Grand Duchess Xenia and Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, PART II

[Eric_Lowe]

I am not saying anything more. Evidently she remembered the girl Olga called her sister behind her back. The sisters never really jelled being so different in nature and not to mention the difference in ages.

[Ally Kumari]

Xenia and her brothers in nursery

[Svetabel]

Xenia and her brothers in nursery

That's in the Alexandria Cottage in Peterhof.

[Maria Sisi]

I'm currently reading Grand Duke Alexander's memoirs "Once a Grand Duke" and despite pretty much agreeing with everything (although part of his description of Nicholas appear off to me) he says I'm finding myself kind of disliking him.

There's just something about the way he presents himself that makes me say "well of course they didn't listen to you." He just comes off as so holier then thou, "I'm smart and your all stupid, I'm right and your all wrong, I'm so much better then you." Every time he had the chance to present his argument it came in a long winded never ending lecture full of nothing but negativity.

I can imagine he came off as very patronizing and off putting and that's why he never succeeded in convincing people what he wanted to convince them of. He presents himself in meetings (with the Tsar/cabinet) the exact same way every time and fails every time. Considering how smart he appeared to be one would think he would have realized that his methods of presenting his argument was all wrong and that he needed to change. Instead he makes his arguments the exact same way right till the end so its no surprise he failed. I haven't finished it yet but considering the whole tone of the book (more the 2/3 in) he probably never reflected on himself and why he failed that much. 

His brothers appear to have been the same way as well so perhaps it was the way they were raised. Either way I still admire him more then many of the others but probably less so then before.

[Ally Kumari]

I must say I feel your sentiment. Regarding "Sandro" he was definitely intelligent, elegnat and suave person, however even though his memoirs are very well writen he makes himself sound like a know-it-all and understand-it-all that at times it pushes me the wrong way. It is easy to write about what should have been done when you know what already happened.

[Maria Sisi]

I agree and I wouldn't be surprised if half the stuff he wrote in his book he only realized after the fact but tried to pass if off as him knowing the whole time. Nothing wrong with admitting you realized things too late but I have a feeling Sandro would have trouble admitting that for himself. I've learned reading quotes from his book in other books looks far better and less judgmental and harsh then it does in his own.

I know it comes up every time when people talk about Nicholas and Alexandra and how they had EVERYBODY telling them the truth but they chose to ignore them but after reading this book I can see why they did. I have no clue how MF or "Ella" delivered their pleas or advice, because they never wrote about it, but its easy to see why the Mikhailovichi were NOT listened to and why that could possibly bleed over to others as well.

Sandro came off as REALLY aggressive in his book I can only imagine how he came off in person when delivering one of his lectures. Why Nicholas just wanted him to go away so he can think to himself alone or why Alexandra felt physically threatened by him. Although that doesn't excuse their own behavior/actions and their dismissal of all other family members (especially people like Ella), its suddenly more clear and they end up looking a little better.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. Sandro was a flawed character but some of the stuff he wrote are first hand knowledge and cannot completely disregarded.

[JamesAPrattIII]

I have some info on Sandro:
The book  "Tide at Sunrise" has him warning Nicholas strongly against risking war with Japan

The later book "The Tsar's Last Armada" has him advising Nicholas to move into Manchuria

Then there is his last meeting with Nicholas and Alexandra where he talks about how he argued with Alexandra about the need for reform while Nicholas said nothing.

Then there is the letter he wrote right after this meeting mentioned on the APTM Nicholas new study section where he writes  Alexandra said nothing while he argued with Nicholas against repealing the anti Jewish laws and confiscating land and giving it to the peasants.

He sort of reminds me of some WW II German generals who liked to write and talk post WW II how they tried to talk Hitler out of certain courses of action ect when in real life they didn't.

The book The Russian Military Air Fleet in WW I Volume I by August Blume does have some information on Sandro in it and his role in creating the Russian Military Air Fleet. It includes a number of reports and memos written by him. However it does contain some errors and could have been edited better. Note the author was dying when he wrote the book which may account for them. It does give you a fairly good history of aviation in Russia.

[edubs31]

There are things I like about Sandro but I also find him a bit of a sketchy character. His historical revisionism displayed in these quotes you've offered James makes perfect sense to me.

[Ally Kumari]

Xenia Alexandrovna, 1903. I have never seen this particular photo.

[Kalafrana]

Is this Xenia's outfit for the 1903 costume ball?

Ann

[Ally Kumari]

Xenia´s children

[Kalafrana]

Are they at a fancy dress party?

Ann