Michael Gray - Blood Relative - The Tsars grandson?

[Belochka]

... with there being so many claimants, nearly all of their stories have something we can learn.

The only thing that can be gained from such material is the author is assured that his bank account is enriched.

I think it is perhaps this type of attitude which prompted Phil's earlier remark.

This type of attitude? Differences of opinion would have been more courteous to write.

Honestly, Margarita, apart from a few well connected celebrities, writing books is not a terribly enriching circumstance!

How most unfortunate for you.

And, these claimants' stories do have information that can be interesting. Peter Kurth's Anastasia is all prefaced by - it's a story of immigrants.  I think it's also a story of people who lose everything material they have and how vulnerable they can be to outlandish cliams. Something can be learned in such circumstances, but a person has to keep an open mind to do so.

Thus it appears you have suggested that my mind is closed on this matter. Thank you for your opinion.

I contend that these are just inconsequential stories that demonstrate what mischief a few immigrants can create.
 

[Annie]

I think I mentioned lawsuits? There was, I am sure, little or no profit gained from this story. As I recall, there was not even a claim to any Romanov fortune! Unique in itself!

Who threatened to sue who?

[lexi4]

Thank you Phil,
I found the book. I am going to take Helen's suggestion and see if I can find it at the library first.
Lexi

[Forum Admin]

Yes, it's rubbish BUT in the immortal words of Oliver Cromwell:

"I beseech thee, in the Bowels of Christ, think it possible that you might be mistaken".

In other words stop being so absolutely certain of your position that you are unprepared to learn anything at all.  If nothing else there are interesting matters raised in this book about human psychology and White Russian communities, hopes and ambitions.

Why not try looking for information that might finally identify Nikolai Chebotarev - that way you could successfully rubbish the story AND provide something positive.

Phil Tomaselli 

Phil,

I agree in the most part with what you wrote. The only thing I take issue with is your seeming assertion that one must have DOUBTS about their position that nobody survived the Ekaterinburg massacre in order to learn anything new.

I for one,will most likely not ever be dissuaded of the opinion that the entire IF died that night in the Ipatiev basement, however, I am glad to learn about the mythology and claims of the dozens if not hundreds of claimants. Why must I be of any less assurance in the death of the Romanovs to learn something?

The question was about the claims were made in the book. NOT whether the book was of interest as fiction or the pressing of yet again more mythological claims to the Romanov throne....

[Belochka]

Why not try looking for information that might finally identify Nikolai Chebotarev - that way you could successfully rubbish the story AND provide something positive.

Phil Tomaselli 

Will it matter to the world if Nikolai Chebotarev's identity exposes that he was a delusional merchant from say Moscow or a mujhik from Tobolsk? I think not.

Based on the events that occurred in the Ipatiev house, which negate any notions that he could possibly be the Tsetsarevich, then for any reasonably well informed person there is more than sufficient information to ignore the claimant.

... Why must I be of any less assurance in the death of the Romanovs to learn something?

Indeed what benefits could possibly flow from wanting to read about a series of lies and deception, except perhaps as a morbid exposé of one curious individual.

Can someone explain why are we are constantly reminded that one must keep an open mind as soon one of these vile creatures emerges on the literary shelf?

Margarita

[Utah1]

I would also be interested to find out who sued who?

Now that would be an interesting read.

Anybody know?

[Robert_Hall]

All I was told was that lawsuits were threatened, I do not know if any actually came about.

[Annie]

Can you name any names of those who threatened or were threatened? (just curious as to who would do it and why)

[Robert_Hall]

It's pretty obvious when you read the book, but I am away from SF and do not have it handy to look them up.

[Alixz]

Very interesting....yes indeed.

So many claimants and so little time.

I am not trying to be disrespectful, but there are a lot of well intentioned but crazy people in this world.  Not every book that has been published as fact is indeed fact!  I am always reminded of Guy Richard's The Hunt for the Czar and how much I wanted it to be true!

It is totally amazing, though, how so much time and "research" can go into a topic and so much information that would seem to indicate a new and different interpretation of long held beliefs can be "found".  Then after all it is still fiction.

That is why Oscar Wilde graces my signature (along with Jon Bon Jovi).  But Oscar had it right all along.

[pandora]

I'm with you Alixz - "so many claimants and so little time". I don't know whether to pity those claimants or feel anger that they are attempting to profit from a horrible historic event.

[Phil_tomaselli]

By pure chance I was at the Leeds University Russia Archive on Friday and they were planning to planning to throw out their copy of Blood Relative.  Instead I persuaded the Keeper, Richard Davies, to let me have it to give away to the first person to contact me privately.  I will happily pay the postage.

Incidentally, Richard says that he identified the book as rubbish within about 20 seconds of looking at it, though he agrees that there are some interesting questions, though not relating to the Romanovs.  First person to contact me with address can have it.

Phil T

[Utah1]

Can I ask Stepan how he knows the authors real name is William Llavery?

[stepan]

Can I ask Stepan how he knows the authors real name is William Llavery?

I don´t remember now how I knew this. Someone told me or I read it somewhere. It´s a long time ago.  But I know I am correct about this. 

[Halinka]

Just a thought of a Hemophilia prince surviving a mass of bullets and one to the ear! Is just laughable! Also if the author claims to be the grandson of Nicholas and Alexander wouldn't he carry the same disease as his so called farther?