The Amber Room: The Fate of the World’s Greatest Lost Treasure.
Catherine Scott-Clark and Adrian Levy
ISBN 0-670-04432-6
Viking Canada 2004
386 pages
In print.
The authors attempted to track down the Amber Room only to decide, after a long search, that it was destroyed when Konigsberg castle burned. They follow many of the common theories throughout Germany and Russia.
A lot of information about Anatoly Kuchumov (and not all of it favorable, FYI to all the people here who knew him) and they also met with Alexander Kedrinsky, among others.
Pavlovsk: The Life of a Russian Palace
Suzanne Massie
ISBN 0-316-54970-3
Little, Brown 1990
394 pages
Just thought I'd put down the ISBN info in case anyone needs it. This is really a phenomenal book, and is a great starting place for anyone interested in the palaces, even if Pavlovsk isn't your favorite one. Massie includes plenty of information on many of the others as well.
Pavlovsk Palace and Park
Anatoly Kuchumov
No ISBN
Aurora Art Publishers 1973
443 pages
Out of print. Can find a few used copies at some online booksellers. Bought mine cheap on ebay.
A heavily illustrated (almost entirely in color) guide to the palace and grounds. Most of the public rooms and their contents are described in detail. Over a hundred pages are devoted to the park, along with a description. Also includes a brief history of Pavlovsk. Bob has included it on the website at
http://www.alexanderpalace.org/pavlovsk/Gardens of the Tsars
Margrethe Floryan
ISBN 0-89831-051-2
Sagapress 1996
263 pages
Out of print but can be found at some online booksellers, usually for a reasonable price.
In depth look at Russian garden design from the time of Peter the Great to the Revolution. Talks about the gardens at Tsarskoye Selo, Pavlovsk, Gatchina, Peterhof and many palaces near Moscow and throughout Russia from the Imperial era.
Imperial Palaces of Russia
Prince Michael of Greece
ISBN 1850432317
IB Taurus & Co., Ltd. 1992
200 pages
Out of print but can be found at some online booksellers, usually for a reasonable price.
This book deals with Peterhof, Pavlovsk, Tsarskoye Selo, Gatchina, and several others. What makes this book unique is that it deals with what happened at the palaces (up until the revolution) instead of with the architecture and design. The author vividly recounts the parties of Empress Elizabeth, the death of Catherine the Great, etc. in a very engaging prose.
Risen from the Ashes: Petrodvorets, Pushkin, Pavlovsk
ISBN 5730001916
Aurora Art Publishers, 1992
379 pages
Out of print but can be found at some online booksellers, though the book tends to be more expensive (around $100)
This is one of the few books out there (along with Saving the Tsars’ Palaces) that deals extensively with the restoration of the palaces. The book has extensive archival and post-war photos as well as a detailed text giving an overview of the history and reconstruction of each ensemble. Really a terrific resource.
I have a bunch more that I will post soon; a few on Pavlovsk, three more on the amber room alone, some dealing with multiple palaces, a couple on Charles Cameron, and some other stuff too. Enjoy!