The Romanovs 1818-1959

click here for more details, find new or used items	John Van Der Kiste Our price £6.99 (£8.99) New from £3.36 Used from £3.36 Pages: 304 (Paperback) ISBN: 075093459X Pub: The History Press Ltd Pub date: 2004-01-24 Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 203070

Reader Reviews:

The Family of Alexander II: understanding the Imperial Clan better meaning to understanderstand its downfall better (4/4 people found this helpful)

When I first saw this book I was a bit astonished why 1818 to 1959? I figured fairly quickly that 1818 refers to the birth date of Alexander II (29 Apr 1818), but 1959 remain a mystery as I always had 1960 in mind when Olga Alexandrowna died, the "last" Grand Duchess.

Well, I forgot that Alexander II was married twice. His second wife was Princess Catherine Dolgoruky, who was created Princess Yurievska. His daughter from this second marriage and his last child to die was Princess Catherine Yourievska who died on 22 December 1959.

This time frame makes it already clear that this book focuses on the Czar Alexander II and his family, including Czar Alexander III. It is not so much about the last Czar Nicolas II or rather in an indirect way as the family of Alexander II was the wider family of Nicolas II and the "famous uncles" had a great influence on the last Czar and the reputation of the dynasty as a whole.

By following the ups and down of the Imperial clan and the relationships of its members one is learning and understanding a lot about the functioning or non functioning of the Imperial Family, whose unity was precarious and whose members' life style and often odd sense of responsibility contrasted too harshly with the respect demanded. This all had an impact on the history of Russia. It was part and parcel leading up to the revolution. This book really filled a gap. One understands a quite bit more about the Imperial clan and why one might regard him as doomed. The Romanovs were by far not only victims of the revolution but have to bear lots of responsibility for their own downfall. They were in charge and they could have turned the wheel. They did not. They did not deserve to be shot in cellars (none does!), but loosing power and wealth is a different matter.

This book is written in the usual excellent style of van der Kiste, extremely readable and giving in depth information. It is a pleasure to read.

Splendid panoramic view (9/9 people found this helpful)

It was quite an ambitious undertaking for the author to write a family biography of the Tsar Liberator and his family, but he has pulled it off very well. Until now I'd never known much about the character of Tsars Alexander II and III, but this account brings them to life, and the contrast between Alexander III and his reticent son Nicholas II is drawn well. Above all, it is fascinating to read what became of the lesser-known Grand Dukes and Duchesses, as well as the martyrs who were killed during and after the revolution. Also Alexander II's family by his mistress, the daughter living until 1959, seem to have received little attention till now. Well done to Van der Kiste for lifting the curtain on this little-known historical chapter.

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