Alexander Palace Forum
Discussions about the Imperial Family and European Royalty => The Yussupovs => Topic started by: rachel5a on September 01, 2004, 11:27:41 AM
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Could u please tell me what did Felix study in Oxford??
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He got a bachelor of arts degree, I don't know what he studied. He seemed to have more fun playing around than studying (not unusual for college guys!)
Have you read his memoirs?
http://www.alexanderpalace.org/LostSplendor
also read Greg King's "The Man Who Killed Rasputin" It's very good and informative and tells things that were not in his memiors. It also tells the places they lived in Paris, which you asked in your other thread.
Oh, welcome, and stick around, I like Felix fans :)
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Thanks Ann, you must be really great person :)
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Thanks, you are nice too! :)
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I was wondering if anyone knows where Felix lived in Oxford while at the University? I am going to be there this May taking a summer course and I want to check it out ;).
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Felix lived on campus the first year, as it was a rule. He had to be in by 10PM and if you were late 3 times you were expelled. He helped classmates sneak in with a sheet out the window ;)
After that, he lived in a flat in London which he decorated uniquely with various clashy colors and a meneigere' (sp) of animals in the foyer! He had several interesting episodes here. There is much on this in Lost Splendor, if you find the right chapter it might give the location. (of course it's online here at the AP!) Also Greg's book The Man Who Killed Rasputin tells something on this.
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Felix lived on campus the first year, as it was a rule. He had to be in by 10PM and if you were late 3 times you were expelled. He helped classmates sneak in with a sheet out the window ;)
After that, he lived in a flat in London which he decorated uniquely with various clashy colors and a meneigere' (sp) of animals in the foyer! He had several interesting episodes here. There is much on this in Lost Splendor, if you find the right chapter it might give the location. (of course it's online here at the AP!) Also Greg's book The Man Who Killed Rasputin tells something on this.
Thanks, Annie. I remember reading about this in Lost Splendour but I forgot the details, and I don't own the book. I am surprised that he lived in London and commuted to classes as it's not that close to the Oxford campus, almost an hour these days, but probably took longer back then! But maybe not longer, since most likely a lot less traffic ;).
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Lost Splendor is no longer on the main page, this is the link:
http://alexanderpalace.org/lostsplendor
There were reports of his wreckless driving around London in his Delauny-Belleville, once with Prince George of Greece on the hood in costume!
I am not totally sure of this, but I believe his bachelor flat from his college days was maintained and used as a place to stay in London for the rest of his life.
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Thanks for this info!
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Hello there!
Just a quick note - there is no 'campus' at Oxford - the University is an association of independent colleges (some 30 or more now). Within each college students took a set of rooms, identified by the number of the staircase.
Which college did he attend? Somehow I would be very surprised if it were not Christchurch (the largest, undoubtedly the most imposing and it does boast its own cathederal which is handy...). Once you know that, email the college whose archivist will be able to tell you which rooms were his.
Most colleges are open to visitors, to wander around, and are also very proud of their history. If you ask them nicely, they may let you peep inside - but someone may be living there.
London was (and is) commutable (50 minutes to London Padington now, and 1 20' then) but no student would bother to travel - after all, there are only three terms of eight weeks each year - so you don't need to spend that much time in the place.
I do hope you enjoy your trip - it's a most beautiful place to spend any amount of time.
Take Evelyn Waugh's 'Brideshead' to read for 1920's period feel - and Dorothy L Sayer's 'Gaudy Night' if you love a 1930's detective romance with a noble sleuth.
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Just checked - he was at Univ (University College).
The email address of the college archivist is:
robin.darwall-smith@univ.ox.ac.uk
Do let us know how you get on - I almost e-mailed him myself, but didn't want to steal your thunder!
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Thank you, Lemma! I will be staying on the campus where the Bodleian (sp?) Library is located, in fact, part of the course will include introduction to their archives, so hopefully I will be able to get a lot of info that way, about many subjects I am interested in.
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I've heard that his old dorm is now known as the Yusupov room, and it is considered an honor for a student to get it.
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Hope it's in a better state than it was when he had it! The description of the damp carpet like walking through a marsh sounds pretty typical of how I remember the place. Certainly didn't need a fridge for the winter and spring terms...
It would be a 'set', Annie, rather than a 'dorm' ;)
The Bodleian is a lot of library buildings, the main ones (and the original and most attractive) all right in the centre of town - opposite them is the New Bod, built in the sixties out of concrete and absolutley foul inside or out. But there still ain't no campus...
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Oh yeah I remember that! He said the water in his wash basin often froze solid in the winter! I hope it has utililies now! ;) It may not seem to be such a big deal to have those conditions back then, but he was rich and raised in places that had electricity and running water so it must have been a bad thing for him to deal with that.
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The description of the damp carpet like walking through a marsh sounds pretty typical of how I remember the place. Certainly didn't need a fridge for the winter and spring terms...
Good thing I am going in May! :o ;)
The Bodleian is a lot of library buildings, the main ones (and the original and most attractive) all right in the centre of town - opposite them is the New Bod, built in the sixties out of concrete and absolutley foul inside or out. But there still ain't no campus...
The only thing I know is that we are getting put up in place called the Rewley House, which is supposed to be near the Bodleian Library (don't know which one)... So there is no campus at all, just a bunch of buildings scattered around town? ???
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All of Oxford is a 'campus' ...
In my poor opinion it is (or was) the most beautiful place in England...I miss it dreadfully and I wish you the joy of a visit.
rskkiya
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All of Oxford is a 'campus' ...
In my poor opinion it is (or was) the most beautiful place in England...I miss it dreadfully and I wish you the joy of a visit.
rskkiya
That's what I heard too, about it being the most beautiful place in England. I have been to England twice, but only the London area, never made it out to Oxford. Thanks, I am really excited about going!
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I agree, it is very lovely. I used to visit quite often when a dear friend of mine lived there. Was quite temped to actually MOVE there [from Islington] at one point.
It remains a special place to me for various reasons, one amongst them being that it is the place I met the Princess Diana.
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Do you guys have any recommendations as to where to go locally - walking distance as I won't have a car and will be in class all day until the evening. Local pubs, used book stores, cafes, little local theaters, etc? Any tip like that will be appreciated! How big is Oxford anyway? Can one walk the centre in a few hours or is it way bigger than that? For example, I can walk NYC from midtown to downtown in about 2 hours, is it something like that? I need to pick up a book about Oxford before I go. :)
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It remains a special place to me for various reasons, one amongst them being that it is the place I met the Princess Diana.
Robert, did you just run into her there or did you know you would be meeting?
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Well, it's a very old city, so I doubt that it would be laid out like NYC --- although I'm a savage, and I was only once in New York (as a wee baby) so I don't know ....
For the joy of a visit, give it as much time as you can spare - a day is certainly not enough time - but its a wonderful place to wander about in!
Is your agenda to be simply "Felix focused" or do you intend any other adventures in mind?
rskkiya
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No, it was not a planned meeting. Just "at the right place"...which is a mis-staement if ever there was one. I was visiting a friend at a hospice.
As far as the town centre- very compact. Much smaller than your Manhatten trek ! The river walk is beautiful, or at least was, been about 5 years since my last visit. GREAT bookstores. The shopping arcade has/had some interesting places, besides the usual chain stores. I remember a very good food hall, especially the butcer's shop.
As for pub, well, there is one I had a lot of fun in....but it may be a bit much for some.
Everything is easy walking from the train station or bus stops. The only time I recall needing a car hire was visiting friends in the "suburbs"..a cheap cab ride.
Now you have me wanting to return ! Perhaps on my next stay.
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Well, it's a very old city, so I doubt that it would be laid out like NYC
rskkiya
Oh, I just meant distance wise, to give me an idea.
Is your agenda to be simply "Felix focused" or do you intend any other adventures in mind?
rskkiya
Felix is just by default, I happened to remember that he went there, that's all. I meant all kinds of stuff!
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As far as the town centre- very compact. Much smaller than your Manhatten trek ! The river walk is beautiful, or at least was, been about 5 years since my last visit. GREAT bookstores. The shopping arcade has/had some interesting places, besides the usual chain stores. I remember a very good food hall, especially the butcer's shop.
Thanks, sounds great!
As for pub, well, there is one I had a lot of fun in....but it may be a bit much for some.
Hey, what's that supposed to mean? ;)
Now you have me wanting to return !
Come on down in May! :D
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Helen, in May I shall be in China.
The pub ? well, maybe privately.
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Helen, in May I shall be in China.
Hey, China is pretty good too!
The pub ? well, maybe privately.
Gotcha.
No, it was not a planned meeting. Just "at the right place"...which is a mis-staement if ever there was one. I was visiting a friend at a hospice.
I guess Diana was visiting the hospice too at the time.
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Yes. It was kept quiet to avoid the mob scene, but they took pictures and gave them to us.
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Yes. It was kept quiet to avoid the mob scene, but they took pictures and gave them to us.
That's pretty cool. Do you still have the photos?
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We were each given one. Yes, I still have mine.
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We spent a wonderful day strolling Oxford U. precinct and then venturing inside Oxford U. Press bookstore across the main road from the campus.
However in one of the large libraries I was not permitted to enter without a pass. Mere tourists were discouraged by the security stationed close to the entrance. :'(
Such a quaint and attractive place with staff? and students peddling everywhere on bikes loaded with books.
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However in one of the large libraries I was not permitted to enter without a pass. Mere tourists were discouraged by the security stationed close to the entrance. :'(
Hopefully I will have access to all the library buildings since this is what we're there for :D.
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Hopefully I will have access to all the library buildings since this is what we're there for :D.
You will be among the privileged, I am sure! ;D
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I used to be able to get a visitor's pass fairly easily. You just couldn't take anything out. Also, the few times I did this, you had to be pretty specific as to what you were looking for.
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However in one of the large libraries I was not permitted to enter without a pass.
I just had to mail in a photo for the Oxford library pass :)
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Someone asked of Felix's London address and I don't see the answer. It was 15 Parkside, Knightsbridge. He returned to it after his escape with his Rembrandts and jewels after his rescue from The Crimea. but he soon had to let it go as he could not pay the rent and he wanted to live in Paris anyway.
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Does anybody know where Felix lived in London? He had a flat in Knightsbridge but there exact address is not mentioned in his book.
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Hi Mary Ann!
On the Felix at Oxford U thread, Nikolai wrote:
"Someone asked of Felix's London address and I don't see the answer. It was 15 Parkside, Knightsbridge. He returned to it after his escape with his Rembrandts and jewels after his rescue from The Crimea. but he soon had to let it go as he could not pay the rent and he wanted to live in Paris anyway."
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Felix was not allowed to live in Britain due to his status as an admitted assassin (Rasputin) He could visit, but not take up residency. He couldn't afford it just for a drop off spot. When in England they stayed at Frogmore Cottage with Xenia. (Irina's mother)
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:-*Thanks alot indeed. I live in the Central London and it's really fantastic to have a look at places where Felix stayed. Unfortunatelly many places do not exist as they were due to war time bombing.
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Have you seen this particular flat?
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It must be a block of flats on Knightsbridge (the road) just opposite Harvey Nicks. Do post a photo Mary Ann if you can find it!
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I have photo of the house but how to download it here?
I don't think it's actually possible to view a flat as the building is private.
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UR
I have photo of the house but how to download it here?
I don't think it's actually possible to view a flat as the building is private.
You have to open a photobucket account, upload your photo to your account and then insert the URL reference with the insert image function when you post. It's easier than it sounds but it takes a bit of persistence the first time.
There are more instructions in the "Welcome New Users" section: "How do I post pictures"? etc.
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[i/album(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/bestmaryann/Sunday161005002.jpg)s/b137/bestmaryann/Sunday161005002.jpgmg][/img]
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mary_ann send the photo to me, i put it here as a post, postzak@hotmail.com
i am very interested to know where he lived, i looked for the number but i never found the house
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thanx Mary Ann!
(http://www.zuza.nl/userImages/3/6/3/v500_3634326b9e5600ff36db0fb32aa738c5.jpg)
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Hooray!
This looks as if it is the Hyde Park side.
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It is for sure. ;D
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You can tell by the horse sign on the road!
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Although i'm sure most of you already know, Prince Yussupov founded the Russian Society at Oxford in 1909