and artisanal, with oil sold mostly in regional markets.
The spark that led to the oil boom of the late 19th century was the development, in 1846, of a process for refining kerosene from crude oil. Kerosene produced a far cleaner and steadier flame than crude oil, or the then-dominant whale oil, which led to a rapid increase in demand for both crude and refining capacity.
When Robert Nobel arrived in Baku in 1873, he recognized that the Russian oil industry was in a state similar to that of the U.S. industry before its consolidation by Standard Oil. There were many small-scale producers and refiners, but they lacked the capital, modern equipment, and business and technical know-how to compete with the Americans. As a result, kerosene from the U.S. dominated the market.
Robert, with backing from his wealthy family, basically applied the Rockefeller playbook in Russia, and it worked as well there as it had in the U.S. The Nobels consolidated the industry and built a lucratively profitable enterprise by deploying the latest technology and using sharp-elbowed market practices. The Nobel business never quite attained the dominance of Standard Oil. They faced competition from the Rothschild-controlled Caspian and Black Sea Petroleum Company, later merged into Royal Dutch Shell, and from 1909 onward from the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, later renamed BP. Both had the sophistication and resources to compete with the deep-pocketed Nobels.
The man who would ultimately drive the Nobels and the Rothschilds from the market was not a business tycoon, but the son of an impoverished alcoholic shoemaker. Joseph Stalin was born in 1878 and, after training to become a priest, became radicalized and began working as a labor organizer and political agitator. As far as Stalin was concerned, the Nobels and Rothschilds were public enemy number two in Russia, after only the Tsar. In 1901, he got a job in a warehouse owned by the Rothschilds, where he immediately organized a strike and was arrested. In later years, he would organize guerrilla bands to sabotage pipelines.
When the Bolsheviks eventually emerged victorious, Nobel fled the country. He eventually agreed to sell his business, which he no longer controlled, to Standard Oil. Standard paid a small fraction of what the business would have been worth, hoping that the Soviets would eventually return the assets. This hope was not realized, and Standard became one of many Western companies to eventually take a write-off on their Russian operations.
The vast majority of Russian oil came from the Black Sea port of Baku, now in Azerbaijan. Baku had produced oil for more than a millennium. By the 14th century, Marco Polo noted that the region was famed for a “spring from which gushes a stream of oil.” Polo wrote that the oil was “not good to eat,” but was useful for burning and as a salve for wounds. For centuries, production in the region remained small-scale and artisanal, with oil sold mostly in regional markets.
The spark that led to the oil boom of the late 19th century was the development, in 1846, of a process for refining kerosene from crude oil. Kerosene produced a far cleaner and steadier flame than crude oil, or the then-dominant whale oil, which led to a rapid increase in demand for both crude and refining capacity.
When Robert Nobel arrived in Baku in 1873, he recognized that the Russian oil industry was in a state similar to that of the U.S. industry before its consolidation by Standard Oil. There were many small-scale producers and refiners, but they lacked the capital, modern equipment, and business and technical know-how to compete with the Americans. As a result, kerosene from the U.S. dominated the market.
Robert, with backing from his wealthy family, basically applied the Rockefeller playbook in Russia, and it worked as well there as it had in the U.S. The Nobels consolidated the industry and built a lucratively profitable enterprise by deploying the latest technology and using sharp-elbowed market practices. The Nobel business never quite attained the dominance of Standard Oil. They faced competition from the Rothschild-controlled Caspian and Black Sea Petroleum Company, later merged into Royal Dutch Shell, and from 1909 onward from the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, later renamed BP. Both had the sophistication and resources to compete with the deep-pocketed Nobels.
The man who would ultimately drive the Nobels and the Rothschilds from the market was not a business tycoon, but the son of an impoverished alcoholic shoemaker. Joseph Stalin was born in 1878 and, after training to become a priest, became radicalized and began working as a labor organizer and political agitator. As far as Stalin was concerned, the Nobels and Rothschilds were public enemy number two in Russia, after only the Tsar. In 1901, he got a job in a warehouse owned by the Rothschilds, where he immediately organized a strike and was arrested. In later years, he would organize guerrilla bands to sabotage pipelines.
When the Bolsheviks eventually emerged victorious, Nobel fled the country. He eventually agreed to sell his business, which he no longer controlled, to Standard Oil. Standard paid a small fraction of what the business would have been worth, hoping that the Soviets would eventually return the assets. This hope was not realized, and Standard became one of many Western companies to eventually take a write-off on their Russian operations.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I do love those characters from history who disappear into major world events only to be resurrected by an author who stumbles on their story. A new name got added to this list in Emanuel Nobel. Douglas Brunt brings Nobel back to life in his excellent The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel. Also, no, he's not THAT Nobel. That was his uncle. However, Emanuel might be the reason we remember him for the awards in his name rather than the whole "Merchant of Death" stuff.
Brunt's previous book The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel was another book which illuminated an overlooked life. This new work shows Brunt is not going through a sophomore slump. The men are very different in some important ways, but Nobel proves to be a much easier man to both understand and like, in my opinion. Nobel was the nephew of Alfred Nobel, but Brunt shows how it might be more accurate to call the entire Nobel clan "The Family of Death." Various weapons, oil, and other destructive materials were their creations of choice. I don't mean to make them sound like sociopaths, but we do need to be able to call a spade a spade.
Brunt is at his best when taking both complicated science and world events and distilling them to what the reader needs to know to understand the stakes. Brunt is what I call a gateway author. I can hand his books to people who think they hate history, and they might get hooked. Brunt moves this story along without losing the essentials of the people, places, and events. More importantly, he somehow makes the Russian Civil War understandable. I've read much longer books which couldn't accomplish that feat because it is so complex. There is also a sense in Brunt's writing that he is having so much fun putting this narrative together. It is infectious and makes for a fun read even when the topic is not. This is definitely one you should pick up regardless of your interest (or disinterest) in history.
(This book was provided as a review copy by NetGalley and Atria Books.)
Brunt's previous book The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel was another book which illuminated an overlooked life. This new work shows Brunt is not going through a sophomore slump. The men are very different in some important ways, but Nobel proves to be a much easier man to both understand and like, in my opinion. Nobel was the nephew of Alfred Nobel, but Brunt shows how it might be more accurate to call the entire Nobel clan "The Family of Death." Various weapons, oil, and other destructive materials were their creations of choice. I don't mean to make them sound like sociopaths, but we do need to be able to call a spade a spade.
Brunt is at his best when taking both complicated science and world events and distilling them to what the reader needs to know to understand the stakes. Brunt is what I call a gateway author. I can hand his books to people who think they hate history, and they might get hooked. Brunt moves this story along without losing the essentials of the people, places, and events. More importantly, he somehow makes the Russian Civil War understandable. I've read much longer books which couldn't accomplish that feat because it is so complex. There is also a sense in Brunt's writing that he is having so much fun putting this narrative together. It is infectious and makes for a fun read even when the topic is not. This is definitely one you should pick up regardless of your interest (or disinterest) in history.
(This book was provided as a review copy by NetGalley and Atria Books.)
May 30, 2026
The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel: Romanovs, Revolutionaries, and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World. Douglas Brunt. Atria Books, 2026. 368 pages.
Most people know of the Nobel prizes awarded each autumn in various fields of human achievement. Some know a little about Alfred Nobel, the inventor and industrialist who funded the awards in his will at least partly to assuage his guilt over profiting from manufacturing explosives. However, very few people are aware that the Nobels were a dominant, perhaps the most dominant, industrialist family in Europe, on par with, and often going head to head against the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds. The real driving force behind the Nobel wealth and power was actually Alfred's nephew Emanuel. He also is most responsible for the ensuring that the Nobel prizes exist. As the executor of his uncle's will, he was pressured by Alfred's heirs, and even the King of Sweden, to disregard the prizes, but Emanuel stood firm and created and served as the chief steward of the Nobel Prize and his uncle's legacy for the rest of his life. Emanuel was a visionary who built the largest oil industry in Russia and in Europe and amassed a huge fortune, while making powerful connections within the Russian bureaucracy and royal family, but he was not a "robber baron" in the American mold. Workers in Nobel industries were among the happiest, most loyal, and best taken care of in the world. Of course, all of that changed with World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the ensuing civil war. When it was all over, Emanuel was no longer an industrial titan, and he was relegated to being even less than a footnote in history. This excellent biography is extremely interesting and informative, and it offers at least some of the illumination that Nobel deserves.
Most people know of the Nobel prizes awarded each autumn in various fields of human achievement. Some know a little about Alfred Nobel, the inventor and industrialist who funded the awards in his will at least partly to assuage his guilt over profiting from manufacturing explosives. However, very few people are aware that the Nobels were a dominant, perhaps the most dominant, industrialist family in Europe, on par with, and often going head to head against the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds. The real driving force behind the Nobel wealth and power was actually Alfred's nephew Emanuel. He also is most responsible for the ensuring that the Nobel prizes exist. As the executor of his uncle's will, he was pressured by Alfred's heirs, and even the King of Sweden, to disregard the prizes, but Emanuel stood firm and created and served as the chief steward of the Nobel Prize and his uncle's legacy for the rest of his life. Emanuel was a visionary who built the largest oil industry in Russia and in Europe and amassed a huge fortune, while making powerful connections within the Russian bureaucracy and royal family, but he was not a "robber baron" in the American mold. Workers in Nobel industries were among the happiest, most loyal, and best taken care of in the world. Of course, all of that changed with World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the ensuing civil war. When it was all over, Emanuel was no longer an industrial titan, and he was relegated to being even less than a footnote in history. This excellent biography is extremely interesting and informative, and it offers at least some of the illumination that Nobel deserves.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a history nerd, the period around the last tsar, Nicholas II, always attracts me, so I was delighted to have gained access to this ARC (thank you NetGalley and Atria Books). This proved to be an engaging, well written history of a little period and man in Russian history.
Emanuel Nobel (1859-1932), nephew of Alfred Nobel, took over the oil wells found by his Uncle Robert (sent by Emanuel’s father, Ludvig, to southern Russia) and invested in by his father. In Baku and Azerbaijan, these wells were more productive than Rockefeller’s in Pennsylvania. At one time, Emanuel was the richest man in Russia sans Nicholas). As the Russian Revolution came and the Soviets took over, diminutive but vile and evil, Joseph Stalin took an interest in these fields and created havoc among the workers. Novel knew this boded ill for him and others but like many thought the Bolshevik government would collapse. However, he was able to sell his interest and escape to Sweden - where his family was originally from - a very rich man.
Emanuel is portrayed as a decent and honest man in a very corrupt industry as well as a considerate employer in times when employees were not treated well.
The book covers over a hundred years of history - much of it turbulent and fascinating: old empires were dying, modern rulers and capitalist were rising. This book has it all: splendid person of history in a time of incredible change that has probably been forgotten. It’s always good to have history books like this to remain us of our past.
Emanuel Nobel (1859-1932), nephew of Alfred Nobel, took over the oil wells found by his Uncle Robert (sent by Emanuel’s father, Ludvig, to southern Russia) and invested in by his father. In Baku and Azerbaijan, these wells were more productive than Rockefeller’s in Pennsylvania. At one time, Emanuel was the richest man in Russia sans Nicholas). As the Russian Revolution came and the Soviets took over, diminutive but vile and evil, Joseph Stalin took an interest in these fields and created havoc among the workers. Novel knew this boded ill for him and others but like many thought the Bolshevik government would collapse. However, he was able to sell his interest and escape to Sweden - where his family was originally from - a very rich man.
Emanuel is portrayed as a decent and honest man in a very corrupt industry as well as a considerate employer in times when employees were not treated well.
The book covers over a hundred years of history - much of it turbulent and fascinating: old empires were dying, modern rulers and capitalist were rising. This book has it all: splendid person of history in a time of incredible change that has probably been forgotten. It’s always good to have history books like this to remain us of our past.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Libro.fm for this Librarian ALC!
I'm still newer with audiobooks but I really enjoyed learning such a niche topic! I was certainly more interested in the oil aspect of Nobel's life but learned a lot about Russian politics, Nobel as a peace prize of itself, and I think the amount of information from this book is organized really well to the point it's not overwhelming. Despite me being new to audiobooks, I retained a lot of really cool talking points and fun facts that I've been able to share with my family (granted my dad is a Russian studies major so he knew a bit too); but I think if anyone is particularly interested in Russian politics and the Nobel family, this is a fantastic book.
This book does not linger too much on the interest of the Romanovs; there are sure to be countless of books divulging in that sector, and I found that to honestly be the least of anything groundbreaking or new-- but ultimately the relationship of Nobel to the royal family while also maintaining good working ethics with his employees was an interesting key factor into his success and escape from the Bolsheviks.
I'm still newer with audiobooks but I really enjoyed learning such a niche topic! I was certainly more interested in the oil aspect of Nobel's life but learned a lot about Russian politics, Nobel as a peace prize of itself, and I think the amount of information from this book is organized really well to the point it's not overwhelming. Despite me being new to audiobooks, I retained a lot of really cool talking points and fun facts that I've been able to share with my family (granted my dad is a Russian studies major so he knew a bit too); but I think if anyone is particularly interested in Russian politics and the Nobel family, this is a fantastic book.
This book does not linger too much on the interest of the Romanovs; there are sure to be countless of books divulging in that sector, and I found that to honestly be the least of anything groundbreaking or new-- but ultimately the relationship of Nobel to the royal family while also maintaining good working ethics with his employees was an interesting key factor into his success and escape from the Bolsheviks.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I feel as though I have learned a lot about the Nobel family. I love reading history books, and I'm fascinated by Russian history. Yet despite all I've read about the topic this book pleasantly surprised me with new insights of that era. Before I read this book I knew very little about the Nobel family, other than Alfred Nobel and his connection to the Nobel Prize; now I've learned so much about how Emanuel Nobel and business intertwined with politics, other oil competitors, the rise of socialism, and Stalin. I loved the story telling and pacing of the book. To me, there was no part that was uninteresting. The people were described wonderfully and were easy to keep up with. I definitely recommend this book to someone who loves history - Emanuel Nobel is definitely someone worth reading about.
May 26, 2026
Douglas Brunt’s The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel: Romanovs, Revolutionaries, and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World is a fascinating and well-researched historical nonfiction book that brings attention to a largely forgotten industrial empire. Brunt tells the story of Emanuel Nobel and his family’s rise in the Russian oil industry before the Bolshevik Revolution erased much of their legacy. The book combines biography, politics, and economic history in a way that feels engaging and surprisingly fast-paced. The inclusion of figures like Joseph Stalin adds another layer of intrigue to the story. While some sections become detailed with industrial history, the writing remains accessible and compelling throughout. Overall, it is an informative and captivating read for anyone interested in Russian history, oil empires, or overlooked historical figures.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received an advanced copy through NetGalley.
A great book that combines a great story with world history. I enjoyed the profile of the Nobel family (which I admit I knew little about) but how it intersected with one of the consequential historical times of the early 20th century (the Russian Revolution). The intersection of Nobel and Stalin was a great sub-plot in this book.
In the early chapters I had some difficulty following the names and relationships but the author does a great job tying things together.
The lasting point for me on this story is that Stalin was anti-Russian in his upbringing only to turn and be the heavy handed dictator through the Soviet Union. Just shows you how much we as humans crave power.
A great book that combines a great story with world history. I enjoyed the profile of the Nobel family (which I admit I knew little about) but how it intersected with one of the consequential historical times of the early 20th century (the Russian Revolution). The intersection of Nobel and Stalin was a great sub-plot in this book.
In the early chapters I had some difficulty following the names and relationships but the author does a great job tying things together.
The lasting point for me on this story is that Stalin was anti-Russian in his upbringing only to turn and be the heavy handed dictator through the Soviet Union. Just shows you how much we as humans crave power.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While it was not a "light easy breezy" read it was chock full of amazing history and details. It was put together very well and easy to follow despite the amount of information Brunt was giving to us. I loved moving through the centuries and the development of the Nobel family, and really how their impact shaped the world we live in today! This is my first time reading work by D. Brunt but I would not hesitate to read more. I have already recommended this book to my son (when published) who's a complete history buff too! If you love history, drama, suspense... this book is for you!
May 24, 2026
The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel by Douglas Brunt is both thoroughly entertaining and genuinely educational. Brunt delivers masterful storytelling that brings to life the incredible rise of Emanuel Nobel—a titan of the oil industry who rivaled the Rockefellers and Rothschilds—amid the opulence of the Romanovs and the chaos of revolution.
I loved learning about this forgotten chapter of history and how the forces that shaped the early 20th century still echo in today’s world of energy, power, and politics. If you enjoy gripping nonfiction that reads like a novel and illuminates the past’s relevance to the present, this book is a must-read. Highly recommended!
I loved learning about this forgotten chapter of history and how the forces that shaped the early 20th century still echo in today’s world of energy, power, and politics. If you enjoy gripping nonfiction that reads like a novel and illuminates the past’s relevance to the present, this book is a must-read. Highly recommended!
June 3, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
As an avid reader of Russian history spanning from the early Tsars through WWII and the Cold War, I don’t recall encountering the Nobel family. Despite their monumental impact on global industry and Russian economy, their story has barely been mentioned in the history books I have read. I am grateful to Douglas Brunt for his meticulous research in restoring this legacy. Emanuel Nobel was a brilliant titan of industry who proved that immense wealth can coexist with deep principles, decency, and a genuine desire to better the world.
As an avid reader of Russian history spanning from the early Tsars through WWII and the Cold War, I don’t recall encountering the Nobel family. Despite their monumental impact on global industry and Russian economy, their story has barely been mentioned in the history books I have read. I am grateful to Douglas Brunt for his meticulous research in restoring this legacy. Emanuel Nobel was a brilliant titan of industry who proved that immense wealth can coexist with deep principles, decency, and a genuine desire to better the world.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a fascinating history of the Nobel family with plenty about the Romanovs, Lenin, Stalin and Rasputin. An excellent snap shot of such a pivotal part in world history written in an engaging and accessible way. Sadly this is the first taste for me of this author and some day I hope to read the Mysterious case of Rudolf Diesel. I would definitely recommend this especially for anyone interested in the Romanovs or the Russian Revolution. Look for this one upon its 5/19/26 release.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The best thing a narrative non fiction book can do is make me want to do a deeper dive into the subject and Douglas Brunt does that masterfully with The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel.
The fact that this man and his empire is not more well known is crazy.
He was essentially the Rockefeller of Eastern Europe and his contribution has been erased by the former Soviets until now.
I was fascinated to learn all the major contributions Nobel made to the industry and how the Russian Civil War and WWI took his company from him.
I highly recommend checking out this excellent book.
The best thing a narrative non fiction book can do is make me want to do a deeper dive into the subject and Douglas Brunt does that masterfully with The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel.
The fact that this man and his empire is not more well known is crazy.
He was essentially the Rockefeller of Eastern Europe and his contribution has been erased by the former Soviets until now.
I was fascinated to learn all the major contributions Nobel made to the industry and how the Russian Civil War and WWI took his company from him.
I highly recommend checking out this excellent book.
May 21, 2026
History lovers, this one is absolutely worth picking up. It's packed with fascinating historical detail, but never once feels dry or textbook-like. The story unfolds with the momentum of fiction, full of larger-than-life figures, political tension, ambition, power struggles, and so much drama that I kept forgetting I was reading nonfiction. It's immersive, compelling, and one of those books where you keep saying "how did I never know this before?" Loved it!!
June 4, 2026
The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel offers an interesting look at a lesser known historical figure and his impact on industry. While the book contains valuable research and historical details, some sections can feel slow due to the amount of information presented. Still, it provides a unique perspective on business, innovation, and history. Overall, it is a worthwhile read for those who enjoy historical biographies and real life stories.
June 5, 2026
Mr Brunt does it again. Such a great read (listen). I did not like it as much as Diesel but it was still really good. I can’t wait to read the third book in the series and to find out who/what it’s about.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Incredibly interesting book. If you like history this would be a great story to check out.
May 23, 2026
The Rise of Russia through the eyes of the Nobel family. If only Stalin had not gotten the oil company.
May 25, 2026
I loved this book! Such a well done historical account that it feels like a story instead of a history book! I learned so much! Highly recommend!
May 29, 2026
Absolutely gem of a books, certain recommendation!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews