Author Topic: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books  (Read 159702 times)

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Penny_Wilson

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #45 on: February 25, 2004, 04:28:07 PM »
I think that publishers want a book that someone with no background interest in the Romanovs could pick up and read and understand immediately, without recourse to "outside" reading.

Our published book contains maybe a third of the information we gathered on the subject.  Certainly what was either left out or cut out would be of interest to Romanov complete-ists, but I think that our editor did a really good job of keeping what was most important to the history of the times and the events themselves.

I'd love to write the story of Tobolsk and the Imperial Family --  while they were imprisoned there AND afterwards into the 30s when the Soviets were hunting for the missing jewels and Imperial valuables.

But I have to agree with Greg that a publisher probably wouldn't think such a book worthwhile from a marketing point of view..

Nick_Nicholson

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #46 on: February 29, 2004, 03:41:31 PM »
Dear Bob,

Many years ago, Prince Alexis Scherbatow told me not to read that book (Marchanow sp?) and that it was a fabrication (his mother was a Bariatinskaya, and a friend of the Empress, I believe.)

The other book which is a total fake is "Diary of a Princess" by one Ekaterina Meshcherskaya.  The Meshcherskys are one of Russia's greatest old families, and were patrons of Karamzin, the first great Russian historian.

This "memoir" is a sham, and includes photographs of "Princess" Meshcherskaya standing in front of "her" palace destroyed by the bolsheviks (actually it is a recognizable building belonging to an altogether different family.).

Her book is full of real and interesting stories, but because she lies about so much, none of them can really be used as research.  For example, she reports (which is true) that right after the revolution, people were asked to come to the banks, and empty their safe deposit boxes.  the only things confiscated were diamonds and precious metals -- this is true, and as a result, some went home lucky enough to have kept their emeralds, pearls, sapphires, and rubies, as well as colored diamonds -- Varvara Kelch, a patron of Faberge, made it out of Russia with her famous blue diamond in much the same way.

Best,

Nick

Offline pers

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #47 on: March 12, 2004, 06:52:36 PM »
Message to Greg King:
Greg is there no way that one can get hold of a copy of the translation you did of Alexandra's 1917 diary?  If you want to you can answer to my private e-mail address under "members".
Also what is your view on the Marfa Mouchanow book, as you quoted extensively from it in your book on Alexandra, which I thought an EXCELLENT book, written with much understanding and compassion.

Robert_Hall

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #48 on: March 13, 2004, 12:12:19 AM »
I really do not know how relevant this is, but in today's post came an announcement from Leppi Publications-MARIA & ALEXANDRA, A Tale of Two Sisters [etc] by Natalia Vulovic.
No other details.
Leppi produced the lavish volume- The Romanovs; Love, Power & Trajedy, as well as the equally lavish- if somewhat limited interest- Nikola & Milena. [Montenegro].
They also produce Royalty [magazine].
From past experience, the wait & cost may well be worth it.
Cheers,
Robert

Offline Greg_King

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #49 on: March 13, 2004, 12:51:42 AM »
Quote
Message to Greg King:
Greg is there no way that one can get hold of a copy of the translation you did of Alexandra's 1917 diary?  If you want to you can answer to my private e-mail address under "members".
Also what is your view on the Marfa Mouchanow book, as you quoted extensively from it in your book on Alexandra, which I thought an EXCELLENT book, written with much understanding and compassion.


I should say that I did not do the translation, Penny Wilson did.  I can't say even where it might be at the moment-probably with the hundreds of pages of material we cut from the book, dealing with the Imperial Family's time at the Alexander Palace after the Revolution and their exile in Tobolsk.  I suppose if there's enough interest we can try to find it and make it available.

As to Mouchanow: when I wrote my biography of Alix (way back when...) I merely suspected that the Mouchanow book was perhaps written by or based on interviews with Zanotti.  Having done a lot more research into the issue in the last twelve-fifteen years, I must say that the weight of the evidence suggets it was not.  As to whether it is a complete fabrication-that I don't know-it's been a long time since I sat down and read it critically for detail.  My (own) feeling is that perhaps portions are based on what some members of the Empress's Household may have said after the Revolution, but I honestly don't know for sure!

Greg King

Offline Antonio_P.Caballer

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #50 on: March 18, 2004, 06:42:53 AM »
Quote

I should say that I did not do the translation, Penny Wilson did.  I can't say even where it might be at the moment-probably with the hundreds of pages of material we cut from the book, dealing with the Imperial Family's time at the Alexander Palace after the Revolution and their exile in Tobolsk.  I suppose if there's enough interest we can try to find it and make it available.

As to Mouchanow: when I wrote my biography of Alix (way back when...) I merely suspected that the Mouchanow book was perhaps written by or based on interviews with Zanotti.  Having done a lot more research into the issue in the last twelve-fifteen years, I must say that the weight of the evidence suggets it was not.  As to whether it is a complete fabrication-that I don't know-it's been a long time since I sat down and read it critically for detail.  My (own) feeling is that perhaps portions are based on what some members of the Empress's Household may have said after the Revolution, but I honestly don't know for sure!

Greg King


Hi Greg,
I was about to write about this too. I would be very interested on anything that you did not include in the book. As i´ve told somewher in this forum anything about the possible marriages of the grand duchesses and, of course, the edition of Alexandra´s diary for 1917 would be GREAT!!! The book was wonderful but i missed a little more information on the house arrest period in Tsarskoe...
Antonio.

Offline Antonio_P.Caballer

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #51 on: March 18, 2004, 06:45:16 AM »
Quote
Getting back to My Empress... a book was written under a pseudonym by the  sister of Vladimir Myatlev, nobleman, poet, cynicm womanizer, etc.  Olga Myatleva was lady in waiting to Alexandra and  published something with a title like "Memoirs of A Lady in Waiting to the Empress".   Could this be the same book?  I am not at all sure about the title and it may have been "My Empress".  However, it is possible that Myatleva was the author as the Myatlev family was close to the Court and all of Peterssburg society.

This book is scarce as hens' teeth.


Hi Elizabeta,
I found this information very interesting, does anyone know anything else about these memoirs???
Antonio.

Offline BobAtchison

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #52 on: March 18, 2004, 08:57:24 AM »
These 'memoirs' are obviously false because they have so many errors in them.

"Marfa" inserts herself into scenes that were well reported in the press of the time where we now know all the participants.  It is impossible for 'her' to have been there.  

There are many practical errors about how day-to-day life in the palace worked.  The part about Alexandra and her clothes is really odd to me.  Her undergarments, nightgowns and sheets were all well-laundered and used repeatedly.  If I remember correctly the book insists she only used them once.  The part about the removal of the laces is also funny.  I haven't read the book for years but I remember those parts.

Somebody who was there would not have made these errors.

It was written very quickly after the revolution.  The writer seems to have put this all together from newspaper articles and perhaps an interview or two with some palace insiders.

Bob

Offline Antonio_P.Caballer

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #53 on: March 30, 2004, 12:53:48 PM »
Hello Elizaveta!
Thanks so much for your kind answer. I´ll try to find that book with the information you´ve already given. There are always so many books difficult to find or expensive once you´ve found them...
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM by Antonio_P.Caballer »

Nick_Nicholson

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #54 on: March 30, 2004, 02:45:38 PM »
A wonderful book that I don't think anyone has mentioned on this site is "Never A Dull Moment" by Marguerite, Countess Cassini.

Marguerite was the daughter of Count Cassini, who was the descendant of Italians who emigrated to Russian in the eighteenth century and were later ennobled by the Romanovs.  Count Cassini was the last Russian Imperial Ambassador at the court of Peking, and later became Ambassador to the US.  

His daughter became the mother of Igor and Oleg Cassini (journalist and fashion designer respectively.)  She has wonderful stories of acting as her father's hostess in Washington during the Gilded Age, and describes the ordeal her father went through with the Russian Court to ensure that his title passed through to her.  This is out of print but a good read (not sure how much of it is dead on accurate, but great fun!).

Nick
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM by Nick_Nicholson »

Offline Antonio_P.Caballer

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #55 on: April 04, 2004, 10:10:38 PM »
Hello everybody,

I´ve just find a copy of the hard to find ELLA´s biography by Lubov Miller in EBAY, and perhaps someone would be interested on it. Here is the link:
 
   http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4201877965&category=29292

It´s near fine condition and full of good photographs and unpublished letters!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM by Antonio_P.Caballer »

Reed

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #56 on: April 06, 2004, 10:15:54 AM »
Can anyone tell me where and how to get the Atlantis magazine.  I know I have read it somewhere in one of the discussions, but can't find it now.


Jane

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #57 on: April 06, 2004, 10:52:06 AM »
Hi Reed, the address for Atlantis is:

http://www.atlantis-magazine.com

Follow the instructions to the subscription information.

Jane

Reed

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #58 on: April 06, 2004, 11:45:45 AM »
Thanks Jane.....got it!!!

Offline Angie_H

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Re: Recommended reading/Valid sources/Advice for beginners on Romanov books
« Reply #59 on: April 10, 2004, 04:07:48 PM »
 I liked the book "Little Mother of Russia" the biography of  Empress Marie Fedorovna. Can anyone recommend a biography on Alexander III?

Also which book on the Romanovs has the most/best pictures in it? I like reading the story of the Romanovs but I have to admit I LOVE looking at pictures of their lives.

Thanks!!!!!  :D

Angie