Dear Belochka,
"Step-Daughter of Imperial Russia", was written by the daughter of Natalia Sergievna Sheremetevskaya, the Countess Brassova, and her first husband.
It was published in 1940, well before her mother's death, and I obtained a reprint from Royalty Digest.
Her style is quite simple, but it is strong on the details of her youth, and relationship with "Uncle Misha". The telling of her detention by the Bolsheviks, and escape from Russia, plus the nightmare that was created when her mother attempted to sell Michael's awards and orders, so as not to starve, make it worth reading.
From the book:
"One asks oneself what is the use of honouring a man, if one is going to take away from his widow her last means of livelihood? As an honour, it seems rather empty.
I could cry when I think of my mother, of the hopes I raised and the sore disillusionment that followed. I feel somehow responsible.
Morganatic or not, Mamma still remains the widow of the unfortunate man they decorated, the Grand Duke Michael. She is without means. The Grand Duke was closely related by blood to the heads of many states that so honoured him.
After all they are named 'Orders of Chivalry."
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Before even Nicholas and his children were murdered Uncle Misha had been shot secretly. Why? Shooting is usually a death reserved for cowards or heroes; he was neither. He was just a gentle, kindly, and simple man, hardly characteristics worthy of death.
Politics ? Can the man who, after he had been despoiled of position and wealth, writes as follows
be a political menace ?
"2nd September 1917. Woke this morning to hear the proclamation of Russia as a Democratic Republic. Is it not all the same, whatever the shape of the government, so long as there be order and justice for everybody."
This was the bloody tyrant that they murdered."
Sunny
