Nikolaus und Alexandra: Die letzten Romanows und das Ende des zaristischen… (1968)

The author/historian is racist and sexist and this review will reflect that.
This is extremely readable, interesting to non history buffs and told using a novel-esque format.
This very much reads like fiction and in fact most of the authors motivations for the historical figures are fictional.
The author has a son with hemophilia and in fact studied the Romanov's as part of his research on this illnesses historical background. As a result the author is biased and makes no attempt to tell a fair or balanced history of this couple.
His thesis is that the revolution happens because his son has hemophilia and Empress Alexandra becomes attached to Rasputin.
Lol no
Nope
Nada
Not what fucking happened.
The revolution happens because autocratic rule is horrible and fails the majority of the population. WWI exacerbates this but this was already happening.
There was horrible management of farm land, where farmers spent more time walking to their fields than farming. 🤦🏽‍♀️
He has zero need to get involved in WWI and primarily does so as part of a pissing contest with Kaiser Wilhelm.🙄
His soldiers don't have bullets and are facing machine guns.
Meanwhile theres mass starvation at home AND on the frontlines.
Does he admit defeat and take his soldiers home where he can care for them? Nope he limits the soldiers ammunition to 3 bullets a day and shoots anyone who complains.
He ultimately killed his family.
Rasputin is a serial rapist. I don't care that was killed and find the circumstances surrounding his murder comical, almost farcical.
Akexandra isn't even really to blame though she should've gotten out of bed and been Empress. The author's treatment of her cringeworthily sexist.
Nicholas was a horrible disgusting racist. His wife probably suffered from either mental illness or an undiagnosed chronic illness. She is too tired really to wall, get out of bed or participate in life. She also has chronic sciatica which makes me think chronic illness. It's not like she ever did anything physical to aggravate it. Also while painful it doesn't stop all daily activity. I think there was a lot going on with her.
Sick kids are hard on all families however Nicholas's poorest subjects also had kids with all kinds of illnesses as well as watching their kids starve to death. Rather than their sons illness translating to care for all of the nations kids, they just care about their own kid. So no I don't have pity even for the kids.
He just was a horrible ruler and the death of his family isn't sadder than the millions he murdered or starved to death. ( )

This is a fascinating history of the final years of the Romanov dynasty. ( )

This book gives a fascinating portrait of Nicholas II, and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna. It provides excellent atmosphere for imperial life. Massie's thesis is that Nicholas and Alexandra's relationships with each other and with their hemophiliac son Alexei are key for explaining the influence of Rasputin and the downfall of the Romanovs. This is convincing—the troubles of hemophilia and Rasputin are drawn brilliantly.

The weaknesses of the book are that it does not give a good picture of Russia beyond the Tsar, nor a decent explanation of the revolution that overthrew him. What else contributed to the Romanovs' downfall? We get only very little. Also, despite Massie's tight focus on the imperial family, to me Alexandra and, especially, Nicholas are still a bit mysterious. I don't fully understand how Alexandra grew into taking a larger role in government, and I don't know how to reconcile Nicholas's energy and intelligence with his passive governance.

Still a very good book, but I prefer Massie's Peter the Great biography. ( )

Arvestades, et see raamat on üle 50 aasta vastu pidanud ja nüüd eesti keeles ilmunud, siis polegi paha saavutus. Ainult et hulk merd on vette voolanud ja selle aja peale ka kõvasti uusi allikaid kasutuses. Kas ikka oli väga vaja eesti keelde tõlkida? Autor ilmsi ei valda vene keelt, kasutatud kirjanduse hulgas on vaid üks venekeelne allikas. Julgen tugevalt kahelda, et sellel teemal ei olnud emigrandid midagi vene keeles lisaks ilmutanud, mis oli muudesse keeltesse tõlkimata. Ja ka nõukogude ametlikule ajaloodiskursusele on viitamata. Lihtsalt loetav ehk siis hästi tõlgitud. ( )

I've read this book several times. Fascinated by tsars, Russia, the mysticity and scandals that surround the family of the last tsar of Russia.

I did not like it as much as his book on Peter the Great, which was my first book by his hand. ( )