Synopses & Reviews
Julia Gelardis Born to Rule is the powerful epic story of five royal granddaughters of Queen Victoria, who reigned over the end of their empires, the destruction of their families, and the tumult of the twentieth century
Here are the stories of Alexandra, whose faith in Rasputin and tragic end have become the stuff of legend; Marie, the flamboyant and eccentric queen who battled her way through a life of intrigues and was also the mother of two Balkan queens and of the scandalous Carol II of Romania; Victoria Eugenie, Spains very English queen who, like Alexandra, introduced hemophilia into her husbands family---with devastating consequences for her marriage; Maud, King Edward VIIs daughter, who was independent Norways reluctant queen; and Sophie, Kaiser Wilhelm IIs much maligned sister, daughter of an emperor and herself the mother of no less than three kings and a queen, who ended her days in bitter exile.
Using never before published letters, memoirs, diplomatic documents, secondary sources, and interviews with descendents of the subjects, Julia Gelardis Born to Rule is an astonishing and memorable work of popular history.
Review
“Engaging and lively...highly recommended.” ---Library Journal
“Solemn, sometimes frisky, but always captivating.” ---Kirkus Reviews
“A diligent researcher who gets her facts straight and documents them properly with footnotes...Born to Rule has much interest in it and can serve as an introduction to these four queens and an empress.” ---The Washington Times
About the Author
Julia Gelardi was born in Manila, Philippines, and educated in the United States and Canada. An independent historian and author, she lives with her husband and two daughters in Plymouth, Minnesota.