Imperial Dancer by Coryne Hall

[Romanov_fan]

Well, eventually they were more favorable towards some ballet dancers. The Bolsheviks were never going to be favorable towards Mathilde because she was so associated with the Romanovs and had a morgantic Romanov son. But, according to Mathilde's biography, Mathilde's brother Joseph remained in Russia although his circumstaces declined, and had a career in ballet still. However, he of course identified with the Revolution, not the old regime.

[historylover]

It would be interesting to read more about Joseph.

Is Mathilde's autobiography worth reading as well as Corynne's book?

[Alixz]

Just my opinion - I have always hesitated to read Mathilde's book as she does come across as self oriented and I was afraid that I would be bored by her love of herself.  I have always felt that she would be very self promoting.

As for Coryne's book, I like her work and I would give it an unbiased chance.  I have Once a Grand Duchess by Hall and Van der Kriste and two other books by Van der Kriste alone.  I like the book where they collaborated much better than the books that Van der Kriste wrote alone.  Coryne Hall adds much to the collaboration.

[historylover]

I'd like to read Mathilde's book and compare it with Corynne's.

[Alixz]

Actually that is what I am doing.

I just bought both in paperback.  I have finished Coryne's book and I just started on Mathilde's.  Right now, Mathilde is less interesting and there is less about her relationship with Nicholas than I would have thought.

Coryne has much more on their intimacy and Mathilde is just much more romantic.

However, if either one of them uses the word "lavish" to describe another dinner or supper, I will have to put that word on my list of words we want removed from the dictionary in 2009.

[LisaDavidson]

I'd like to read Mathilde's book and compare it with Corynne's.

Compare how? That seems rather apples and oranges to me. Coryne Hall is a professional writer and biographer, so she can (and is) be much more objective than someone writing an autobiography. If that someone is Ksschenskaya, she clearly had a reason to be less than truthful and objective, although her first person memoirs are doubtless interesting all on their own.

My point is, one out of necessity reads a biography much differently than memoirs.

[Alixz]

What I meant by comparing the two books would be to see if Coryne with all of the documents and other memoirs she has had access to would have a different perhaps clearer view of Mathilde's life.

I would have thought that Mathilde would have been overly impressed by herself and overly proud of her affair de coure with Nicholas.  I expected more, "I am wonderful", from Mathilde, but so far that is not the case.

The most interesting part of both books so far is the Revolution and the escape.  Otherwise just listing the ballets and the roles that Mathilde appeared in along with those "lavish" suppers and dinners is a bit boring.

[Anastasia Spalko]

Something about Mathilde Kschessinska's personality and affiliation with the Romanovs kind of freaks me out a bit.  I wonder what would have happened if Nicholas had married her instead of Alix.  Would things have ended out differently, or would the Revolutionaries have found something to be upset about and had a revolution anyways?

[Naslednik]

About comparing Coryne Hall's book with MK's:  it is fun.  You are right that Coryne gives a lot more info about MK's relationship with N.  But reading Mathilde's book is like looking directly at the moon, rather than through a telescope.  I always feel a direct excitement from her storytelling, particularly her adoring attitude toward N.  And if Mathilde is stretching the truth, I can chalk that up to many human failings, all understandable.

It is funny to read Mathilde's summation of N's character and her experience with him, which she writes in that 'Inevitable' chapter, I think.  She praises her chats with him as some of her most treasured experiences.  Chats?  Over politics?  What was she really trying to say???

[Alixz]

Romanov Grand Dukes may have had a dalliance (and some of the dalliances lasted for a lifetime) with their ballerinas, but none ever married them until after the revolution.

Both Nicholas and Mathilde knew that marriage was not possible, but the more I dig and read, the more I think that he was in contact with her in big and small ways over his entire marriage.

Alix may have been the "love of his life" but Mathilde was his "first love" and that always holds a special place in one's heart.

[Naslednik]

Alixz,
I'm interested in what you say about N being in contact with Mathilde in big + small ways over his lifetime.  I agree, but wonder if there is any evidence.  Undoubtedly, he could make eye contact with her when he sat in the first row at the Krasnoe theater (which is mentioned in an autobiog. by a Mariinsky dancer, Anatole Bourmann).

Dancers used to come to the royal box, too, for recognition -- but did adult dancers come, or just the Imperial Ballet school kids?  MK mentions that N+A gave her a serpent brooch on her 10th anniversary recital, but it was delivered by Sergei Michailovich.  I can't figure out if the last time they ever spoke to each other was in 1894, or if he continued to walk backstage, as Tsars had been doing for decades.  Do you know?

I think that it is Coryne Hall who says that Alix forbade N to attend any more Imp. Ballet School recitals, like the one he attended in 1890.  But I seriously doubt that, in fact, I think she was unaware of evidence to the contrary.  Bourmann describes how the Tsar came into class one day unannounced, and then had lunch with them.  It is a moving description.  Nijinsky had gotten into a fight earlier, and had a 'shiner.'  Bourmann said something like 'let it be recorded that there was understanding in his (the Tsar's) eyes as he scanned the black and blue cheek.' (a reference to hemophilia...)  Then N told the 2 combatants that 'they had had their fun' and had to pay the price by not getting any dessert!

[Alixz]

N - I can't remember if you said that you have read Imperial Dancer by Coryne Hall.  There are many references to Mathilde contacting Nicholas when things didn't go her way in the ballet and even outside of the theater.

Only in one place does she mention that the Tsar asked Mathilde to be in a certain spot so that he could see her as he passed by,but in several other places, she mentions that Mathilde would write to the Tsar to ask him to sort out a problem for her and get her the solution that she wanted.

I haven't finished Dancing in St Petersburg yet.

[historylover]

I'm looking forward to reading 'Dancing in Petersburg'!

[Naslednik]

Alixz, Sorry I didn't reply earlier.  Yes, I've read Imperial Dancer, and know all about the letters of MK to the Tsar to request unusual favors (let her dance in 1896 Moscow festivities, have a 10th anniversary recital, using her own costumes, etc.).  And Sergei M. passed information from her to him, but who knows about the other direction.  What would be more interesting (for me) to know is whether or not they were ever even in the same room, or spoke to each other after 1894.  A pretty basic question, and one that MK doesn't make clear in her book.  It is possible that they never did more than pass each other in the theater/royal box.  If Nicholas' mother didn't even want MK to dance in Moscow in 1896, it is possible that he was under a lot of pressure to avoid her.

[historylover]

I would like to know the same things, Naslednik.  I find the tale of the Tsar's relationship with Mathilde
so moving and romantic! I am sure that they were always very special to each other. It is very sad that
the Tsar couldn't have more contact with her after he was married, but it is easy to understand the
Empress's jealousy.

I would also like to know more about Mathilde and Anna Pavlova.