Author Topic: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov  (Read 148039 times)

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helenazar

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #180 on: July 20, 2010, 12:42:33 PM »
The royal diaries were written in a certain style at that time, which normally didn't include much personal reflection. If you notice that her father's diary was written in much the same style... Their letters are very different though - this is where you will see all sorts of personal observations and thoughts!

GrandDuchessAndrea

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #181 on: July 20, 2010, 08:18:29 PM »
There is one subject upon which she reveals her feelings: her soldier crushes. Olga says, for example, "sat with Pavl. Al. in the control room. Love him so much, dear, so sweet." It's amusing to read, but also kind of sad. Also, the Rasputin blouses thing. It seems to me that Olga mentioned it because it was especially funny to her that he mistook the blouse color, and that the remark about their souls touched her especially.
You're right, blessOTMA, one does have to read the twice, to look for those things she mentions like the blouse thing, or this very funny line about the Standart sailors teasing Anastasia for being short.

Offline blessOTMA

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #182 on: July 20, 2010, 08:39:47 PM »
There's a place in the diary where Olga says  " we  practiced curtsying in Mama's cabin ...it was very funny" ... that made me  laugh the 2nd time I read the diary. I bet it WAS funny lol! ...but the remark went under the radar in the first read.   

"Give my love to all who remember me."

  Olga Nikolaevna

helenazar

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #183 on: July 21, 2010, 03:51:28 PM »
There is one subject upon which she reveals her feelings: her soldier crushes.

Yes, this is true, and this is pretty consistent throughout all her diaries, not just 1913. However, she doesn't really "admit" that they are crushes per say, she just says nice things about these guys.  :D. Even when she is older, in 1916-17, she uses the same types of words to describe the crushes....

Offline blessOTMA

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #184 on: July 21, 2010, 08:23:51 PM »
There is one subject upon which she reveals her feelings: her soldier crushes.

Yes, this is true, and this is pretty consistent throughout all her diaries, not just 1913. However, she doesn't really "admit" that they are crushes per say, she just says nice things about these guys.  :D. Even when she is older, in 1916-17, she uses the same types of words to describe the crushes....

Helen, is it known how private the dairies were? Could and would they be read by others? Would admitting these men's importance in her dairy be therefore,  foolish and could  lead to Olga losing their company if she goes beyond certain words ?  Olga used a language for some passages in the 1913 that was not translated and I wondered if she did that for some privacy. 

"Give my love to all who remember me."

  Olga Nikolaevna

Offline Sarushka

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #185 on: July 21, 2010, 10:03:18 PM »
Olga used a language for some passages in the 1913 that was not translated and I wondered if she did that for some privacy. 

A few of those lines were translated and included in an essay about Olga & Voronov in the exhibition catalog, Nicholas and Alexandra: At Home with the Last Tsar and His Family.

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #186 on: July 21, 2010, 10:17:57 PM »
Oh is it in that book? Thank you!

"Give my love to all who remember me."

  Olga Nikolaevna

Offline blessOTMA

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #187 on: July 24, 2010, 10:23:47 PM »
Olga is sometimes  looked  down on for using "childish" words  in her diary during  her later years about the  young men she cared for.  But if she went beyond a certain, permissible  lexicon, she risked losing sight of them ...it's not fair to blame her for the "childish" words. It was something she had to endure...I feel her  dairy could be read at any time. But she may have also used such words to keep her emotions in check as well . The  restrictions on her as a royal nearly 100 years ago is often  hard for us to appreciate. We are so much freer and belong to ourselves...while Olga Nikolaievna belonged to the State ...as a royal or a prisoner.
 

"Give my love to all who remember me."

  Olga Nikolaevna

Eric_Lowe

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #188 on: July 24, 2010, 11:24:53 PM »
Is this book published ? No sight of it in the Gilbert website...

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #189 on: July 25, 2010, 01:41:58 AM »
Is this book published ? No sight of it in the Gilbert website...
here you go Eric,  http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/grb/grbpg27.html

"Give my love to all who remember me."

  Olga Nikolaevna

Eric_Lowe

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #190 on: July 25, 2010, 06:28:28 AM »
Thanks ! I will order it. :-)

helenazar

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #191 on: July 26, 2010, 12:06:43 PM »
Helen, is it known how private the dairies were? Could and would they be read by others?

I am not 100% sure, but I believe that when members of the imperial family wrote in their diaries it was with the idea that one day it will become a historical document, so they knew that at some point in the future it won't be private, although they probably didn't know when these diaries would be looked at. Which is also why they mainly tried to write down mostly factual things, and not so much of personal feelings, the way they did in their letters.

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #192 on: July 26, 2010, 10:32:07 PM »
Very interesting Helen, thank you!

"Give my love to all who remember me."

  Olga Nikolaevna

Eric_Lowe

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #193 on: July 26, 2010, 11:48:54 PM »
Well...I wrote my diary, but do not expect other people to see it...

Offline blessOTMA

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Re: 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna, transl. by Marina Petrov
« Reply #194 on: July 26, 2010, 11:52:49 PM »
Well...I wrote my diary, but do not expect other people to see it...
Yes Eric, but you aren't  a royal...unless there's something you have been keeping from us?  ;D lol!

"Give my love to all who remember me."

  Olga Nikolaevna