Synopses & Reviews
Rumors, mysteries, and tales of horrifying privation and torture have echoed through the years, inspiring wild speculation and fantastic claims of the "truth" of the final days of Russias Tsar Nicholas II and his family. Now, in the first comprehensive account of their imprisonment and murder since the familys remains were enshrined in St. Petersburg, The Fate of the Romanovs challenges earlier descriptions of these events with a wealth of fresh evidence and a careful re-examination of established facts.
Drawing from more than 500 previously unpublished documents, authors Greg King and Penny Wilson make compelling, controversial revisions to commonly held beliefs. They reveal that the family was not treated in a barbaric fashion during their captivity, but rather with a great deal of civility. They also dispel the legend that the family members remained devoted to each other throughout their ordeal; months of uncertainty and anxiety led to a slow but inexorable disintegration of family bonds.
This vividly narrated exposé delves deeply into the long-secret archives of the Russian Revolution to discover that Lenin did not order the familys executionas had been previously thoughtand to reveal who actually made the decision and how it was carried out. Secret documents also disclose that the KGB orchestrated the 1978 "discovery" of the Romanov grave and that the Soviet government had known of its existence from the beginning.
Most shocking of all is the confirmation that two of the tsars children may have escaped execution and that the fabled Grand Duchess Anastasia could well have been one of them. Shocking in another way is the revelation of successful efforts of Imperial hangers-on to barter for their own freedom using the Romanovs vast cache of jewels.
Every claim and assertion in this startling new report is supported with copious documentary evidence from multiple sources. The authors cite many accounts from those closest to the actual events, including memoirs by the commandant of the Ipatiev House in which the family was imprisoned; Victor Netrebin, who participated in the murders; Bolshevik officials who revealed the betrayal of the Romanovs by their servants; and a physician who was given access to the Imperial prisoners. They also quote the statements of guards Alexei Kabanov and Alexander Strekotin and draw information from Romanov family papers, including personal letters and documents on the fate of the Romanov remains.
Supplemented with numerous, never-before-published photos and a helpful cast of characters numbering in the hundreds, The Fate of the Romanovs explodes myths, confirms long-dismissed theories, solves mysteries, and poses intriguing new questions about events that, though they occurred nearly a century ago, continue to fascinate the world.
Review
* The family members of Nicholas II, Russia's last tsar, were executed in July 1918, soon after the Bolshevik Revolution -and the speculation as to what exactly happened hasn't died out during the past 85 years. In this comprehensive volume of one of his tory's great intrigues, independent scholars King and Wilson stoke the flames of controversy with a creative theory: Lenin and the other Bolshevik rulers in Moscow didn't give the orders to kill the tsar's family, as has been believed. This wasn't out of any sympathy for Nicholas and his family-in fact, the authors point out that Lenin was perhaps the epitome of realpolitik, allowing little emotion in his political decisions. Using an intriguing reading of the Russian archives, the authors argue that Lenin preferred a trial to an execution for fear of antagonizing the Germans, whom he wanted to appease in order to consolidate his own grip on power. Instead, it was local Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg, where the royal family was held, who made the decision to go ahead and execute Nicholas and his family. The executions were blamed on Lenin because it served as a convenient myth for those lamenting the f all of the Romanov dynasty. While the book is somewhat longer than necessary, those fascinated with the case will find it worthwhile. (Sept.) (
Publishers Weekly, July 28, 2003)
King (The Man Who Killed Rssputin) and Wilson, a historian specializing in Russia's late imperial era have written a graphic compelling reconstruction of the fate of the last tsar and his family and a detailed account of the case's developments in 1989-2001. Rather than blame the murders directly on Lenin, King and Wilson devote half of their account to proving that the Ural Regional Soviet decided on its own to murder the family, informing Lenin and the Presidium days later. The book's second half examines the wildly contentious ""discovery"" and identification of the royal bones in 1989, even though the Soviet government knew where the mass grave was all along. The disastrous exhumations made identification of the 11 sets of bones nearly impossible-a problem that was compounded when American forensics experts looked into the matter and failed to find the bones of two of the children. This account of the Romanovs' last days is far more graphic than Mark Steinberg and Vladimir M. Khrustalev's The Fall of the Romonovs, but Chapter 21 drops an unexploded bomb: ""The evidence, as it now stands, does not support any such conclusions about the possible deaths of either Grand Duchess Anastasia or Tsarevich Alexi.... (I)t is at least possible that one or more of the victims remain alive."" This opinion is supported only by the lack of physical evidence and seems to run counter to the authors' description of the murder scene earlier in the book. However, the exhaustive documentation and notes and readable style make this book necessary for academic and public libraries. - Harry Willems, Southeast Kansas Lib., Iola (Library Journal, September 15, 2003)
""...I was pleasantly surprised: this complex, fascinating work based on new archives...compellingly revisionist..."" (Daily Mail, 16 November 2003)
""...The Fate of The Romanovs is both encyclopaedic and compelling..."" (Evening Standard, 17 November 2003)
""...the resulting book is a masterpiece of historical research..."" (The Good Book Guide, January 2004)
""...the two authors have turned their investigations into a murder-mystery tale..."" (South Wales Argus, 27 December 2003)
""...makes for fascinating reading...an erudite retelling of a story that refuses to die..."" (Fortean Times, January 2004)
""A startlingly revisionist history of the last months of the Imperial family that compellingly destroys the tired old romantic cliches and recreates the Tsar and the commissars as real characters."" (The Financial Times)
""...a startlingly revisionist history of the last months of the Imperial family t
Review
"This book is sure to become the standard for which all future books on the Romanovs will be based.... This is historical research at its best. A stunner of a book." —Marlene Eilers, author of Queen Victoria's Descendants and publisher of Royal Book News
Review
The family members of Nicholas II, Russia's last tsar, were executed in July 1918, soon after the Bolshevik Revolution -and the speculation as to what exactly happened hasn't died out during the past 85 years. In this comprehensive volume of one of his tory's great intrigues, independent scholars King and Wilson stoke the flames of controversy with a creative theory: Lenin and the other Bolshevik rulers in Moscow didn't give the orders to kill the tsar's family, as has been believed. This wasn't out of any sympathy for Nicholas and his family-in fact, the authors point out that Lenin was perhaps the epitome of realpolitik, allowing little emotion in his political decisions. Using an intriguing reading of the Russian archives, the authors argue that Lenin preferred a trial to an execution for fear of antagonizing the Germans, whom he wanted to appease in order to consolidate his own grip on power. Instead, it was local Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg, where the royal family was held, who made the decision to go ahead and execute Nicholas and his family. The executions were blamed on Lenin because it served as a convenient myth for those lamenting the f all of the Romanov dynasty. While the book is somewhat longer than necessary, those fascinated with the case will find it worthwhile. (Sept.) (
Publishers Weekly, July 28, 2003)
King (The Man Who Killed Rssputin) and Wilson, a historian specializing in Russia's late imperial era have written a graphic compelling reconstruction of the fate of the last tsar and his family and a detailed account of the case's developments in 1989-2001. Rather than blame the murders directly on Lenin, King and Wilson devote half of their account to proving that the Ural Regional Soviet decided on its own to murder the family, informing Lenin and the Presidium days later. The book's second half examines the wildly contentious "discovery" and identification of the royal bones in 1989, even though the Soviet government knew where the mass grave was all along. The disastrous exhumations made identification of the 11 sets of bones nearly impossible-a problem that was compounded when American forensics experts looked into the matter and failed to find the bones of two of the children. This account of the Romanovs' last days is far more graphic than Mark Steinberg and Vladimir M. Khrustalev's The Fall of the Romonovs, but Chapter 21 drops an unexploded bomb: "The evidence, as it now stands, does not support any such conclusions about the possible deaths of either Grand Duchess Anastasia or Tsarevich Alexi.... (I)t is at least possible that one or more of the victims remain alive." This opinion is supported only by the lack of physical evidence and seems to run counter to the authors' description of the murder scene earlier in the book. However, the exhaustive documentation and notes and readable style make this book necessary for academic and public libraries. - Harry Willems, Southeast Kansas Lib., Iola (Library Journal, September 15, 2003)
"...I was pleasantly surprised: this complex, fascinating work based on new archives...compellingly revisionist..." (Daily Mail, 16 November 2003)
"...The Fate of The Romanovs is both encyclopaedic and compelling..." (Evening Standard, 17 November 2003)
"...the resulting book is a masterpiece of historical research..." (The Good Book Guide, January 2004)
"...the two authors have turned their investigations into a murder-mystery tale..." (South Wales Argus, 27 December 2003)
"...makes for fascinating reading...an erudite retelling of a story that refuses to die..." (Fortean Times, January 2004)
"A startlingly revisionist history of the last months of the Imperial family that compellingly destroys the tired old romantic cliches and recreates the Tsar and the commissars as real characters." (The Financial Times)
"...a startlingly revisionist history of the last months of the Imperial family that compellingly destroys the tired old romantic clich?s..." (Financial Times Magazine, 20 December 2003)
"...The cold eye of reason combs through the evidence delivering astonishing details about the demise of the Romanovs..." (Good Book Guide, March 2004)
Synopsis
Abstracting hundreds of previously unpublished documents and including scores of never-before-seen pictures, "The Fate of the Romanovs offer readers the most comprehensive, gripping portrait of the last months and murder of Russias Czar Nicholas and his family.
Synopsis
Abundant, newly discovered sources shatter long-held beliefs
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 revealed, among many other things, a hidden wealth of archival documents relating to the imprisonment and eventual murder of Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their children. Emanating from sources both within and close to the Imperial Family as well as from their captors and executioners, these often-controversial materials have enabled a new and comprehensive examination of one the pivotal events of the twentieth century and the many controversies that surround it.
Based on a careful analysis of more than 500 of these previously unpublished documents, along with numerous newly discovered photos, The Fate of the Romanovs makes compelling revisions to many long-held beliefs about the Romanovs' final months and moments. This powerful account includes:
* Surprising evidence that Anastasia may, indeed, have survived
* Diary entries made by Nicholas and Alexandra during their captivity
* Revelations of how the Romanovs were betrayed by trusted servants
* A reconstruction of daily life among the prisoners at Ipatiev House
* Strong evidence that the Romanovs were not brutalized by their captors
* Statements from admitted participants in the murders
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 619-633) and index.
Synopsis
Abundant, newly discovered sources shatter long-held beliefs
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 revealed, among many other things, a hidden wealth of archival documents relating to the imprisonment and eventual murder of Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their children. Emanating from sources both within and close to the Imperial Family as well as from their captors and executioners, these often-controversial materials have enabled a new and comprehensive examination of one the pivotal events of the twentieth century and the many controversies that surround it.
Based on a careful analysis of more than 500 of these previously unpublished documents, along with numerous newly discovered photos, The Fate of the Romanovs makes compelling revisions to many long-held beliefs about the Romanovs' final months and moments. This powerful account includes:
* Surprising evidence that Anastasia may, indeed, have survived
* Diary entries made by Nicholas and Alexandra during their captivity
* Revelations of how the Romanovs were betrayed by trusted servants
* A reconstruction of daily life among the prisoners at Ipatiev House
* Strong evidence that the Romanovs were not brutalized by their captors
* Statements from admitted participants in the murders
About the Author
GREG KING is the author of five previous books. A noted historian on Imperial Russia and the Romanov Dynasty, he is a frequent contributor to television specials in the United States, Canada, and Britain.
PENNY WILSON is a historian who specializes in Russia?s late Imperial period. The authors? Web site is thefateoftheromanovs.com.
Table of Contents
Foreword.
Cast of Characters.
Introduction.
Authors’ Note.
1. The Ruin of an Empire.
2. A Traitor to the Revolution.
3. The House of Special Purpose.
4. “It Was Dreadful, What They Did . . .”
5. The Seventy-eight Days.
6. Russia in Chaos.
7. The First to Die.
8. The June Conspiracies.
9. “A Happy Hour with the Grandest People in the World”.
10. The Coming Storm: Enter Yurovsky.
11. Murderous Intentions.
12. Götterdämmerung.
13. The Four Brothers.
14. Aftermath.
15. The Investigations.
16. “Holy Relics of Our Saints”.
17. Unearthing the Past.
18. “An Unknown Grave from the Soviet Period”.
19. Bones of Contention.
20. “It’s All Secret, All Political”.
21. The Secret of Koptyaki Forest.
22. “Drowned in This Mist of Holiness”.
Epilogue.
Appendix 1: Ekaterinburg Guards.
Appendix 2: Inventory of Romanov Possessions in Ekaterinburg.
Appendix 3: The Romanovs’ Jewels.
Acknowledgments.
Notes.
Bibliography.
Index.