A fantastic biography of one of the Romanov's most interesting figures, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, wife of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich. Taken from the obscurity of a small German duchy, "Miechen" married into the fabulously glittering Russian court and was given the chance to shine.

This book provides a wealth of pictures, some full-page. There are chapters on her children, her philanthropic endeavors, her war efforts, and, yes, even her jewels. It's a beautiful look at a life that saw spectacular beauty, but with the Revolution, it also saw the opposite of that coin. ( )