Books on Empress Marie

[Belochka]

I came across this description concerning Alexander's "wedding night uniform" in Coryne Hall's book @ p 43:

... "Tradition dictated that every Romanov bridegroom must wear a 'wedding-night uniform' of a heavy silver dressing gown (which weighed almost sixteen pounds), silver slippers and a turban-like headdress..."

Does anyone know what the origin of this curious tradition was?

[Mike]

In his own memoirs Sandro mentions silver gown and slippers, but not a headdress. The custom of wearing such garments on the wedding night might be of a pre-Peter I origin.

My guess is that silver embroidering was reserved for grand dukes, while emperor's wedding gown and slippers had to be golden. However, the only Russian emperor who married after ascension was Nicolas II - too shy to share such recollections.

[Belochka]

You are right Mike, such a personal issue would not appear in Nikolai's diary.

Surely there must be some sort of description about this tradition somewhere?

[Annie]

I just checked it out today, haven't read it yet. Great pics.

[Jmentanko]

Great book!

[Merrique]

I'm waiting for my copy to come in at the library.I'm really looking forward to reading it.For some reason after reading Romanov Autumn Marie F. has become a very fascinating person to me and I'd like to learn more about her.

[Annie]

I'm not finished yet but it's very interesting and I like all the info on all the other people it ties in with too.

[Louis_Charles]

Is there a recent (say, the last ten years) scholarly biography of the Dowager Empress that anyone can recommend? Thanks!

Regards,

Simon

[Eddie_uk]

Hi Louis, the only one I know of is the one by Croyne Hall "Little Mother of Russia". I have heard mixed reports about it but I actually quite enjoyed it, is a long time since I read it though.  

[Louis_Charles]

Thank you much!

Regards,

Simon

[Svetabel]

"Little mother of Russia" is a good book. There is also a good biography of Maria in Russian by Yu.Kudrina.

[lancashireladandre]

In the 1950's there was a biography by E E P Tinsdall.

[Svetabel]

Tisdall's book is more like fiction than a scholarly biography.

[lovy]

I love Marie! I think she was a great Tsarina, and very friendly and loving to her family! LOL, that was random. Anyways, I went onto Amazon and all I could find was "Little Mother Of Russia."

Lovy.

[Eddie_uk]

I agree Lovy! she was a great lady!!