“July 17, 1918 — from the writings of Marie Nicolaevna Romanovna, age 19. Midnight, in bed with her sister, Anastasia (Shvybz), in the Ipatiev Mansion in Ekaterinburg, during the last night of their lives.
So much of my story unfolds by moonlight. This is a tale of midnight wakings and forced marches before dawn. Since this nightmare began, I do not dare undress, even to go to bed. I wear my … wear my dressing gown, my hair is prepared, and my shoes are set beside me. I have no idea when we will be summoned to rise. We have moved, as in the worst of dreams, slowly toward this place. There is no logic other than the sleepwalker’s obedience — to follow instruction which we cannot resist: an actual lunacy.
Now, I have control only of this — my record of what happened to us, to me. I have committed a single sin, my one terrible transgression. I pray to be absolved.
In this recording of memory lies all meaning to my life. Let my will prevail in this, my ultimate wish, to salvage something of value from this tragedy. The rest, as my mother says, is in God’s hands.
When I look back, as I must in the short time allotted to me now, I can see the exact moment when our lives changed: at last light, on the thirteenth of March, 1917.”
Here, in startling new historical detail, based on original diaries and letters, is the Romanov tragedy told from the point of view of the Tsar’s third daughter, Marie, Anastasia’s closest, older sister. Marie’s story is unique-only Marie crossed the frozen Siberian river with her parents, and only Marie shared the full 78 days and nights in ‘The House of Special Purpose.’
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The shameful way the Romanovs were treated both infuriated me and broke my heart. Knowing the tragic events of history that were to follow, in a way, I was relieved for them that they would not be around to see them, nor would they have to live through them. However, I could not help wondering if Nicholas II had survived and the dynasty …
At age 19, Marie, third daughter of Tsar Nicholas, recorded her family’s tragedy in her diary. Marie crossed the frozen Siberian river with her parents in hope of rescue, and shared 78 days and nights in ‘The House of Special Purpose’ awaiting her fate. Historic details from diaries and letters bring her ordeal to life.
Enjoyed reading the story thoroughly… good writing… have some idea now of what happened to the Romanovs in the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution… even if it is fictional…
A great historical perspective of Russian overthrow and demise of the Tsar and his family.
Interesting take on the Romanovs’ story.
This is a fictional story of one of the Romanov daughters. Despite it being fiction, it tells a pretty accurate story of the time up to just before the family is killed. The author writes at a pace that makes the reader feel how the family must have felt, kept captive and moved from one place to another toward their inevitable end. It is …
Good book but definitely NOT a feel good book because we all know what happened to the Romanov’s! It was painful to read what they went through. I’m glad I read it because I didn’t know much about them, however, it can be very depressing to get know them, care for them, and know that they will all be murdered. The death scene was very grisly. I …
I started to read this book at the same time I started an Ann Boleyn by Alison Weir and soon found myself engrossed by the Romanov novel. It was a look at a time in history that I knew very little about
My heart was captured by the fate that awaited OTMA. I believe that I am still processing the information and wondering how truly evil Lenin and …
I knew very little about the details surrounding the final days of the Romanov family. It was a very sad and disturbing book, but worth reading.
Enjoyed this view of the story of the Romaov czar and family.
Fun and interesting fiction of what it was like for the Romanovs……..more please
I’ve always heard of the Romanov’s, but really didn’t know very much. It was such a tragic ending to their lives.
Even though you know the outcome it was a great read
Learned more about this time is history. Sad, inevitable ending, but very informative and worth reading.
Even though I knew the outcome this book shed some light on the Romanov family.
slow read, gorey ending, no surprises
I loved this book. Knowing what was going to happen but knowing any details made the book more enticing but so tearjerking. I cried for these poor children and what they went through.
I just can’t understand how people can be so hateful and brutal to another human being.
Such a sad but interesting and tale of the Romanov Family. Read many versions of this same story and this first person version is quite a different take on their plight.
Sticks no close to the facts of the Romanov’s last days in captivity, the author provides a fictional account of one of the Grand Duchesses. We are given a look at what might have been going through the mind of a young lady not yet 20, her fears and her hopes leading up to her and her family’s deaths.
The last chapters of the book are …
I have not read much about the Romanov family and knew about their demise, but not how brutal their deaths were.
It was nice haveing a perspective from Maria.