Author Topic: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES  (Read 35073 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Dominic_Albanese

  • Guest
DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« on: February 24, 2009, 06:45:08 PM »
If only I could read russian....

DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/grb/imp001.html

Not inexpensive, but what a great resource to have in one's library.

dca

Robert_Hall

  • Guest
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2009, 06:55:03 PM »
Same here,Dominic. Despite the price, I would certainly like to have- tranlated. Perhaps eventually...

Offline Grand Duchess Jennifer

  • Graf
  • ***
  • Posts: 305
  • "Give my love to all who remember me"-Olga,1918
    • View Profile
    • The Last Grand-Duchesses of Russia-OTMA
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2009, 08:44:44 PM »
I agree with you too. I wish I knew Russian and I REALLY wish that it was in English.

Please visit www.freewebs.com/grand-duchessesofrussiaotma/
Banner and Icon by Ally

Offline Sarushka

  • Moderator
  • Velikye Knyaz
  • *****
  • Posts: 6489
  • May I interest you in a grain of salt?
    • View Profile
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2009, 10:15:22 PM »
Ozon.ru carries these books at a MUCH more reasonable price -- roughly $13 for each volume, plus shipping:

http://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/3271770/
http://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/3827530/

I've been pleased with Ozon in the past, but if you're not comfortable or able to order from a Russian website, here are the ISBNs to search elsewhere online:
Vol 1: 5-87389-036-6
Vol 2: 978-5-87389-041-5

Maybe one of the US-based Russian importers like Vasha Kniga or Kniga.com will pick it up...

Offline Svetabel

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 4883
    • View Profile
    • http://svetabella.livejournal.com/
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2009, 12:21:10 AM »
I have both volumes and wait for the 3d volume though due to our uneasy economical time the release will not be soon ...

Somewhere in the GD Sergei and Ella Forums I had expressed my feelings about those books. They are definitely great, rare gorgeous photos from the Russian Archives and unique text...But what is upset me a bit that the text of the GD Sergei's diaries was definitely "brushed and cleaned"  as the publishing house was NovoSpasskiy Monastery in Moscow (where Sergei's remains are buried).  The Grand Duke certainly was not the person to make deep revelations to outside world and even to his own journals but...but it seems some more was "offscreen" of those editions which had been blessed by Patriarch Alexiy II.

Offline Marlene

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 2466
  • I live and breath QVD
    • View Profile
    • Royal Musings
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2009, 10:00:36 AM »


Does he write about his private life, for example.

It would be wonderful to have the books translated.  There is great historical value to to the books, but the actual market for the books would be limited.  The translation alone would not be cheap, and that would have to be factored into the cost of the books -- and of course, the foreign publisher (an American university press, for example)would also have to pay the Russian publisher for the rights to publish ... it's not cheap ... I would hope the Russian pubilisher would try to market it for international rights. 
I have both volumes and wait for the 3d volume though due to our uneasy economical time the release will not be soon ...

Somewhere in the GD Sergei and Ella Forums I had expressed my feelings about those books. They are definitely great, rare gorgeous photos from the Russian Archives and unique text...But what is upset me a bit that the text of the GD Sergei's diaries was definitely "brushed and cleaned"  as the publishing house was NovoSpasskiy Monastery in Moscow (where Sergei's remains are buried).  The Grand Duke certainly was not the person to make deep revelations to outside world and even to his own journals but...but it seems some more was "offscreen" of those editions which had been blessed by Patriarch Alexiy II.
Author of Queen Victoria's Descendants,
& publisher of Royal Book News.
Visit my blog, Royal Musings  http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/

Robert_Hall

  • Guest
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2009, 10:15:28 AM »
I have to agree with Marlene. As much interest as this many generate with us, the market is very limited. I may end up buying them anyway, and pay my Russian friend to translate it for me, but then, what is fair price for such a task? I have had pages and chapters translated before, but never whole books!
 I do not know much about the publishing business any longer, other than what I  see Marlene or Arturo say, but I know it is not cheap to  something like this out.  Perhaps a British  publisher  ? They put out more books on royalty than anyone.
 And, also I am with Marlene, what does he have to say about his personal life? I am fascinated even though it may be "washed" by the Church.

Offline Marlene

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 2466
  • I live and breath QVD
    • View Profile
    • Royal Musings
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2009, 01:02:31 PM »


Roibert, in depends on how long each book is -- and of course, the translator is paid by the new publisher -- and the cost can be in the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, depending on what the print run and other factors.  Publishers can call on the services of translators with whom they have worked before or on recommendation. 
British publishers don't have the money - and these days very, very few scholarly royal books are published in the UK.  Translations also take time - perhaps a year or more, again depending on the length ..John Rolf's third volume on the Kaiser's life is out in German -- but it will take a few years before the English edition uis published by Camrbridge -- and the first 2 vols were over $100 each.  But it is up to the Russian publisher, who owns the rights to this, to seek out foreign rights - one can only hope.

I have to agree with Marlene. As much interest as this many generate with us, the market is very limited. I may end up buying them anyway, and pay my Russian friend to translate it for me, but then, what is fair price for such a task? I have had pages and chapters translated before, but never whole books!
 I do not know much about the publishing business any longer, other than what I  see Marlene or Arturo say, but I know it is not cheap to  something like this out.  Perhaps a British  publisher  ? They put out more books on royalty than anyone.
 And, also I am with Marlene, what does he have to say about his personal life? I am fascinated even though it may be "washed" by the Church.
Author of Queen Victoria's Descendants,
& publisher of Royal Book News.
Visit my blog, Royal Musings  http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/

Robert_Hall

  • Guest
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2009, 01:21:35 PM »
Thank you, Marlene for the information. But I have no intention of  publishing ,  just a private translation. I could even help my Russian friend, as he is always trying to improve his English, which I think is very good as it is. Far better than my Russian! It is just an idea. I am not even sure if it would be worth it. Depends on the content, does it not? I will check it out when next in St.P. Who knows ? If the pictures are truely unique and interesting, I might just buy them for that and leave the rest until another time.

Offline Marlene

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 2466
  • I live and breath QVD
    • View Profile
    • Royal Musings
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2009, 03:04:46 PM »

You are very welcome. 

Thank you, Marlene for the information. But I have no intention of  publishing ,  just a private translation. I could even help my Russian friend, as he is always trying to improve his English, which I think is very good as it is. Far better than my Russian! It is just an idea. I am not even sure if it would be worth it. Depends on the content, does it not? I will check it out when next in St.P. Who knows ? If the pictures are truely unique and interesting, I might just buy them for that and leave the rest until another time.
Author of Queen Victoria's Descendants,
& publisher of Royal Book News.
Visit my blog, Royal Musings  http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/

Offline Svetabel

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 4883
    • View Profile
    • http://svetabella.livejournal.com/
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2009, 04:23:01 AM »


Does he write about his private life, for example.



He writes more about his close family circle - father, mother, sblings, much about sister Maria, her children and so on. Not much about his OWN private feelings or even youthful crushes (for example about his platonic crush on Olga Perovskaya we can understand only from the Journals of his faithful tutor Dmitriy Arseniev). Only one stong private emotion he permits himself telling how Princess Dolgorukaya (mistress of his father) was so fool to send him a greeting card for his 20th birthday...

Posibly we will know more from the diaries after 1881 year...

Offline Romanov_fan

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 4611
    • View Profile
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2009, 11:04:17 PM »
Most of the Romanovs didn't say much in their diaries on their private life- K. R. was a rarity. Sergei was a mystery in some ways, and in all the biographies I've read on Ella and the Romanovs it seemed to me to say any diaries by him wouldn't contain much in the way of personal revelation. I didn't know any diaries by him even survived.

Offline Marlene

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 2466
  • I live and breath QVD
    • View Profile
    • Royal Musings
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2009, 02:53:06 PM »


I;ve got a job for you  ...  translating the diaries    :D  ;) ;)


Does he write about his private life, for example.



He writes more about his close family circle - father, mother, sblings, much about sister Maria, her children and so on. Not much about his OWN private feelings or even youthful crushes (for example about his platonic crush on Olga Perovskaya we can understand only from the Journals of his faithful tutor Dmitriy Arseniev). Only one stong private emotion he permits himself telling how Princess Dolgorukaya (mistress of his father) was so fool to send him a greeting card for his 20th birthday...

Posibly we will know more from the diaries after 1881 year...
Author of Queen Victoria's Descendants,
& publisher of Royal Book News.
Visit my blog, Royal Musings  http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/

Offline Svetabel

  • Velikye Knyaz
  • ****
  • Posts: 4883
    • View Profile
    • http://svetabella.livejournal.com/
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2009, 01:48:57 AM »


I;ve got a job for you  ...  translating the diaries    :D  ;)

Wow! : )

Robert_Hall

  • Guest
Re: DIARIES OF GRAND DUKE SERGEI ALEXANDROVICH - 2 VOLUMES
« Reply #14 on: March 04, 2009, 09:50:38 AM »
Depending on what Marlene has in mind, I might be willing to go in on that as well. I would like to see the volumes first though.