A History of Royals discussion

Feel free to start a post on any of the Russian Royals in this folder.

As found on Wikipedia, a list of the Russian dynasties:
1 Grand Princes of Novgorod and Kiev (c. 860–1240)
2 Grand Princes of Vladimir-Suzdal (1168–1389)
3 Grand Princes of Moscow (1283–1547)
3.1 Rurik Dynasty
4 Tsars of Russia (1547–1721)
4.1 Rurik Dynasty
4.2 Time of Troubles (1598–1613)
4.2.1 Godunov Dynasty
4.2.2 Usurper
4.2.3 Shuisky Dynasty
4.2.4 Usurper
4.2.5 House of Vasa
4.2.6 Council of Seven Boyars (27 July 1610 – 4 November 1612)
4.2.7 Council of All the Land (17 April 1611 – 26 July 1613)
4.3 Romanov Dynasty
5 Emperors of Russia (1721–1917)
5.1 Romanov Dynasty
6 Pretenders to the Russian throne since 1917

In which dynasty was creep a** Rasputain in? I can't recall at the moment. Wasn't it the Romanovs'?

I think it was.

It was definitely! He preyed on Alexandra's fear over her son's hemophilia.

Massie has two nonfiction books on this time period. They are both excellent.

Thanks Susan! I'll have have a look for them.

I might get a few growns here but the only book I've read on the Romanovs was actually written by Danielle Steel. It's called Zoya and I really enjoyed it. Of course, I'd like to read something more factual but I thought it was a good jumping point.

Bruce Alexander has a good fiction short book called The Kitchen Boy, it was done as a group read here. Massie's go right along with it. His are nonfiction: Alexandra and Nicholas and The Romanov's The Final Chapter.

I also own Masssie's Peter the Great, Troyat's Catherine the Great, Erickson's Great Catherine, and the following 2 books: The Flight of the Romanov's and The Last Days of the Romanov's. These are all on my TBR list but I highly recommend Massie's two Romanov books and The Kitchen Boy as starters.

Have you had a look at The Tsarina's Daughter by Erickson?

I bought the book but haven't read it yet. I have Erickson's book Alexandra that I want to read first.

Jennifer wrote: "Have you had a look at The Tsarina's Daughter by Erickson?"

I made it to about page 70 and it hit the wall. This is one of Erickson's *historical entertainments* so she makes up her own *what if* history. Gag me what she did with Mary Queen of Scots in the latest.

How are your walls holding up, Misfit?

LOL I know you're a huge fan of her! I've only read one by her, the one about Marie Antoinette, and I wasn't crazy about that one either.

Do you know if her non-fiction books are better than her *historical entertainments*?

Susanna wrote: "How are your walls holding up, Misfit?"

Fortunately those walls are imaginary. If I was really doing that poor Misfit the kitty cat would be frightened out of her wits. She's a fraidy cat as it is :p

I have a book on the Romanovs. It focuses mostly on the exhumation of their bodies and the identification of them. Of course it also goes into some of their last days too, like the flight from the royal court and Rasputin. I don't remember the name of it, and I'm at school. So i'll have to post it once I get home!!!

Poor li'l kitty. I have a scaredy cat myself.

Edvard Radinsky's The Last Emperor is an excellent book. He details a lot of information about the Czar's inner family and the growing isolation of these people with so much power.

At certain times in the book I just wanted to grab Nicholas and Alexandra by their collars and just shake them "Are you Insane!!!???"

One of the last books edited by Jacqueline Onasis.

Thought the same about Marie Antoinette and Loiuse but realized they came before Henry started chopping off heads. Well once I had the chronology straight, I wanted to throttle Nicholas and Alenxandra when I read their story. At least get the children to safety, you imbociles.

Thanks Manuel. I am adding The Last Emperor to my TBR.

Actually, I don't see The Last Emperor, did you mean The Last Czar?

Actually Lyn
the book's correct title is

"The Last Tsar"

You're right, that's the one I meant. It looks good, thanks.

Thanks Manuel, this is one of my favorite periods. I just ordered and paid .99 plus 3.99 shipping for a new copy at Alibris.

P.S. The alibris coupon until Dec 3 is kite for $1.00 off.

Does anyone know anything about Princess Dorothea Lieven? I bought a non-fiction book (The Princess and the Politicians Sex, Intrigue and Diplomacy, 1812-40) on her today to make up a 3 for £5 deal and she looks quite interesting.
This is the blurb: "Princess Dorothea Lieven, wife to the Russian Ambassador in London from 1812 to 1840, craved power but as a women was not allowed to wield it. To circumvent the restrictions on her sex she became mistress, confidante and unofficial advisr to among others, Prince Metternich, Lord Grey, the Duke of Weillington, the Earl of Aberdeen and Lord Palmerston, It was a brilliant series of conquests that gave her power over thedestiny of nations, and made her one of the most notorious figures of her age. In this unforgettable portrait we see a fascinating spirited woman play - and beat - men at their own game."

Wow Harriet, that does look good. Never heard of her, but might have to check her out.

I have to say, the Romanov family intrigues me the most, along with Russian Monarchs like Catherine the Great.

Me, too, Elaine. Have you read The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II by Edvard Radzinsky or Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie. I read the Massie one years ago and loved it, but want to read it again. Also I have heard great things about the Radsinxky book.

Actually, I've never heard of any of those. When I was younger I read the Royal Diaries (sort of an imprint of Dear America) story about young Catherine, and I want to read the one about Anastasia. But I haven't really read and Russian monarch fiction.

Elaine wrote: "Actually, I've never heard of any of those. When I was younger I read the Royal Diaries (sort of an imprint of Dear America) story about young Catherine, and I want to read the one about Anastasia...."

The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander is very good (it's about Tsar Nicholas and his family's last days) and a quick read. The Massie books are nonfiction but really good.

Susan, good to see you back posting at GR again. I've missed you :)

I'm not sure yet how much these books will include actual Russian nobility or just the upper classes but I thought I'd mention Cynthia Harrod Eagles' Kirov Saga. I just got the first of the three from the library yesterday and plan on cracking it in just a bit (it's a chunkster).



Not sure if I have the order right for the last two.

Misfit - I am always anxious for new books about Russia. I will be interested to see what you think of these.

Lyn M wrote: "Misfit - I am always anxious for new books about Russia. I will be interested to see what you think of these."

I promise to check back and let you know. I love big fat sagas myself.

Misfit wrote: "Susan, good to see you back posting at GR again. I've missed you :)

I'm not sure yet how much these books will include actual Russian nobility or just the upper classes but I thought I'd mention..."

Thanks Misfit, I've also missed you.

Lyn M wrote: "Misfit - I am always anxious for new books about Russia. I will be interested to see what you think of these."

Halfway update on Anna. It starts in the early 1800's. Anna is the daughter of an English admiral and she's hired as governess to a family that goes to Paris. Eventually she's stranded and hired by a Russian Count in the diplomatic service to be governess to his children in St. Petersburg.

A lot of the first half is very much family oriented and not a lot of in-your-face action, any battles happen on the sidelines. That said, I just finished a riveting section with a search for one of the children lost in the mountains of southern Russia, and I foresee a drastic change in the family dynastics.

Thanks Misfit. It sounds good from your description. I will have to check them out. I added them to my TBR, which is HUGE. So many books, so little time.

Hi there everyone...
I dont know much about the Russian Royalty, except for some small titbit of stories I've heard, but I would love to learn...
I want to visit Russia so badly, but all I really know about them is what happend during the wars, and I'd love to know about their Royal family.

I have a friend who, if she was done up and dolled up right, would look almost exactly like a 13-year-old Anastasia, I noticed after looking at pictures of them both.

I'm 300 pages into Men on White Horses by Annette Motley and really enjoying it despite a slow start. I did not realize Catherine the Great was a German princess and only married into the Imperial family. I don't know this period well, so can't speak for how close she stays to history, but her characterizations of the nutty Peter is just hilarious. I was on the floor laughing at the efforts to get him to consummate the marriage, but then when Catherine came in on him hanging the rats (he does lots of nutty things)....

Peter was nutty as a fruitcake, certainly. And I believe he did indeed hang rats.

Glad you're enjoying it, Misfit.

Susanna wrote: "Peter was nutty as a fruitcake, certainly. And I believe he did indeed hang rats."

Karla mentioned that as well. And yes, he is such a nutter in this book. I flipped back a few pages. Catherine has just walked into the grisly scene of Peter hanging a rat,

"It is the retribution due to a criminal. What else? The prisoner was tried and convicted according to military law"

"The prisoner was court-martialled....after he had been apprehended by my excellent sargeant." He indicated his setter bitch.

Sounds like Peter!

For anyone interested in the Romanov's, there is a Goodreads group called ROMANOVS.

Donna