Nicholas And Alexandra: The Last Tsar And Tsarina

by Nina Tarasova

Nicholas II and Alexandra have gone down in history as the last royal couple of Russia. With them the Romanov dynasty, that had ruled the country for three hundred years, came to an end. Rarely has a personal narrative been so interwoven with the destiny of a nation.
The love of Nicholas (1868-1918) for his wife Alexandra (1872-1918) and their five children Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and the Tsarevich Alexei, distracted his attention from his tasks as ruler. After a turbulent reign he was finally forced to abdicate and was transported with his family to Ekaterinenburg. Half a year later, in 1918, the Bolsheviks murdered him and his family. The Romanovs had become the symbol of the old regime in Russia.
In this publication curators of the State Museum the Hermitage in St Petersburg review the life of Nicholas and Alexandra, including their marriage, the coronation, their court and the misfortunes of Tsarevich Alexei. A picture is also given of political conditions in Russia during the reign of the last Romanovs.

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

128 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2005

Reviews

[Faten Eassa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book very much, I've just finished reading it for the forth time. I think the best part of it is that it shows the other side of a revolution, the side that people rarely see or get moved by and that's the side of the monarchs or leaders who get overthrown. People usually see them as caricatures although they are actually human beings and they get deeply humiliated and depressed. However, nobody sees their devastation and people usually get brainwashed by what everybody else is saying about them without trying to find out the truth. Decades later, history shows that they were not the horrid carictures people made of them, they might even be the real victims.
In this book I lived with the Romanovs, saw Nicholas and Alexandra fall in love and get married, saw Nicholas mourning his father's passing away. I saw how he cared for his country and went through war and peace to make Russia greater. I saw him with his little girls and his joy over having a son for the sake of his country. I was with the family when they discovered the tragedy of the little prince who happened to have hemophelica, their struggle for a cure which only Rasputin was able to provide. I witnessed their weaknesses, their love for each other as a family and wept with their agony when the revolution errupted and was saddened to see them humiliated then shot. It's a very interesting piece of history and I loved it.

[Emily]

I read this a long time ago, but it made a lasting impression. The intertwining of the royal families of Europe and the impact of the fall of royal Russia and the aristocracy on Russian history which in turn affected all history from the early 19th century until today was fascinating and compelling.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had not literally just finished watching a documentary series on the Tsar, I think I would have liked this more but both contradicted each other so it was hard to know what is the truth.
The Bolsheviks really really did all everything for nothing according to how Russia now is today. And the Tsarina- what a nutcase. She is a huge part in, and to blame for the Tsar’s downfall too. Don’t even get me started on the British Royal family who could have saved them too.
Makes me angry because those children suffered for a few moronic adults.

[Anna Wilkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. However, there were many pieces of information that do not seem accurate. I have read many books on the subject and there are some interpretations that are very different from most other authors.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a tragedy! Well written.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

something fascinating about this family even though we all know what happened.

[Readstoomuch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember loving this book and thinking that it was wonderful.