New York Times Bestseller“Compelling and utterly fascinating.” —Lisa Wingate, author of Before We Were YoursAn enthralling feat of historical suspense that unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson’s fifty-year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov. Is she the Russian Grand Duchess or the thief of another woman’s legacy? Countless others have rendered their verdict. …
Countless others have rendered their verdict. Now it is your turn.
Russia, July 17, 1918: Under direct orders from Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik secret police force Anastasia Romanov, along with the entire imperial family, into a damp basement in Siberia where they face a merciless firing squad. None survive. At least that is what the executioners have always claimed.
Germany, February 17, 1920: A young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia Romanov is pulled shivering and senseless from a canal in Berlin. Refusing to explain her presence in the freezing water, she is taken to the hospital where an examination reveals that her body is riddled with countless, horrific scars. When she finally does speak, this frightened, mysterious woman claims to be the Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia.
Her detractors, convinced that the young woman is only after the immense Romanov fortune, insist on calling her by a different name: Anna Anderson.
As rumors begin to circulate through European society that the youngest Romanov daughter has survived the massacre, old enemies and new threats are awakened. With a brilliantly crafted dual narrative structure, Lawhon wades into the most psychologically complex and emotionally compelling territory yet: the nature of identity itself.
The question of who Anna Anderson is and what actually happened to Anastasia Romanov creates a saga that spans fifty years and touches three continents. This thrilling story is every bit as moving and momentous as it is harrowing and twisted.
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Like many others, I found the progression of this book, jumping from one time frame to another erratically, very irritating. The writing is good and the story of Anastasia is riveting but the mental gymnastics required to orient myself to the correct time frame destroyed the flow of the story completely. I could understand some time changes from chapter to chapter but these also occur even within most chapters. What was the purpose of that? How did it improve the story? Anastasia’s tragic tale was not furthered by this device.
You have to pay attention when reading as it changes in time,from the most recent events to the past, but its good.
The story of Anna Anderson is a saga for the ages. After reading from the perspective of dual narrators, I understand Ms. Anderson fought her case not because she was a knowing fraud but because she truly believed she was Grand Duchess Anastasia. It makes personal her struggling search for identity against a world who would rather claim she is a fraud as is the tragic fate of the last Romanovs
A fascinatingly told story on an age-old question: Did Anastasia die with the rest of her family, or did she somehow escape? It’s interesting that women always tend to “not be believed.” If they act in bravery, they are somehow thought to be crazy. Joan of Arc is another perfect example. Lawhon leaves it up to the reader to decide.
This book will keep you company for a long time to come.
Gloria Squitiro: A first lady of Kanas City and author of May Cause Drowsiness and Blurred Vision: The Side Effects of Bravery—YOU, Too! can OVERCOME ANXIETY and live a bigger more carefree life—Become a New and Better You!
#YayWomenWriters!
Not my favorite. It took me about a month to plow through this. The timeline works in reverse while intertwining two different stories. For this reason, I found it hard to read and waiting for character development to take shape several chapters into the book. It wasn’t until I was about 3/4 of the way through before I started to enjoy it. I trudged through out of principle.
The concept of this book was good, but the story jumped around too much. Reading should not be a chore.
Even though you know how this story ends (or begins), Ariel keeps you glued to the page. You want Anna to be Anastasia, you want Anastasia to live, you hope that there will be a remarkable twist. I really enjoyed the parallel stories going in opposite time so that they collide at the critical moment. A lovely and engaging book about two fascinating people during fascinating times.
Is she Anastasia or not? You won’t know until the very end. This is the best writing by Ariel Lawson by far.
This is a must read.
Familiar with the Romanov story and Anna Anderson, I still found this book interesting. The format with the double story lines going in opposite directions was a little confusing and unusual, but didn’t hamper my enjoyment. I did not find Anna Anderson a likable character, nor did she come across as a very convincing imposter. That made the book intriguing, because as this was a fictional spin, I curiously waited to see if the book would attempt to sway my impression.
Such a beautiful book that makes even a well known story become edge-of-the-seat suspenseful. Such memorable and complex characters. Rare is the historical novel that is both challenging and entertaining, but this one excels at both.
It was informative and entertaining. The time line was challenging to follow.
The way the author brought the characters to life and the historical background
I’ve been entranced by stories of Anastasia since I was a young teen. I WAS ANASTASIA is a thoroughly original take on the tale of the woman who was believed to be the lost daughter of the murdered Czar. Loved every moment of this book and couldn’t stop reading even though I knew the ending.
I really recommend this book. A fascinating read about a very tumultuous period. It keeps you guessing as to the truth of the story and paints a very personal picture of the Romanov family.
Great retelling of Anna Anderson and Princess Anastasia! Highly recommended!
I can not say too many good things about this book. It grabs you from the first page and will not let you go until you finish. Is she really Anastasia or isn’t she? So well written you feel as if you are there with them in Serbia, then New York, The Black Forest, Germany…. Poor yourself your favorite drink, pick a comfy seat then open the book. “Fair Warning” it starts and yes, you will enjoy!
slow in places. It did keep you in suspense
Could not put it down. Excellent!!!
Interesting story with a surprise ending. Lots of intense descriptions that I had to skip over due to too much gore and violence.