Survivor theories -- a western phenomenon?

[Sarushka]

There is a distinct absence of soviet authorship bothering with the false claims of AA when she was alive. The only time that she was mentioned was only recently in the last few years - well after the collapse of the soviet system - as part of a cohort of pretenders. \

Would the political climate in the Soviet Union allowed information about Anna Anderson to be published?

[lexi4]

Maybe the lack of authorship is due to the distinct lack of freedomg of press, authorship speech etc, fostered by the Lenin/Stalin years.

[Romanov_fan]

I think the political climate would have discouraged such information being published, yes. I mean it is pretty obvious that they would not have wanted books about claimants who were claiming to be members of the Imperial Family, when the last part of czarist Russia was only encouraged to be forgotten during those years. I don't know how many people would have interested in reading about claimants, had such books been allowed, which I'm guessing they would not have been.

[Belochka]

I think the political climate would have discouraged such information being published, yes. I mean it is pretty obvious that they would not have wanted books about claimants who were claiming to be members of the Imperial Family, when the last part of czarist Russia was only encouraged to be forgotten during those years. I don't know how many people would have interested in reading about claimants, had such books been allowed, which I'm guessing they would not have been.

You analysis is correct imperial angel!

It was not a matter of censorship as has been suggested elsewhere. Frankly no one cared or cares today.

Only one book that I am aware of published in Russia during the 2000's briefly mentioned AA in passing.

Regards,

Margarita

[Sarushka]

It was not a matter of censorship as has been suggested elsewhere. Frankly no one cared or cares today.

I find that terribly fascinating. Do I understand correctly that the lack of written material on AA and other pretenders in the former Soviet Union is directly attributable to a simple lack of interest on the part of the public?

If that's the case, I wonder what has made the difference in the two cultures? It would seem to me that the fault of perpetuating the survivor myth then lies with the public in the west, for without a receptive audience, western authorship could have made no inroads on the topic.

Or is this a simple case of chicken-and-egg? 

[LisaDavidson]

I think it's tough to generalize about Russian attitudes towards survivors.

Anna Anderson was a Western phenomenon, but from what I understand, there were numerous survivor stories in the USSR, and many survivors had their cadres of people who believed in them. So, survivor stories were not unique to the West, and as I believe Helen said, they are part of the human experience.

[Romanov_fan]

Well, whatever phenomena made survivors, it seems the case of the Romanov claimants has become the most well known. There were other claimants in other countries in other times of various royals, but they aren't as well known. When I first read of there being survivors of things in royal history, besides the Romanov claimants, I was surprised. I think the fact of the Romanov claimants happening in the modern age really helped get the word out as it were.Thus, I think the fact of survivors like the Romanov claimants is not made by authors, but encouraged, although the primary motives of these claimants lie elsewhere than publicity.

[Lordtranwell]

I think we all go through the same thought patterns on the subject of survivors.  I find the good will, which characterises legitimate  inquiry,  encouraging and one of the endearing traits that must not be lost in the technocratic  mercantile society we live in.  However, the motivation may be influenced by a life time of knowing how governments cover up and conspire.  It is that which makes me think that the whole truth has been hidden and whatever arises  from inquiry is linked to a need to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but...........

[Romanov_fan]

Well, it is great to inquire into things, but I have always thought it is a waste of time to debate some of the more silly claims out there. I am not talking about Anna Anderson, as she was a major claim. It is worthwhile to discuss her, although the specifics are dull enough. But, why give credence to some of the more silly claims put out there over the years? It's not a very constructive way of remembering the Romanovs, nor their memory...