"Summer Day is Done" by R.T. Stevens

[jehan]

I didn't like SNOW MOUNTAIN much either.  This book, SUMMER DAY...,  is how I like my Romanovs...

I haven't read this one, although I would like to.  I do, however, love The Snow Mountain.  I loved the fact that it was non-sentimental, that it portrayed the Romanovs as real people and real young women with their own issues and struggles growing up in a difficult position.  It may or may not be truer to real life than "Summer Day is Done", but I enjoyed the characters and thought this was how it could have been.  A more sentimental version may be an easier read, but I like a bit of grittiness in my historical novels, especially ones dealing with tragic and interesting times.

I also liked the subplots, which contrasted to the lives of the Romanovs- in particular the Mara Trenova one- a young girl who joins the revolutionaries only to be disillusioned and come to a tragic end.  A fully realized  and brilliant character, I thought- historical fiction at its best.

This is just my opinion, of course.  Everyone has their own tastes!

[lovy]

Thanks Ritka!!!  

[CorisCapnSkip]

Besides "The Summer Day is Done," by Robert T. Stevens and "The Snow Mountain" by Catherine Gavin there is another fiction book, "The King's Commissar" by Duncan Kyle.  Anyone read that one?

[TheAce1918]

I just bought a copy.  I first read it from the library and the next day was finished and searching the internet for it
Its easy to compare it to Snow Mountain.  The main character is Olga...she falls in love...the tragic ending.  But most importantly...these are GREAT reads!

[TheAce1918]

It is a darling book.  The only positive aspect it has over Snow Mountain is that it does not entirely give in detail the abdication--Ekaterinburg.  It is, however, a very great book
I caught SDD on Ebay for a penny!  Cannot wait until it comes in!

[OlgaNRomanovaFan]

I don't know if this helps, but I got my copy off Amazon UK for a penny. I'd say Amazon is worth a look.

[TheAce1918]

Okay, warning to all of those who have bought and are waiting or are planning to buy this novel.  I had just recieved mine this morning and I was appalled at the cover art. To be frank, I nearly hurled. It looked like one of those 1970's romance/Fabio novels.  Olga looked NOTHING like herself and the British officer looked more like a body builder.  So, throwing caution to the wind, I immediately printed out Olga's actual formal picture and tapped it over the origional cover.  

Just a heads up...I thought my copy would have the origional cover art...but instead... :-?

[Grace]

TheAce1918 - as you have acknowledged in your post, this is a novel, i.e. fiction.  It is a romantic fantasy about Grand Duchess Olga.  Why would you expect reality on the cover?  To begin with, the British officer (was it Kirk - can't remember right now  ) never actually existed, let alone a love story between them, so they couldn't have been photographed/drawn together.

Try not to take it so seriously - it's just a bit of fun and fantasy!

[OlgaNRomanovaFan]

I think his name is Kirby  . The cover art on my copy is fine, sure it looks nothing like Olga and the clothes are all wrong and romanticized but as Grace says it is a novel. Since Robert Taylor Stevens is presenting a romanticised version of events the cover reflects that, not the real people.  

[TheAce1918]

TheAce1918 - as you have acknowledged in your post, this is a novel, i.e. fiction.  It is a romantic fantasy about Grand Duchess Olga.  Why would you expect reality on the cover?  To begin with, the British officer (was it Kirk - can't remember right now  ) never actually existed, let alone a love story between them, so they couldn't have been photographed/drawn together.

Try not to take it so seriously - it's just a bit of fun and fantasy!

Of course it was ficiton.  Of course it was fantasy.  But I thought it was a bit racy and a little disrespectful.  If I could scan that photo and prove it, I would.  Of course drawing/painting a picture of the two would force the mind to imagine the Olga we know and a dashing officer. I did NOT expect reality on the cover! All I am saying is that what I saw, looked...just...different.  Fiction or not.  

[Laura Mabee]

As I had once heard as a child :
"Never judge a book by its cover"  

[Sarushka]

You can see the cover here, and judge -- or not -- for yourselves:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/044689270X/sr=8-1/qid=1150254041/ref=sr_1_1/103-6189866-0015855?%5Fencoding=UTF8
 

[Grace]

Thanks for posting that book cover image, Sarushka.

My copy just has an image of Olga and Kirby (thanks for that ONRFan   on the cover and, from what The Ace has said, so does his.  Totally different.  I will have a look for mine when I have a chance, if no one else has posted in the meantime.

I do think, though, fans should be more upset about inaccurate portrayals of the Romanovs in programmes such as The Lost Prince and Nicholas and Alexandra and in certain books, that are supposedly historically correct but are definitely not, than a book like this which is clear to all as romantic fiction.  

[Grace]

Okay, found it!  I'm not sure if this is the same cover as the one TheAce1918 is unhappy with but here's my copy.  It does indeed look very 70's, doesn't it, but as the book was first published in 1976, this is probably not surprising.  Look at "Olga's" hair!  

The book bears the scars of some 20+ years in my garage but, hey, I also unearthed all my old Wizard of Id books which I must re-read sometime for a bit of humour...

[Princess_Olishka]

Oh, Grace, that is rather a romantic cover, may I add! But I loved the book very much.