Olga Teaching German???

It says in "The House of Special Purpose" a memoir book by Sydney Gibbes that Olga Nicholaievna who believed she was too old for school studies, taught some German to Tatiana in her spare time. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought none of the girls were fluent in German. I know that Olga believed that her "schooling days" were at an end, but general knowledge dictates that perhaps the girls knew a smidgen of the language, but not enough to teach the language! So is this true? I doubt it, but the source is pretty trustworthy.

The girls had German lessons, ON and TN the most.  I've also read Olga helped teach English to MN and AN, and history too... dunno if that's true.

In the book "Nicholas & Alexandra" by Robert K.Massie, Chapter 14.
There is a letter written by Alix to her old tutor Miss Jackson in which Alix states that "Four languages is a lot, but they need them absolutely, and this summer we had Germans and Swedes, and I made all 4 lunch and dine, as it is good practice for them"
She is refering to all 4 of her daughters learning 4 languages.
The languages are Russian, English, German, and French.

Wasnt Catherine Schneider still teaching German in Siberia?

Not that I recall. Wasn't she just Alexandra's Russian teacher, but she became friends with the Empress so she decided to accompany them?

Catherine was teaching the childern when in Siberia.I think at least math. But she, I beleive also my have given German lessions, but could be wrong now. I think Alexandra gave the German lessions. Catherine gave Russian lessions to Ella and Alix. When they moved to Russia., She was a very interesting woman. Loyal till the end. She paid with her life.

Alexandra taught the girls history, theology,and German. The tutors taught the girls and Alexei Russian, mathematics and English. This is confirmed in the Lost Fortune of the Tsars .

Ortino has it, but Catherine still gave lessions, Even if math is boring.

Haha, I despise math. Didn't Catherine teach the children music? I know that they were stilling receiving a musical education in Tobolsk......

I know that they were stilling receiving a musical education in Tobolsk......

Yea, I think so. It says that there was a piano that the children could entertain themselves on...
And I think Anastasia still had her balalaika (I'm not positive, I THINK but I'm not sure 100%, correct me if I'm wrong)

I know that there was a piano both at Tobolsk and even Yekaterinburg I think...there are accounts of the soldiers making the girls play revolutionary tunes.

I know that there was a piano both at Tobolsk and even Yekaterinburg I think...there are accounts of the soldiers making the girls play revolutionary tunes.

They didn't, but there was a piano in both Tobolsk and Ekaterinburg.  Gibbes said Anastasia was  in "the beginning stage of either accomplishment"--art and playing piano.  Olga and Tatiana were the best at the piano, the other girls not so much at all.

 

Forgive me - but isn't "House of Special Purpose" by Christopher Hyde -  a fictional book - kind of a intrigue spy type novel?

I ordered it from Amazon.com and thumbed thru the paperback (with kind of a lurid looking cover) and it just looked like some type of spy/treasure type novel because everything I read had to do with some agents in WWII?  Should I put it back on my shelf to read?  :-/

I have the Sydney Gibbes book called  "The Romanovs & Mr. Gibbes" by Frances Welch - I also ordered from Amazon.com.  It was what I expected - a bio of Mr. Gibbes and in particular his life with the IF.  It does quote from him extensively, leading me to think there was a book published by him.

I'm confused - help!  :-/
Regards,
Janet R.

Hi,

It sounds like the book everyone's referring to is:

The house of special purpose : an intimate portrait of the last years of the Russian imperial family compiled from the papers of their English tutor  by J. C. Trewin

It was originally published in 1975.  Its probably available through Amazon, but I managed to locate a copy through my local library.

Hope that helps!

 

Dear Katie:

Thank you for the reply.  Darn - that is probably the book that I MEANT to order from Amazon.com and ended up with this spy novel!

Sounds like a good book to have on hand - I'll have to try again!  Then again, I bet it was more than the about $5.00 I paid on Amazon for the one I have!

Thanks again!
Janet R.