Books about OTMAA

[ScottM]

There may be a thread for this already, but I scanned for one and didn't see one, so I figured I'd start a new thread to ask.

Does anyone know of any books that give a thorough treatment of the children of Nicholas and Alexandra. I have "Nicholas and Alexandra" by Robert Massie, and that book does give some insight into the family life of the Romanovs as well as some information about the children, but I'd really like to be able to do more study on them. It really seems that they've been ignored to some extent. Maybe because they died so young... 

Any suggestions?

[Grand Duchess Jennifer]

There are some online books on the main website which talk about the children. I find Six years at the Russian Court to be very interesting. I don't think there are books devoted to just OTMAA, but I think in late 2009 a book called Born in The Purple will be published.

[ScottM]

I found a website about the book Born in the Purple with a Google search just now. It looks like just what I'm looking for. Too bad I'll have to wait until December, though...

In the meantime, I'll check out the other books you mentioned. Thanks! 

[Grand Duchess Jennifer]

You're welcome! I'm glad I could help!

[Teddy]

The Diary of Grand Duchess Olga for the year 1913 by Reagan Baker is maybe something.

[s.v.markov]

I think over the years we have built up our understanding of each member of the IF by putting together all the accounts available and sifting through them, rejecting the unreliable and flimsy, and building up on those we consider trustworthy. Perhaps Paul Gilbert's forthcoming book 'Born in the Purple' will finally provide a true picture ~ at least as far as OTMA are concerned. For me, the accounts below have proved to be pretty good, even given the passage of time :
 At the Court of the Last Tsar (Mossolov, 1935)
 Thirteen Years at the Russian Court (Gilliard, 1924)
 Last Days at Tsarskoe Selo (Benckendorff, 1927)
 The Real Romanovs (Botkin, 1932)

I believe all are available to read on the main AP site.

[Nobility]

Общие Александр Spiridovitch книга Екатерины Palace.Very хорошее

[Sarushka]

I agree with Teddy -- Olga's 1913 diary is one of the best English resources on the daily life of one of the tsar's children. Anastasia's Album is also worth a look.

In Russian:
Royal Sisters of Mercy has the largest collection of excerpts from the girls' letters and diaries that I'm aware of.  Divnyi Svet also contains a number of letters between Alexandra and her daughters. Tsesarevitch includes the full text of Aleksei's 1916 diary. Also, I have not seen a copy of Tsarskie Deti myself, but it is exclusively focused on OTMAA.

If you're interested in the children's letters from captivity, I recommend Pered Rasstrelom and Pis'ma Tsarskoi Sem'i iz Zatochenia.

Last of all, Valentina Ivanovna Chbotareva's diary provides a number of interesting observations of Olga and Tatiana as nurses. Excerpts have been published in Russia, My Native Land; Skorbnyi Angel by Sergei Fomin; and Novyi Zhurnal, New York 1990, vol 181 and 182.

[ScottM]

I guess it's all a matter of knowing where to look. I'm glad I found this place. There certainly seems to be a wealth of knowledge about the Romanovs floating around here.

BTW, the book titles which have been given in Russian: I assume the books are in Russian? My Russian is very limited, so those might be a little difficult for me. (Although, they might offer a good chance to practice.  )

Edit: Nevermind... I see you said, "In Russian." I need to pay better attention...

[Ally Kumari]

I don´t know if it´s available in your country, but "Alexei - son of the last Tsar" by Elisabeth Heresch was not bad...

[nena]

Aleksei Nikolaevich

Childhood of Heir Tsesarevich Alexei Nicholaievich ---1913
Tsesarevich Alexei in the recollections of his tutors
With Tsar and Without Tsar, Count Vladimir N. Voeikov
Letters of Holy Martyrs from exile - in Russian

All in Russian, I think you might try. Also, GD Ally is corrcet, book by E. Heresch is alsogood. Also wanted to add these books on thi list about OTMAA.

[Sarushka]

If you read French, there's also Le Tsarevitch, enfant martyr by Eugenie de Greece.

[Teddy]

I always thought that the Princess Eugenie book was a sort of coffee table book.

[Sarushka]

I always thought that the Princess Eugenie book was a sort of coffee table book.

I have not seen a copy yet myself, but I have a few photocopies which have given me the opposite impression -- to my knowledge it's mostly text. I've just ordered myself a copy, so I will let you know what it's like when I receive it.

[clockworkgirl21]

May I ask how much it cost, Sarushka? It's very brave to order a Romanov book if you don't know what's it's like, especially since they're awfully expensive!