The complete wartime correspondence

 
Has anyone here read, "The Complete Wartime Correspondence of Tsar Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra: April 1914-March 1917" edited by  Joseph T. Fuhrmann ? My periodic searches for it always end in "unavailable", or "out of stock".

The Amazon review below (sounds like a forum member might be it's author  ), contains three remarks that I find especially interesting: " For those interested in the personal life and the characters of the last Tsar's family, it is arguably better still: here we have Nicholas II, affectionate and gentle, occasional author of rather poetic descriptions of scenery (this is not the Nicholas of the blandly factual diary). Here too his beloved Empress, sharp-tongued and energetic and interested in everything, very different to the tragic-eyed lady of legend. High politics and war jostle for attention with amusing little accounts of the childrens' activities, but there is never any doubt that the letters were written in serious times by people who understood and sought desperately to find a solution to the problems Russia faced. "

Indispensable evidence, June 26, 2001
Reviewer:    A reader  
This united edition of the correspondence was long overdue. The letters of the Emperor and Empress appear together for the first time, cleansed of the transcription errors which spoiled the first (1923) edition of her correspondence, and of the tactful editing which expunged the more intimate passages from the 1929 version of his. Joseph Fuhrmann's footnotes are helpful, thoroughly researched and not unsympathetic to the writers. For students of Russian history, this book is an extraordinarily important source on the government of Russia immediately before the Revolution; it repays careful and open-minded reading. For those interested in the personal life and the characters of the last Tsar's family, it is arguably better still: here we have Nicholas II, affectionate and gentle, occasional author of rather poetic descriptions of scenery (this is not the Nicholas of the blandly factual diary). Here too his beloved Empress, sharp-tongued and energetic and interested in everything, very different to the tragic-eyed lady of legend. High politics and war jostle for attention with amusing little accounts of the childrens' activities, but there is never any doubt that the letters were written in serious times by people who understood and sought desperately to find a solution to the problems Russia faced. They certainly don't make light reading, but if you have the patience, these letters repay your perseverance.

Sunny

Hello Sunny,

This book is really great, it contains everything they wrote during the war, a biographical index with all the people appearing in the letters and more. I think you could find it in amazon zshops, but i suppose it will be quite expensive(for it was already expensive when it was published). If i well remember it was printed by special order. Anyway, this book is a must have for anyone interested in Nicholas and Alexandra.

Antonio, Joanna, Helen, and Elisa, as I respect your opinions, I very much appreciate your comments on this book. I will put extra effort into finding a copy.

Thank you,

Sunny

Yes, this book is superb. It's definitely worth the price.

The complete wartime correspondence of Tsar Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra by Joseph T. Fuhrman.
Correspondence between april 1914 and march 1917.

This book is on my list for a long time, but very hard to get. I've tried amazon etc.. practically not available.

I would like to know is it worthwhile and readable. I've read some opinions on the web and  they are very contradicting. One says it must be in every history classroom and another one says its banal, full of personal things we don't want to know of a weak man and a distressed woman.

I know there are letters published here on the AP-site, but does anyone has an opinion about this book?

Anna

I am curious.  Is it worth the money?  And, how much money are we talking about?

AGRBear

Hi Helen,

Well that's a very generous offer, we don't live very far from each other. I might do that

Anna

Hi Bear,


We're talking about $ 285.00 - 148.00 GBP or € 216.00
that's quite a lot of money.

Anna

Hi Bear,


We're talking about $ 285.00 - 148.00 GBP or € 216.00
that's quite a lot of money.

Anna

Wow that is a lot.  The book was published by Greenwood Press, a scholarly publisher, and scholarly books are always more expensive.  I got mine free as a review copy for Royal Book News.

Marlene,

Yes, those are not fun-prices, I've seen it on the web even more expensive. I know the book was published by Greenwood Press. Don't tell me about the costs of scholary books with two boys, only wished they sometimes handled them with more care, ah well teen-agers

You have a free copy-- you're making me jealous.

Anna

You have a free copy-- you're making me jealous.

Anna[/quote]

I publish a bi-monthly newsletter Royal Book News so I get most of my royal books gratis.

Anna

  If you have a  serious scholarly interest in N & A then yes, I would reccomend it - as I have found it to be far more detailed than the sections published at this site (no insult intended to the AP or to the hard working FA's.) By the way - there are no pictures, and it can be a wee bit tricky getting used to the presentational layout.
  It can be found at many libraries, I think.
rskkiya

I think it is an absolute must. The annotations alone are excellent.

Silja
You are quite right --but for an amature/casual enthusiast--- the price quoted above can be a bit stiff if all that one wants is some letters and some photos...

Do try your local lending library first!

rskkiya

Silja
You are quite right --but for an amature/casual enthusiast--- the price quoted above can be a bit stiff if all that one wants is some letters and some photos...

Do try your local lending library first!

rskkiya

Well I'm not an amature/casual enthusiast and I don't want some letters and some photos. I know the layout of the book no photo's etc etc. Just want to get a deeper view on both characters so what's better than to read their own words. I don't think any library in Holland lends this book, even King/wilson's book is not to be found, that doesn't mean I don't have it. I dislike lending at a library- I want to have the books in my own bookcase.

Amature or expert for some people the price can be a bit stiff!!


Anna