A Guarded Secret: Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra and Tsarevich Alexei’s Hemophilia

by Julia P. Gelardi

In the summer of 1904 as Russia was convulsed in the Russo-Japanese War, an event of great joy occurred when a baby boy was born to Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. After the arrival of four daughters, the longed-for male heir to the Romanov dynasty, Tsarevich Alexei, had completed the family of Nicholas and Alexandra. The happiness of the imperial couple was soon dashed, however, by the tragic news that their only son and heir was afflicted with the painful, and often fatal, bleeding disease, hemophilia. The ill-health of the heir to the throne was a well-guarded secret that cast a deep shadow over the final years of imperial Russia. Here is the dramatic story of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra during those years as they struggled to deal with their son’s infirmity, which brought the controversial Rasputin into the imperial court. Follow their story from the joyful day of Tsarevich Alexei’s birth in 1904 to its moving and dramatic denouement.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2018

Reviews

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, this book is a comprehensive and compassionate introduction to the life of Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich. I wish that there had been more information particularly around Alexei's experiences at Stavka, but Gelardi certainly creates a solid platform for those who have 'no prior knowledge' of the topic to start from. The book definitely is more of a preliminary overview than in depth, but that is to be expected with a book of this introductory nature. Good use of primary sources are used throughout and some particularly insightful work on the 1905 Revolution and the 1912 haemophilia attack at Spala.
Use of patronyms and consistent spelling would have been helpful for discerning extended family.

However, do be wary of some errors.

Gelardi pulls sources from the works of 'Marfa Mouchanow' in the early chapters, although Mouchanow's writing has been called into question and many consider it to be a work of fiction due to the lack of provenance.

The colours of the court dresses worn by the Grand Duchesses for Alexei's christening are described as being 'blue satin' with 'silver trimming'. Photos of the preserved dresses show them to be of a white/cream colour with pink embellishments, whilst another version is white/cream and silver (see link for photos - https://i.pinimg.com/564x/40/c1/ef/40... and https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b2/7e/c2/b2...). It is also likely that a red miniature sash for the Order of St. Catherine were worn too.

It is written that the Imperial Family were at the Alexander Palace in captivity for 'nearly seventeen months', inferring that they spent seventeen months at the Palace - I believe this is just an error where more clarity is needed to differentiate between the time spent at the Alexander Palace and the time spent imprisoned.

I feel that Gelardi could have presented a more extensive view of captivity, especially at Tobolsk. She writes that the guards were 'disgraceful' but fails to mention that this was only after the October Revolution of 1917 that this change occurred, when many of the original guards at Tobolsk under the Provisional Government were quite indifferent towards the family.



A good, quick, introduction to the topic but be wary of slight inaccuracies.

[Jeffrey Hyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by the rise and fall of the Romanov dynasty, especially the last Tsar and his family. This fascination with the royal family started at age 12 and am now 65. Ms. Gelardi did a decent account of the family but there were several grammatical and misspelled words in the book I read. This always lowers my rating. The family was to be pitied and it was a tragedy regarding their murders. Nicholas and Alexandra are not without guilt for the role they played in the demise of the dynasty. I suppose a mother would do anything to protect her children and Alexandra made sure of it. The sad part of it for me is that her faith and her trust in Rasputin were clearly a character defect of the Czarina. Nicholas was too passive in his governance and his autocratic beliefs only fueled the fires of revolution. He was too blindsided by his autocratic rights that when he and Alexandra understood, it was far too late for redemption. As history looks back on this family, their convictions and beliefs can be admired, and they can be pitied. Their story continues to fascinate me. It was enjoyable read

[Donna Peake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Pulled at the heart strings. No matter how powerful they were there was nothing they could do to help their only son. This family was so close to one another don't know if any of them could've survived without the others.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read many books about the Tsar and his tragic life. This book was another one with the focus on his sickly son. This book did not tell me anything I didn't know before having read many books about this subject. It is an easy and fast read.

[Terry Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russian history

Absolutely Amazing book ! Couldn't put it down after starting reading it ...loved it and very informative and takes you to some sad tragic times

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ignore the title - it's a short biography of Alexei's short and painful life. Like the other Royal Cavalcade books, this is meant to be a short summary for people new to the subject. There really isn't anything in it I hadn't read before, but if you haven't, this would be the place to start.