"Resurrection of the Romanovs: Anastasia, Anna Anderson" by King And Wilson

[Greg_King]

At what point did Gleb Botkin come iinto contact with Anna Anderson?  OPbviously someone who had intimate knowledge of GD Anastasia coached Anna Anderson well.  Was it Gleb?
  No matter how she was discredited and called a fraud,  Anna Anderson's life improved well beyond what a factory worker could hope for.

1927-quite some time after she made her claim. I think many people may be surprised to find precisely how the claim played itself out-wish we could be more specific at this point but unfortunately we can't!

[helenazar]

I am mostly looking forward to knowing WHY she got away with it as long as she did... why so many people were convinced...why she did it...and how, I think finally in the end, she believed it herself...!?

In a way the answers are fairly obvious... Why did she do it? Because she saw her opportunity and took it. Wouldn't it be nicer to be a former grand duchess to whom everyone pays attention, wines and dines, provides room and board, etc., rather than some unknown poor woman with nothing going for you? It's a no-brainer... People were convinced or sort of convinced because they wanted to be convinced, andit made a good story. At the end, she may have been convinced herself, and it didn't hurt that she was clearly mentally ill or at least had some sort of a personality disorder... (even if she knew reality from fantasy). There are many people like this out there, it's really nothing unusual.  This was not the first time in history that a claimant for something or other convinced a bunch of people of his or her own authenticity... Think Perkin Warbeck, The False Dmitri, and a bunch of others like this...  Heck, even some of the more bizarre claimants for Anastasia (and other siblings) had their fair share of followers.. But all this stuff is what many of us had been saying all along right here on this forum while others were arguing the opposite!   

[Laura Mabee]

At the chance of sounding ignorant, will this book take into account the new remains that were found recently near Koptyaki Forest?

[Greg_King]

Yes Laura-that's covered-but not terribly in depth. The goal of the book is to show-DNA evidence aside and the remains aside-how in fact, after spending so much time getting back to original documents in the case, we found that there was no "there" there, as it were-very, very little evidence believed to be accrued to her favor can, in fact, be held as reliable or stand the test of critical examination.

[rgt9w]

Dear Greg:

After all of the research you have done on this topic, I would like to know what your thoughts regarding the impact of the "Anastasia" myth on Russian History? Do you think there would be as much interest in the Romanovs by westerners had the Anna Anderson case not been followed so closely by the press? Certainly, the case caused a great emotional hardship on members of the Romanov family, but do you think in hindsight it has helped perpetuate their memory?

Kind Regards,

Roy

[LisaDavidson]

Hi Roy and others:

I understand the excitement about Greg and Penny's new book. (I must confess, I too, was excited to read an early draft). but I'm going to ask Roy to pose his excellent question on the Myths & Legends of Survivors section of the Forum because that is where topics about Franziska belong.

Please confine discussions on this thread to the book itself and do not discuss FS herself on this thread. Got it? Also, as a writer myself, please understand that our friend Greg has the right to not reveal his entire soon to be published work on this Forum. Once ROTR is published, I'm sure he will reveal more.

Now, back to topic, please.

[rgt9w]

Hi Lisa,

Thank you for redirecting my question to the proper place. I apologize for straying off topic regarding the book. It sounds like this is going to be another great book from Mr. King and Ms. Wilson.

[helenazar]

Greg,

I just want to say that I am glad to see that you and Penny Wilson finally came to the correct conclusion about Anna Anderson (after all that extremely unpleasant AA warfare, hostility, accusations, etc., which went on for several years), and are now able to admit that you were wrong all along. That takes some valor. I may even read your book now! 

One thing I was wondering was if Peter Kurth has accepted all this about AA/FS, or does he still hold on to his "belief" in her? What does he think about your upcoming book, if anything?

[Janet Ashton]

Greg,

I just want to say that I am glad to see that you and Penny Wilson finally came to the correct conclusion about Anna Anderson (after all that extremely unpleasant AA warfare, hostility, accusations, etc., which went on for several years), and are now able to admit that you were wrong all along. That takes some valor. I may even read your book now! 

One thing I was wondering was if Peter Kurth has accepted all this about AA/FS, or does he still hold on to his "belief" in her? What does he think about your upcoming book, if anything?

Ill though it behoves me to rush in and say something which sounds like "hey - no valour involved!" I am going to point out that I did tell you back in 2008 that Greg had had no intention of writing a book about AA since about 2003, and the constant dramas people engaged in were an irritating distraction while he was working on the books he did do. Maybe now you might believe me!!.....and Greg will tell you that PK's views are his own, which he's entitled to, just like anyone else's are. No-one speaks for anyone else.

I told you this too, I am sure: that I have known Greg change his mind constantly about any number of historical isues; it's what historians do and I would hope that anyone who claims that label would do the same; no big deal.

[helenazar]

That's great! I'm glad to hear it.  

Of course I know that PK's views are his own, why wouldn't they be, which is why I was curious about what PK's view is at this point about Anna Anderson, if he changed his mind as well or not, based on the additional evidence that Greg found about AA/FS, which this new book is based on. I figured if anyone would know, it would be Greg, which is why I asked. If he doesn't know or doesn't want to say anything about that, that's ok too!

[helenazar]

No-one speaks for anyone else.

P.S. Should you be speaking for Greg then?  Unless he asked you because he doesn't want to speak to me... ?? Which is ok too.

[Greg_King]

Greg,

I just want to say that I am glad to see that you and Penny Wilson finally came to the correct conclusion about Anna Anderson (after all that extremely unpleasant AA warfare, hostility, accusations, etc., which went on for several years), and are now able to admit that you were wrong all along. That takes some valor. I may even read your book now! 

One thing I was wondering was if Peter Kurth has accepted all this about AA/FS, or does he still hold on to his "belief" in her? What does he think about your upcoming book, if anything?

I have absolutely no problem in speaking to you Helen. What I cannot tell you, though, is anything that Peter may think. He was extraordinarily helpful as we researched every aspect of this case, but although he obviously knows of our decision and some of the evidence we have uncovered, we are unaware of his position or if his views have changed. Ours certainly have, but only after-as I have pointed out-we were able to get back to the heart of the claim and the original documentation from the 1920s. Actually I think you may find the book worthwhile, for it completely destroys much of what everyone-whether they were pro or anti-AA-believed to be true in her case-and with very firm, footnoted and documented evidence from the Staatsarchiv in Darmstadt that has never before been published.

[Romanov_fan]

At what point did Gleb Botkin come iinto contact with Anna Anderson?  OPbviously someone who had intimate knowledge of GD Anastasia coached Anna Anderson well.  Was it Gleb?
  No matter how she was discredited and called a fraud,  Anna Anderson's life improved well beyond what a factory worker could hope for.

First off, I'm very excited to hear about this new book by King and Wilson. I know this is a bit off topic for this thread, but a book that has I recall- I read it awhile ago now- some info on the Gleb Botkin/ AA thing, is At the Court of Anna Anderson, a book published in 2007 or so. If you haven't read it, Constantinople, you should. I myself didn't think all that highly of that book but I recall it mentions Gleb Botkin. Sorry for going off topic..

[Greg_King]

Just a quick note: The book has been moved up-it is now scheduled for release on December 21, so in another 3 weeks. Amazon has it available for Christmas delivery, so presumably it should be arriving in stores in another couple of weeks. Just wanted to let everyone know.

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi Greg and Penny,

In 2007 at the Eurohistory Conference, Penny gave a very interesting talk on several Russian noble girls, who disappeared with the revolution.
I think it would be most interesting if she or both of you could do a small book or expand article(s) on these and any others who remain unaccounted for.
Perhaps an article in Arturo's magazine or Ted's magazine.  Or perhaps, "Majesty" if you have connections there and if they're intersted.

I think this would be a very educational & informative venture for you both.  I was most taken with Penny's lecture then!!

"Just a small word in your ear"....

Cheers to both,
Larry