"Romanov Relations"

[tea_rose]

  I have been contemplating purchasing this-it is personal correspondence between Alexander I and his siblings over a period of years.  I love letters and diaries-I have several volumes of the Queen Victoria/Vicky letters and-of course-"A Lifelong Passion."

Has anyone read this particular book. Of course, it is concerned with an earlier imperial generation-but I thought it might be interesting (i.e. I might not know the era as well). I like nineteenth century history in general. The Greville Diaries really fascinated me. I felt like he was writing in the room next to me-there was such a confidential and sparkling tone.

[elisa_1872]

Hi!

This is a very interesting book, and is a compilation of lots of extracts from other books, for example there is if im correct, the chapter about Olga Nikolaevna which is in Ms Buchanan's book, and the short memoir on Ella by Countess Olsufieff. There are also chapters on the Russian court which include quite a lot on the family. It's a very interesting book, and a great way to get hold of these extracts which are chapters in books quite scarce.

Best wishes,
Elisa

[elisa_1872]

Also, apparently there are more volumes planned in the Romanov Relations according to Gilberts royal books.

Elisa

[tea_rose]

  I don't think you are talking about the same book-tho' that book does sound interesting! (maybe "Queen Victoria's Relations" by Meriel Buchanan that is discussed on the Buchanan thread). I believe this book is composed of letters between Alexander I, Nicholas I, Constantine and their sister Anna between 1817-1855.

 I went ahead and plunged!  I will let you know how it is when it comes. With me, you usually can't go wrong with diaries or letters. I can read and re-read books like thse.

[elisa_1872]

Tea_rose, apologies! There is indeed another book by this title which was the correspondence of the tsars Alexander and Nicholas and Anna, their sister.
It was also used as a source for "Romanov Autumn". I think it must indeed be a very interesting book, do post what its like when it arrives. This other book i was speaking about it also available through GRB.

Sorry for the confusion

[grandduchessella]

I've just obtained this from GRB (which also had reprinted copies of An Unbroken Unity--yeah!). It is interesting--it's like a gathering of little vignettes of previously published articles, etc...It's similar to Romanov Autumn in that way, but MUCH smaller and are contemporary accounts rather than newly written ones.

[elisa_1872]

I  just found out from Gilbert's Royal books that a volume 2 of his Romanov Relations series is planned for next year

[Belochka]

This is great news elisa_1872!

I enjoyed reading the first volume, especially the personal accounts written by Merial Buchanan about the G.D. Olga Nikolaevna and G. Duchess Vladimir.

[Lanie]

Bah, I want to buy this, but I only want the article on Olga Nikolaevna!  I'm not willig to spend $20 on a book I only want 30 or so pages from... pfooey.

[Belochka]

Muriel Buchanan wrote these very poignant final words about G.D. Olga which I thought should be mentioned here:

..."Not quite twenty two years had passed since Queen Victoria held "Dear Baby Olga" so big and beautiful on her knees: but how far removed were those days at Balmoral from that basement room in Ekaterinburg! ... who spent sixteen months of her short life as a prisoner, who, during the last weeks of her martyrdom had to sit at table with drunken, brutal jailors,who was watched every hour of the day and night by men who gloated over humiliation. This young girl was sacrificed ... to the besotted blindness of those who refused to recognize the danger which threatened her, and would not lift a finger to save her."