Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna-younger, her life and relations

[Maria_Pavlovna]

I just read this entire section.  Although the title "Passion of a Princess" sounds nice, it doesn't really apply to Marie.  She was not a particularly passionate person and not passionate about much in her life.  She divorced two or three times.  She had difficulties maintaining nurturing relationships.  She spent her life after the Revolution searching for meaning and something to do, not really succeeding.
I happen to like her a lot, and have read the two memoirs she wrote, as well as other information from Sweden about her.  The only wild time in her life came when she married William and lived in Sweden - apparently she was quite fun-loving and flamboyant.  This was probably the only time in her life when she had the financial freedom AND the lack of restraints from superiors/elder relatives to explore that side of herself.
She was EXTREMELY close to her brother Dmitri.  Some claimed that it was "too close", but I don't think there's any evidence of that at all.  Very simply, they were raised together in a very isolated household without a lot of warmth and suffered a lot during their lives.

What should be the title then, dear Finelly ?   :-/

[Finelly]

Now, see, that's unfair.  It's SO much easier to criticize than to offer an alternative..........oh, the burdens I bear!

Let's see.....

1.  The journeys of a Princess
2.  Princess without a Palace
3.  The great adventures of grand duchess Marie
4.  The Perils of a Princess
5.  Princess without a country
6.  More than a Princess:  The life of Grand Duchess Marie

Any of those work?

[Maria_Pavlovna]

6.  More than a Princess:  The life of Grand Duchess Marie

I like that one.

[crazy_wing]

Portrait of Marie Pavlovna, Dmitri's sister by Bernhard Osterman.

[Prince_Christopher]

I'm really glad to find all the pictures of Marie here.

I'm reading Education of a Princess, which I found 3 days ago in a used book shop (6 dollars--and in great shape)!

Poor Marie, I really feel sorry for her and Dmitri.

Some thoughts on Marie:

She seems very cynical, but who wouldn't be in her situation.

She kept all of her feelings inside, as she was trained to do, and never had a say in anything.

She was badly damaged emotionally from the childhood tragedies she endured.

As some people have mentioned, she does come across as overly familiar with her brother, but I think that is only because he is all she had growing up.

She and Ella were as opposite as two people can possibly be.

I know this is an old thread, but I'm enjoying the book and just wanted to post my thoughts here about it.  Now I'll have to look for the second part.  What is it called?

[grandduchessella]

They are interesting books though I wound up not liking her much.  

The 2nd part is called Princess in Exile.

[Prince_Christopher]

I know what you mean, Grandduchessella, I think she could have handled things differently in her life, for the better.

[LenelorMiksi]

I don't think Dmitri is the only person she truely loved.  I think she loved him the most, but she adored her father and her half-brother Vladimir Paley.  I even think she loved Ella in a way.  I wonder how Ella felt towards MP.  It seems like she would have been happy to have two children to raise since she lacked any of her own.  I don't think Ella really pushed Marie to marry Wilhelm, but if she did Marie made her own choice to comply with Ella's wishes.  I don't believe Ella was trying to get rid of Marie, she probably thought Wilhelm was a nice guy. Maybe Ella felt a bit resentful of the children since Sergei loved them so much.

[russianlover76]

I was wondering where did Grandduchess Maria Pavlovna die and where did she get buried

[grandduchessella]

She is buried on the island on Mainau which was the personal property of her son Lennart. Someone on here I'd posted a picture of her grave but can't find it. Perhaps someone else knows. Dmitri is buried next to her. Actually, maybe ashes--weren't they cremated?

[LenelorMiksi]

I've read Marie's memoirs, and I really like her.  She makes mistakes just like all the other royals.  She was so creative and brave to take up embroidery as a business.  I think her actions are overly-criticized, as well as the "spoiled" business.  I don't think she behaves like a spoiled child at all, but a love-starved one.  Her mother died so young and then her father abandoned her, such a cruel thing to do!  But she forgives him and lets him back into her heart, as well as her half-brother and sisters and her stepmother.  No wonder she complaines as all of us do at times, she has a lot to complain about.  But to me she comes out positive, a beautiful grand duchess who keeps trying to improve herself in harrowing situations. I also like how she admits to her own limitations and mistakes.  She fails to recognize some of them, but she also fails to recognize some of her good qualities.  Oh, and I admire how she finds her brother a wife and never expresses any ill will towards sharing the person she loves most.  

[russianlover76]

Is there a family pic of marie, and her little family with her son Lennart,and her husband?

[etonexile]

Warm and cuddly isn't generally the upper-class parent/child habit....

[LenelorMiksi]

There are photos of the three together...some scattered around the forum.  They're not snuggly, really, probably given the distance between husband & wife.

[Maria_Pavlovna]

Marie Pavlovna with her 1st Husband and child.