Personality Comparision: Real Anastasia and Royal Diary's Anastasia

[Olga Bernice]

The Royal Diaries Anastasia book was one of the first books I'd ever read on the subject. I really like it - I think it's a good read and a cute story. But I've heard other members of this Forum (I can't remember who, and it doesn't really matter anyway) say that RD's Anastasia personality and actions was different than the real GD. I rather agree with this, but I'd like to hear everybody else's opinions: How so?

[Holly]

It was the first book I read as well, and what got me interested in the Romanov family.

I actually didn't enjoy the book at all when I first read it, to be honest. It's not a very entertaining read, especially the later half.

I've never heard of anyone saying her personality/actions were very different than the real Anastasia. The only complaint most have is that there are a lot of untrue things in it. It does tend to follow the generic stereotype of Anastasia's personality though.

[Olga Bernice]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I had just found out about the Romanovs, so I didn't think there was much written about them, etc, etc, so I was thrilled when I found out about this book. Positively thrilled. But yes, I agree - it had much untrue content. Like Tatiana kissing an officer? Ugh.

[Holly]

I really went through it quickly and only wanted to know what was going to happen to the family. Then it ended abruptly without resolving anything and I was confused. And then, of course, I read the epilogue and was completely shocked.

I think the novel My Anastasia by Sharon Stewart is a better read and a more accurate Anastasia portrayal.

[GD Alexandra]

I think this book is intented to a young audience of readers that are beginning to be interested in Anastasia and her family. The cover is pretty and the pictures inside are beautiful but my problem with this book is that it was written in first person, which have led some to believe it was the real Anastasia the one who wrote it. It has some facts wrong, which made me want to bump my head against a wall while reading it, lol Like the Tatiana one Olga Bernice mentioned or when she suspects of Rasputin...If I'm not wrong, Anastasia never suspected anything about him!

[Olga Bernice]

I think the novel My Anastasia by Sharon Stewart is a better read and a more accurate Anastasia portrayal.

Oh, yes. I LOVE the My Anastasia book. It was one of the mst beautiful books on the Romanovs ever, IMO. Besides The Lost Crown, it would be my favorite Romanov fiction book ever. They clearly catured everybody's personality and everything. I didn't know you had read it, Holly!

[LauraO]

whilst again i don't think it was one of the best books out there, i find Kate Hubbard's book "rubies in the snow" was a pretty good book for younger readers starting with an interest and i preferred it to royal diaries, but yet again it was in first person and so added to a frustration for me that many probably thought it was a real diary, also they put marie on the back cover so that's kind of annoying...

[Sunny]

Olga Bernice, Holly, so you would advice me to read "My Anastasia"? Where i live no romanov fiction exists (apart from something unreadable about Anna Anderson, urgh), so i've never read anything apart from The lost Crown. I have to buy english books on amazon to read romanov fiction, but i'm trying to avoid unreliable stories... 

[Olga Bernice]

whilst again i don't think it was one of the best books out there, i find Kate Hubbard's book "rubies in the snow" was a pretty good book for younger readers starting with an interest and i preferred it to royal diaries, but yet again it was in first person and so added to a frustration for me that many probably thought it was a real diary, also they put marie on the back cover so that's kind of annoying...

Hmm, I've never read that one. It would be interesting to give it a try, though.

Olga Bernice, Holly, so you would advice me to read "My Anastasia"? Where i live no romanov fiction exists (apart from something unreadable about Anna Anderson, urgh), so i've never read anything apart from The lost Crown. I have to buy english books on amazon to read romanov fiction, but i'm trying to avoid unreliable stories... 

IMO, it was a great book - it was in first person, but it wasn't any of the GD's that were speaking, it was their fictional friend, Dunia. I really liked it.

If you can't find it under My Anastasia, look for The Last Duchess. It was re-published under that title.

[Holly]

I can never find the books I want in stores either. You can almost always find what you're looking for online. If you're trying to avoid unreliable stories, fiction probably isn't a genre you should be looking into, haha. There will always be inaccuracies in Romanov historical fiction.

My Anastasia is a very touching book and I would recommend it. Olga Bernice, of course I've read it! I can't think of anything Anastasia related that I don't have/haven't read.

[Olga Bernice]

I can never find the books I want in stores either. You can almost always find what you're looking for online. If you're trying to avoid unreliable stories, fiction probably isn't a genre you should be looking into, haha. There will always be inaccuracies in Romanov historical fiction.

My Anastasia is a very touching book and I would recommend it. Olga Bernice, of course I've read it! I can't think of anything Anastasia related that I don't have/haven't read.

Yes - that writer seems to be really good. Have you read all the beneath the crown series? I haven't. 

[clockworkgirl21]

I don't really think the Royal Diaries book is that bad. There are many better books out there, yes, but it isn't terrible. However, one detail that bothered me was Anastasia's disliking Rasputin. I think the only reason the author added that was to make the reader dislike him too. I also hated how Tatiana was sort of portrayed as a brat in that book.

I still read it if I'm bored and need something to entertain me, but there are many better ones out there.

[rosieposie]

I have that book in my library after all these years lol.

I didn't like it much, I got it because I wanted to see how a different view point of Anastasia was protrayed.  Unfortunatly the author got a few things muddled up a good example.   The incident where Anastasia throw a rock covered in snow and it hit Tatiana in the head.  In the book the author wrote Maria instead and Tatiana chastised Anastasia.   

Go figure.   

I guess it's more easier to read and comprehend then Anne Frank's diary if I was to read these again as my 11/12 year old self.

[Lady Macduff]

I must go to bat for The Royal Diaries. Like many of you, it was the first book I ever read about the Romanovs. I had a fascination with them ever since I saw Anastasia and would pepper my dad with questions about what happened to them ("They put 'em in a room and they shot 'em. Anastasia survived because she was under all the bodies. It's not a story for children.") I read it in about fourth grade and for a long time it was my favorite book in the whole wide world. Because of it I started doing my own research, even at the tender age of 10. I guess I've been researching for all of the ten years since, but this forum has been my greatest source of information. I digress, but bottom line: The Royal Diaries Anastasia book is a great as a jumping off point. It provides basic sketches of the family and events that are generally accurate.