The Four Graces – Queen Victoria's Granddaughters

[Georgiy]

Second Eric's comment! A fascinating and enjoyable read.

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. The only sad thing is that there cannot be more info on Irene, her life was more obscured by her sisters. I wonder if her letters to her brother Ernie or cousins Mossy, Sophie or Charlotte survive...

[perdita]

LOL.


Also Edwina, Dickie's, wife.  She seems to have been a paragon of virtue and good will and the ultimate daughter in law.

Edwina a "paragon of virtue"?

Hardly that.

However, in Victoria's mind she may have rated "the ultimate daughter in law".

Ever the "progressive", as a kind of alter ego perhaps Edwina fitted the bill for Victoria.

[perdita]

Indeed. The only sad thing is that there cannot be more info on Irene, her life was more obscured by her sisters. I wonder if her letters to her brother Ernie or cousins Mossy, Sophie or Charlotte survive...

Perhaps Irene's life was more obscured by her sisters because she was not particularily interesting. Princess Irene comes across a cypher. No one, including her siblings, seem to have fond or riveting memories of that lady. She makes little impression.

Granted. It is hoped by those interested in genealogy or royal family histories that all available correspondence between the Hesse sisters, their husbands, & relations will one day be published. A paper trial would shed new insights on their unique characters and complicated family relationships in their historical setting.

A pity more books like "A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra" are not published. Invaluable and fascinating. It is said that the authors had to edit out half the content because it was too long. Wish they would reconsider and publish what they "regretfully" were forced to discard.

[Helen]

Indeed. The only sad thing is that there cannot be more info on Irene, her life was more obscured by her sisters. I wonder if her letters to her brother Ernie or cousins Mossy, Sophie or Charlotte survive...

The archive in Darmstadt has dozens of letters to her father, mother, brother. And GARF in Moscow has her postcards and telegrams to Alix. 

Perhaps Irene's life was more obscured by her sisters because she was not particularily interesting. Princess Irene comes across a cypher. No one, including her siblings, seem to have fond or riveting memories of that lady. She makes little impression.

The cards that Irene sent to Alix were interesting and written in a very warm tone - and actually made a more pleasant impression than the ones sent by Ella that I read. In no way, Irene's cards and the telegrams that Alix sent to Irene gave me the impression that they were not fond of one another.

[Eric_Lowe]

That is very interesting since Ilana told me that Irene's letters were all destroyed by her and since she survived her brother, those letters might have been returned and destroyed too. Glad to know that is not the case. If the letters to her cousins Mossy, Charley and Sophie exist. That would be enough for a book just based upon those...

Indeed, both Alicky & Irene have children with hemophilia, that created a common bond with each other. I don't know if the Empress suggest Rasputin to her sister's son too as a remedy ? 

[Helen]

That is very interesting since Ilana told me that Irene's letters were all destroyed by her and since she survived her brother, those letters might have been returned and destroyed too. Glad to know that is not the case. ...
Indeed, both Alicky & Irene have children with hemophilia, that created a common bond with each other. I don't know if the Empress suggest Rasputin to her sister's son too as a remedy ? 

Princess Irene destroyed many full letters that she had received, but not all postcards and telegrams.
I don't recall reading anything about 'our friend'/Rasputin/Grigori in the Empress' cards and telegrams to Princess Irene that have been preserved, but it seems likely that he was somehow mentioned/discussed in private conversations.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. I just wondered if the full letters from Irene to her cousins like, Mossy, Marie Louise or Thora survived in its entirety.

Yes. Naturally Alicky would have bought the subject up since Irene still have one child growing up with the disease

[GrandDuchessAndrea]

The cards that Irene sent to Alix were interesting and written in a very warm tone - and actually made a more pleasant impression than the ones sent by Ella that I read. In no way, Irene's cards and the telegrams that Alix sent to Irene gave me the impression that they were not fond of one another.

Are these cards and telegrams published anywhere?

[Eric_Lowe]

Not in its entirely I think...

[Helen]

The cards that Irene sent to Alix were interesting and written in a very warm tone - and actually made a more pleasant impression than the ones sent by Ella that I read. In no way, Irene's cards and the telegrams that Alix sent to Irene gave me the impression that they were not fond of one another.

Are these cards and telegrams published anywhere?

No, not that I know of.

[Eddie_uk]

The cards that Irene sent to Alix were interesting and written in a very warm tone - and actually made a more pleasant impression than the ones sent by Ella that I read. In no way, Irene's cards and the telegrams that Alix sent to Irene gave me the impression that they were not fond of one another.
[/quote]

Richard Hough wrote that Alexandra was closest to Irene...

[Eric_Lowe]

Very possible since they were closer in age and both mothers had sons suffered under hemophilia.

[Clemence]

Could someone explain why the book is so expensive?
 (Hardcover
from $200.00
10 Used from $200.00
5 New from $340.06
2 Collectible from $200.99)

!!!

[Helen]

The book is also available at the price of EUR 35.00 from Van Hoogstraten, The Hague (http://www.hoogstraten.nl/theshop/index.php).