King George I & Queen Olga (nee Romanov) of Greece, Part II

[Svetabel]

Queen Olga's diaries are existed, also her correspondence with her husband and some relatives.


Queen Olga and her SIL Alexandra in 1892.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes !!! So you see a book about her do have information not used before (her own dairies & correspondences). Not to mention the dairies of her daughter-in-law Ellen, granddaughters Olga and Helen. All these sources does exist. The thing is anyone interested to do the work and go research. 

[grandduchessella]

But that still doesn't answer whether she could carry her own book. I still believe (and Olga is a favorite of mine) that her life is interesting primarily because of the others in it and the events that happened around her. I still would rather see a bio on her husband.

Thank you as always, Sveta. If anyone would know it would be you.    Plus, love the photo with Alexandra.

[Alixz]

Aren't there already books of the Kings of the Hellenes?  Maybe not one on George I alone, but others.  I know I have one by Van der Kriste.

[grandduchessella]

Yes, there's that book and a stand-alone written in the 1940s (?) by Walter Christmas on George I. Resources that have come to light more recently haven't been tapped and issues, such as the parent-child relationship with George I and his sons, was barely mentioned and then dropped in books such as the van der Kiste one. It seems the relationships could be very acrimonious but no big picture has ever been drawn--just tidbits mentioned here and there.

[Eric_Lowe]

I still think Queen Olga can carry her own book. I might do it myself some day if I have the time and money. There is a long period after her husband's death that indicated that she was still relevant in Greek politics. The fact that it was Queen Olga (and not Queen Sophie) that was allowed to go to King Alexander's death bed indicated that even the opposition could not wipe out the fact that she was still beloved by the Greeks. She also became a figure to rally upon when the Greek Royal Court in exile, not to mention that she was physically in Russia when the Revolution took place.

[grandduchessella]

Again, much of that is the events she witnessed rather than her own personality. She just strikes me, much as I'm a fan, as more an observer to events rather than a mover and shaker. But it's an argument going nowhere. If you'd like to write one, I'd definitely read it.

[Svetabel]

But that still doesn't answer whether she could carry her own book. I still believe (and Olga is a favorite of mine) that her life is interesting primarily because of the others in it and the events that happened around her. I still would rather see a bio on her husband.

Thank you as always, Sveta. If anyone would know it would be you.    Plus, love the photo with Alexandra.

You know I've heard a lection on Queen Olga and thought that she deserved not a bio but a sort of a book with her diaries and correspondence. Bio would be a dull one...as for example the lection I've heard was mainly on Olga's charities and how she loved Russia and Russian Navy...

[grandduchessella]

I agree with you 100% Svetabel. I would love to read the diaries for some insight on family, etc...

[Eric_Lowe]

A bio is more balanced as it included what people thought of her than just her own thoughts.

[Svetabel]

A bio is more balanced as it included what people thought of her than just her own thoughts.

In Olga's case I don't think we would know something extraordinary - every contemporary praises her. Only once I read a rather disturbed remark on her: GD Sergei didn't like that she too often visited dying Alexander III in Livadia - he thought it was unnecessary to bother the Tzar every day.

[grandduchessella]

A bio is more balanced as it included what people thought of her than just her own thoughts.

In Olga's case I don't think we would know something extraordinary - every contemporary praises her. Only once I read a rather disturbed remark on her: GD Sergei didn't like that she too often visited dying Alexander III in Livadia - he thought it was unnecessary to bother the Tzar every day.

A mix could be good--ala A Lifelong Passion which mixed diary entries from several people to help fill in information. Dearest Missy does this somewhat as do the excellent books of letters of Queen Victoria and the Empress Frederick (and Empress Frederick Writes to Sophie). It helps to complete the picture.

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi,

Perhaps Queen Olga often visited Livadia in the last days of Alexander III to comfort Maria Feodorovna, and not intruding on the Czar himself so much.
Olga and Maria were sisters-in-law and very close friends after all.  Just my opinion - I don't know for sure....

Larry

[Svetabel]

Hi,

Perhaps Queen Olga often visited Livadia in the last days of Alexander III to comfort Maria Feodorovna, and not intruding on the Czar himself so much.
Olga and Maria were sisters-in-law and very close friends after all.  Just my opinion - I don't know for sure....

Larry

No, I meant Olga visited Alexander III, she and her mother persuaded him to send for Father Ioann of Kronstadt. GD Sergei didn't like that Olga went to the Tzar's rooms without Alexander III's personal invite, Sergei thought it was not polite.

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi Svetabel,

Thanks for clarifying that point about constant intrusions by Olga and her mother.  I see now what you meant....

I guess that even if you are Queen of Greece, you can't just barge in on the Czar of Russia!!!  Although, I can see Aunt Sanny doing it!!!
I wouldn't want to be the one to tell her she can't enter.....

Larry