The story of the love that ended an empireIn this commanding book, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Robert K. Massie sweeps readers back to the extraordinary world of Imperial Russia to tell the story of the Romanovs’ lives: Nicholas’s political naïveté, Alexandra’s obsession with the corrupt mystic Rasputin, and little Alexis’s brave struggle with hemophilia. Against a lavish backdrop of luxury and … backdrop of luxury and intrigue, Massie unfolds a powerful drama of passion and history—the story of a doomed empire and the death-marked royals who watched it crumble.
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Robert K. Massie’s Catherine the Great.
Praise for Nicholas and Alexandra
“A larger-than-life drama.”—Saturday Review
“A moving, rich book . . . [This] revealing, densely documented account of the last Romanovs focuses not on the great events . . . but on the royal family and their evil nemesis. . . . The tale is so bizarre, no melodrama is equal to it.”—Newsweek
“A wonderfully rich tapestry, the colors fresh and clear, every strand sewn in with a sure hand. Mr. Massie describes those strange and terrible years with sympathy and understanding. . . . They come vividly before our eyes.”—The New York Times
“An all-too-human picture . . . Both Nicholas and Alexandra with all their failings come truly alive, as does their almost storybook romance.”—Newsday
“A magnificent and intimate picture . . . Not only the main characters but a whole era become alive and comprehensible.”—Harper’s
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I really enjoyed this biography on the last royal family of Russia. I didn’t know too much about them beforehand except the idea that maybe they were just horrible people who the lower classes wanted to eradicate for the sake of trying to gain democracy of some sort. Well it turns out they weren’t monsters but they were lousy rulers. As people, they seemed pretty likable but Nicholas was woefully unprepared for his role and too stubbornly stuck to the belief of autocracy. His wife was way too influential with him and the author argues that if there wasn’t a Rasputin to influence Alexandra, then there might not have been a revolution with a bloody end for the family. Very much a page turner that gave me a sympathetic view of Nicholas at least (not so much Alexandra). And it makes you wonder how different Russia would be today if the revolution didn’t occur.
Like all of Masseys books, this was a can’t put it down historical biography. He incorporates enough history into each of biographies to give you the context of the times. A great book by a terrific author
Russian history is a passion of mine from my university days. All the Massie books, both husband and wife are superbly researched and written.
673 pages
5 stars
Mr. Massie’s story of Nicholas and Alexandra and their five children begins with the sudden and unexpected death of Tsar Alexander III. He was Nicholas’ father and was only forty-nine when he died. Nicholas was suddenly Tsar and he was terrified. He freely admitted that he was not ready to be Tsar. He expected a longer apprenticeship with his father.
Nicholas was a soft-hearted man who was given to avoiding confrontation. His match with Alexandra was definitely a love match. They were one of the very few royal couples who actually shared a bed on a nightly basis. Alexandra (formerly Alix of Germany), was shy and very religious. She did not care for large gatherings and thus the Russian people began to think of her as snobbish and somewhat unfriendly. She was prone to all sorts of illnesses, whether real or imagined is left up to the reader.
After having four daughters, the couple was finally blessed with a son. For only a son could inherit the throne. Their joy was to soon turn to extreme dismay when they discovered that Alexi, as he was named, has hemophilia. The slightest bump could suddenly turn into a major bleed and cause the boy extreme pain and swelling.
Enter Gregori Rasputin. He was a self-styled holy man from the far west in Siberia. He came from a very poor peasant village and had no idea of the “metropolitan” cities of Moscow and Tsarskoe Selo. Women especially were taken with him, as he was with them. He had an insatiable sexual appetite. Some loved him – and some hated him. He did have one talent going for him. He was able to calm Alexi and seemed to be able to stop the internal bleeding caused by his hemophilia. He and Alexandra became very close. Some accused her of having an affair with Rasputin. She has written him some rather unfortunately worded letters that got distributed to the newspapers. Rumors became rampant.
The lead up to war, the situation between Serbia and Austria was discussed at length. Russia’s entry into and contribution to WWI was covered in detail. The lack of supplies such as guns and cannon, the incompetence of the generals and the horrific losses due to all of these causes is shown in painful detail. The only good thing to take out of this period was Nicholas’ attentiveness to and love for his son, Alexi.
As the war went badly, the revolutionary cause began to rise again. The riots, strikes and attacks on “Germans” – whether they were German or not – were endemic.
Meanwhile, Rasputin was pouring poison into Alexandra’s ear about Nicholas’s ministers, especially Grand Duke Nicholas.
In 1915, the Russian bear simply could not take the strain any longer. The military collapsed.
Together, Alexandra and Rasputin would bring down the Russian Empire.
The book goes on to describe the terrible events that took place, leading to Nicholas’ abdication. It details how the revolution was not necessarily a concerted effort, but differing groups of people came together and demanded change. But it was too late for the monarchy.
This is a very well written and researched novel. I have read a great deal about Russia and the Revolution in particular, but there were tidbits of information of which I was not previously aware. I was very pleased with the amount of detail given and there are footnotes and a bibliography for those who wish to further explore Russia’s issues.
Graeat work
One of my favorite books
It’s a big book! Maybe a little more detailed than necessary, but very readable.
Beautiful portrayal of deeply consequential events. Tragic.
Detailed examination of Nicholas and Alexandra’s last few months alive.
This book was well written giving good information on the family dynamics of the late reigning Czar in Russia. It puts the fear for Alexis and the adoration of Rasputin in context. It also explains the dislike of people and how this had a political impact. I would recommend this book for everyone who wants to understand how the revolution in Russia could happen .
The story of Nicholas & Alexandria is touching, romantic and heart-breaking. Personal history is given along with the events that were happening in Russia at this time. It is a book that I have read more than once.
Enjoyed the history. Author could keep your interest .
One of the best biographies I’ve read ! Fascinating characters and fascinating time period !
Reads like a novel. Fascinating story.
More information on the environment leading up to the Revolution.
I read this book years ago when it first came out and enjoyed it very much. I love the historical novels.
Excellent.
I loved Nicholas and Alexandra. I had read the story years and years ago; and this version is more intimate.
It came out when I was in high school, and I had to order it, from our office supply store, as we didn’t have a bookstore. It’s still one of the best books on Nicholas and Alexandra, and written due to his research on his sons’ hemophilia, and how Alexei’s hemophilia affected his parents and Russian history.
Interesting and enlightening. I learned from this book.