The Resurrection of the Romanovs: Anastasia, Anna Anderson, and the World's Greatest Royal Mystery

by Greg King, Penny Wilson

The truth of the enduring mystery of Anastasia's fate-and the life of her most convincing impostor The passage of more than ninety years and the publication of hundreds of books in dozens of languages has not extinguished an enduring interest in the mysteries surrounding the 1918 execution of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family. The Resurrection of the Romanovs draws on a wealth of new information from previously unpublished materials and unexplored sources to probe the most enduring Romanov mystery of the fate of the Tsar's youngest daughter, Anastasia, whose remains were not buried with those of her family, and her identification with Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed to be the missing Grand Duchess.

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

397 pages, Hardcover

First published December 8, 2010

About the author

Greg King (born 1964) is an American author, best known for his biographies of prominent historical figures.

He is the author of eleven internationally published works of royal and social history, specializing in late Imperial Russia and Edwardian-era royalty, including The Fate of the Romanovs, The Court of the Last Tsar, and the UK bestseller The Duchess of Windsor. A frequent onscreen expert and commentator for historical documentaries, his work has appeared in Majesty Magazine, Royalty Magazine, Royalty Digest, and Atlantis Magazine.

Source: wikipedia.com & us.macmillan.com

Reviews

[Helen Azar]

The first “real” biography of a woman named Franziska Schanzkowska, also known as Frau Tchaikovksy, Anna Anderson and Anastasia Manahan. For decades this woman was able to somehow convince some people that she was the Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia who survived the post-revolutionary massacre of her family. Incredibly, not only did her supporters believe that she was the grand duchess (despite the fact that she did not resemble the latter in the least, and even though those closest to the real grand duchess did not accept her claim), but they continued to uphold her claim even after the DNA results showed that she was none other but the missing Polish woman she was suspected to be all along.

As strange as it sounds Schanzkowska’s story is not that unique - history is full of pretenders (especially royal ones) who gained their share of followers just as she did. Her claim was distinct in a sense that it was recent enough to have photographs of both individuals for comparison, and the fact that modern science put an end to the question of this woman's identity once and for all (at least for most reasonable people). In this book the authors (who were for many years major proponents of Anna Anderson/Franziska Schanzkowska as Anastasia) collected and organized the mountain of archival data to allow the reader to see how this strange saga evolved and reached its out-of-control proportions, and how various information got distorted in the process. This is an absorbing tale covering not just the life of a woman who would have remained in complete obscurity if she had not - with lots of help from her friends of course - take on someone else’s identity; but this is also a look at human nature: the power of dogma and denial, a story which would have made a fascinating psychological study.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. In the early 1990s I read what was, for it's time, a seriously researched book about the fate of Grand Duchess Anastasia - the daughter of the last czar of Russia who may have survived the execution of her family. This well-documented book made me a believer. The counter claims that she may have been a Polish factory worker were too weak to be believed.

This was all before DNA testing became widely available. In 1994 the purported bones of the imperial family were found in Siberia. They needed DNA from a close matrilineal descendent (who, interestingly enough is queen Elizabeth II's husband Philip - whose grandma was Empress Alexandra's sister) to prove it, and prove it they did. Shortly there after they tested DNA taken from the late Anna Anderson - the claimant Anastasia. There was no match. Shortly after that, they found a close matrilineal descendent of the Polish factory worker (Francizka Shanzkowska) and what do you know? A perfect match.

This book is by two historians/authors who have spent a good deal of their careers studying the Romanovs, and who, like me, bought into the Anastasia myth. This book is the result of 10 years investigation into every shard of this 20th century mystery. It is the story of willful disregard for the truth driven by an emotional desire for it to be true. The seemingly undeniable facts were, again and again, entirely deniable and in many cases the result of an emotional desire to believe.

The biggest question - how did she do it - is largely answered by this desire on the part of so many to believe. The why she did it is quite mundane: this woman had had an awful life, likely the victim of incest, disowned by her mother (a charming woman), left on her own and very likely a prostitute, she attempted suicide and thereby made her way to an institution. When she tested out the idea of saying she was Anastasia, she got some extra perks, and then (in a time when Germans were starving) she was whisked away to a palatial estate of a Russian nobleman (the problem with royalty is that they haven't always been the sharpest knives in the drawer) and wined and dined like an aristocrat. The rest is history. I ask you...Who wouldn't try to keep that going??

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to rate a book like this, because while it’s interesting, it’s also really dense. I would say the content was well researched and thorough while also still being interesting. It’s just A LOT of info and there is a HUGE cast of characters to keep track of. If you’re interested in the Romanovs, more specifically, in the aftermath and the mystery of what happened to them, then this is a great book. Just be prepared to keep everything sorted.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book on the Anna Anderson/Anastasia Romanov mystery that I have read (and I've pretty much read them all). Really pulls together the decades of disputes, plus the more recent DNA evidence, as well as makes a plausible explanation for how/why so many people confirmed that she was Anastasia, even when confronted with proof that she wasn't.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in need of my last-days-of-the-Romanovs fix, and luckily stumbled across this book during a Google search. It covers one of the most bizarre and enduring aspects of this chapter of history: the controversial Anna Anderson, who claimed to really be the Tsar's youngest daughter Anastasia. The book unravels the history behind this claim in excellent detail, debunking lies and misinformation along the way. It's already a fascinating part of history in less detailed accounts, so I loved seeing so much information that I had no idea about before. It also goes in depth on Anderson herself, with lots of information on her life before and after her rise to fame(and infamy). Even though the author disputes the claims that she was Anastasia, Anderson is written about with compassion and empathy, and she seems to be more of a victim of circumstances than a outright con artist.
This was a fairly dense book to read, but it is well worth trying to remember who's who for this satisfying and highly detailed account.

[Bettina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written account of the history of the most famous royal imposter. This is a book with excellent research and it tells the why, how who and what in a compelling way. Very, very good.

[Emma Arkstål · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could have been summed up in "she said she was Anastasia Romanov, almost no one believed her, she wasn't". I could have skipped 2/3 of the book and would still know as much about "Anastasia" as I do now

[SWZIE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve held a long fascination with the Romanov dynasty during the era when Tsar Nicholas 11 ruled Russia - with his family: Tsarina Alexandra, their son Alexai and daughters: Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. They lived ostentatiously in grand opulence – while the Russian people were oppressed.

I’ve also been fascinated by the mystic Rasputin and his considerable influence on the imperial family.

But most of all, I’ve been intrigued by the mystery, which surrounded the missing remains of Anastasia and her brother Alexai, ensuing the imperial family’s execution by the Bolsheviks. I was especially spellbound when Anna Anderson claimed to be the Grand Duchess. The lady in question had been found attempting suicide by jumping into a canal and was admitted into an asylum. Like much of the world she captured my imagination, like a fairytale. There had been previous pretenders, but no one so convincing. She seemed to have memories of obscure incidental things, not information that was common knowledge.

I was so disappointed when Anna Anderson, through DNA, was found to be an imposter. It made me realise that she was simply recycling information imparted by the contemporary relatives of the Romanovs who visited her. Some supported her claim, while others dismissed her as a fraud.

I’ve read numerous books on the subject, but I found The Resurrection of the Romanovs to be one of the best. This version is a very detailed portrait and thoroughly depicts Anderson’s psyche and her background. It contained information that was new to me. I thought the authors, Greg King and Penny Wilson, gave a sympathetic view of her, but I formed my own opinion as to her reasons for assuming the identity of Anastasia.

After reading the book, I found myself feeling extremely sorry for the lady who adopted the name Anna Anderson to conceal her true identity. She was actually a Polish factory worker, Franziska Schanzkowska, who’d endured a very hard life and saw an opportunity to leave her hardship behind her. She never pushed her claim to be Anastasia, but neither did she deny it. She wasn’t after power, or wealth; she’d simply found a way of having a roof over her head, food in her stomach and she coveted respect; something she’d never had as Schanzkowska - and something we all take for granted. Sexually abused by her father and disowned by her mother – plus she’d made such little impact on the people in her life that they didn’t even miss her – so, who could blame her for the deception.

I applaud the book. It was extremely well researched. I have one criticism: it was a teensy bit repetitive in places.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author states in his introduction, "there is really no new evidence here." What a statement!! Mr. King goes through the entire case, from the grand beginnings in the Palaces of Russia and a family seeminly living in paradise, detours through imprisonment and the shattered lives ended in a basement, to the one person who seemed to walk away from it all with just a few visible scars.

Anna Anderson was the one person who brought the entire world almost to a stand still. Her claim to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia, the youngest daughter of the Tsar of Russia. She almost seemed bored with the entire proceeding, of having to proclaim over and over again that she was who she claimed to be. Many were taken aback by her apparent lack of care over proving her identity. The major question though is why did she not want to see certain people, how did she manage to pull the charade out for so long, and why were so many people willing to believe she was who she was claiming to be. The answer simply comes down to the fact that after the war, people were desperate. They wanted to reclaim a part of their glorious past, and perhaps if she really was who she claimed, there would be large rewards for them as well. Anderson had something of a natural charm that drew people to her. She could push them away as she was temperamental and suspected everyone of trying to take advantage of her.

In the end, DNA was able to prove what no one else could, that Anderson was NOT the Grand Duchess Anastatia. Anderson had lived with the lie for so long that she even convinced herself of the role. She built each layer so carefully, so precise, that by the end, if she has walked away, she could have opened herself to legal persecution. It was easier to live with the lie than it was to face the truth, the real person that she was. The lie was more engaging, and she was appreciated and wanted. The life Anderson led before was one of hardship, unwanted by her mother, and anonymity that would get her no where. She wanted more from life, and the executions and rumors that swarmed around the possibility that there might be a surviving daughter gave Anderson the light she needed to move forward to a new life.

I think this was a good read,full of information, BUT there were several instances where the reader will get bogged down with details so boring, with the information that seems to be on repeat... a lot. If you want to get a read comprehensive review of the entire case from pre to after without reading any other material, then this would be the book you would want to read.

[Belle Meri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Resurrection of the Romanovs is the perfect follow-up to King and Wilson's previous book, The Fate of the Romanovs as it tells, as the saying goes, the rest of the story. Beginning with a bit of historic background on the family and the assassination, the book moves through the initial rumors of survivors before focusing specifically on the most famous of the claimants to a Romanov identity. The book explores how an unidentified woman who attempted suicide became the focus of all the Russian exiles' hopes for a miraculous survivor and the divisions between those who believed her and those who didn't divided the community of Russian exiles. Finally, after exploring that portion of the story to its ending with Anna Anderson's death, the authors move on to how a previous attempt at denying Mrs. Anderson's claim actually discovered her real identity, her real background, and then wraps up with how this was confirmed using modern forensic techniques. It is an excellent read though it does ramble in places but this is not unexpected considering the topic as the vast majority of books on the Romanovs tend to ramble.

[Deleted · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an ironic way, this is a book about the survival of two women: Franziska Schanzkowska (who might just as well have died a suicide)and the Grand Duchess Anastasia (murdered at Ekaterinburg), both of whom lived on thanks to Anna Anderson. We know now that Anderson was not Anastasia and, in knowing, we've relinquished the stubborn hope in the miraculous that allowed Anderson to live sixty-four of her eighty-seven years as a sometimes plausible, sometimes not pretender the the Romanov legacy. Consequently, this is also a book about how hard it is to part with hope and stop believing.

History buffs will probably hunger for better scholarship on the Romanovs and the revolution. Others might find King's book overstuffed with names and references that begin to wear as the tale spills over six centuries of claims and counterclaims. Still the story is compelling even though we know the resolution.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, very thorough. Includes new data, especially from the 2007 discoveries, and quite a bit on the reality of Anna Anderson, and a possible source of why she tried to impersonate a royal. Those who have always wondered should find themselves quite a few answers.

For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Greg_K...

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone who enjoys history of royals, this is a painstakingly researched, be-all-to-end-all book about Anna Anderson, whose claim to be Anastasia (yes, the one they made the Disney movie about) fascinated and frustrated people for most of the last century. Not normally my cup of tea, I chose this book because I have a friend with a personal connection, and I stuck with it waiting to get to the part in which she appeared. I'm glad I did - it really was a fascinating story!

[Heatherblakely · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't think the book was going to answer the "was Anna Anderson actually Anastasia?" question, BUT IT DOES. There were segments of the book that felt drawn out and unnecessary, but there were some very interesting parts as well. I got sucked back in for a moment at the end (but then it started rambling again).

The animated movie took a lot of liberties, that's for sure.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greg King and Penny Wilson have written a well researched book that at last puts to rest the mystery of what happened to Anastasia Romanov and who was Anna Anderson. I have enjoyed reading a number of books by these two authors so I am really glad that I got a hold of this one to read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although dense and sometimes repetitive, this is an extremely thorough and unbiased examination of one of the world's most intriguing mysteries.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of the information could have been summed up in a 10 page term paper. Not my cup of tea.

[Curtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

God this was tedious. My curiosity about the subject matter would have been better served reading Anastasia’s Wikipedia page.

[Diego]

It’s the first time I find myself having finished a book without being able to rate it. I’m not going to deny it; I’m still none the wiser. As a Romanov buff, I’ve always been fascinated by the myth surrounding the fate of Grand Duchess Anastasia which spanned decades on end, so I finally wanted to know what lay behind one of the twentieth century’s creepiest mysteries. Yet, this was not an easy read, at least for me.

The thoroughness and research that has been put into this work is hands down irrefutable, and there’s no denying that the authors have managed to successfully debunk and put an end to this once unsolvable enigma that drove many to believe in Anastasia’s survival as recently as 2007, when her remains were finally discovered. Though I quite enjoyed the first part of the book, I struggled through the second one, which covers the endless trials and the whole DNA controversy. Too much guesswork and conjecture, lots and I mean LOTS of places, names and characters involved to keep track of and in some parts, specifically halfway through the book, the authors get bogged down with the same long-winded details previously discussed which I found rather repetitive. Given the subject’s complexity, depth and length, many of these could just have been synthesised in some way without making the reader have to wade through those tedious chapters.

It’d be unfair to low-rate this book since the subject matter itself fascinates me and is indeed worth reading. Having said this, I hope to pick it up again at some point in the future, reread it from a different perspective with the knowledge already acquired on the first reading, and come back with some sort of fairer review that does this book justice.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I am very appreciative all the work that must have gone in to researching and telling this very complicated story. That said, I was frustrated by some of the approach and the exclusions of the accusations/identifications that she might be Franziska Schanzkowska early on. This is covered in the last part of the book, but I would have preferred at least some of this aspect of her identity within the timeline of those who were trying to determine if she was Anastasia. This book was hard to follow in some areas due to all the people involved and the huge span of time that is covered. The information provided is excellent. I also really enjoyed the author's analysis of Franziska Schanzkowska's life prior to her disappearance and how it made it possible for her be be believable as Anastasia. I was definitely torn throughout the book about how I felt about her as a person and this seems to have been how many of the people who knew her and wanted to believe her felt.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is incredibly well-researched and is probably the most important and thorough book on the identity of Anna Anderson. Mostly the thoroughness is enjoyable, and even fascinating.
I would warn the reader that Part 2 becomes a bit tedious as the authors sort through the confusing and often ambivalent thoughts and impressions of every person that met Anna Anderson over the stretch of their entire lifetimes. Although that section of the book went on for probably too long, the absolute incredulity of it all -- not just Anna A but so many of the people around her -- makes up for some of the more repetitive aspects.
The book revisits and collects the vast amount of information in the variety of languages significant to the case, so much of which seems contradictory or has been misconstrued, and truly sets the record straight.

[Spinster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never been an Anna Anderson supporter. Even before the DNA evidence came out, pictures of her looked completely unlike Anastasia. How could anyone have believed her stories?



This book doesn't provide me with the psychological understanding of Anderson's supporters that I'd been hoping for, but it does debunk a number of the myths that have grown up around the case and ably proves that Anderson was a Polish farm girl and not a member of the Russian royal family.



The text gets a bit repetitive and dull toward the end. I would have liked more stories from people who knew Anderson and her eccentric husband in Charlottesville--they could have been the most amazing episode of Hoarders ever.

[Zosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive, easy to read, and thoroughly explained. I suppose I’m different from the authors in that I was born into a world where the DNA tests had already proved that Anna Anderson was not Anastasia and I never saw her as part of the Romanov story-by the time I was old enough to learn about the Romanovs the two remaining bodies had already been found; however, reading this book it is easy to see why so many people bought into her story and wanted to believe in a happy ending. Also provides a sympathetic and believable portrait of Anderson’s motivations and actions taken.

[Helen Carolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating and gripping read. Here King and Penny Wilson look at the story of Anna Anderson, who in the early 1920's,after being pulled from a river in Berlin, claimed to be Anastasia daughter of tsar Nicholas who along with the rest of his family disappeared in 1918. The authors look at her claims and detail her supporters attempts to get her recognised as Anastasia. When the remains of the Romanovs are found in 1991 forensics are finally carried out to discover whether Anna really is Anastasia. A wonderful read with twists, turns and cliffhangers.

[Bridget McKelvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does a great job of keeping stories and facts straight. Because of the nature and content of this topic there tends to be a lot of different versions told by different people, opinions and things that were not proven till later. The author tells the information with clarity and does a good job of explaining where everything fits in the narrative.
I found myself getting drawn in reading this story and I just wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
I also have a few other Greg King books on my to read list. After this book I am excited to check them out.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book. There is so much information detailing and explaining a truly convoluted and difficult story. The break down of all the events is very interesting. While from a historical aspect I would have preferred Franziska's family identifications to have been put it chronologically, but from a writing/ storytelling point it was an extremely good final twist. For anyone fascinated with the Anastasia story this is good reads.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read on how one woman spun a story that became part of history. I found it overall quite sad, she used people’s grief to serve herself. What an extra blow for the ones that loved the Romanov family to be lied to, manipulated and used, even the ones who fully bought the act. The story is gradually unfolded and then fully examined in the details. Interesting read for anyone interested in the Romanov family or history in general.

[Liz Cabrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is extremely thorough, almost too much so. There are parts where it gets bogged down with all the people involved, especially those who rejected Anna Anderson as Anastasia. There was also quite a bit of repetition and material revisited multiple times.
I learned quite a bit and do feel there is nothing left unsaid in the book. The only thing I don’t get is why anyone took Anna Anderson seriously. She doesn’t even look like Anastasia.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in one of the greatest mysteries of all time. Greg King and Penny Wilson do a wonderful job filling in the backstory of the infamous Anna Anderson.

The book is extremely easy to read. It fascinates, shocks, and reveals much about the woman purporting to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia. King and Wilson have done their homework and are to be commended for a job well done!

Excellent!

[Polly Hillier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The number of depositions that must have been read to write this book boggles the mind. Yes it is a bit tedious; at times I questioned if this was properly titled and yet- it was - a perfectly crocheted Afghan of wonder. Now in the age of DNA, this should be far less mysterious and perhaps that is a shame. I listened to it on CD- Peter Kenny reads it with great inflection and quick cadence.