nicholas and alexandra by robert k massie

The film “Nicholas and Alexandra” is based on the book. Their bodies were identified with DNA provided by the late Prince Philip he, Queen Elizabeth, and Tsarina Alexandra are all descendants of Queen Victoria, who, by the way, was the original carrier of the hemophilia gene in this particular family. Since this book was written, the family’s remains – including youngest daughter Anastasia’s – have been discovered, identified and reburied in St. While other Romanovs were also killed, a few, including Nicholas’ mother and two sisters, escaped via the Crimea before the Red armies could conquer that southern location. The royal family was moved east into the Ural mountains, where, despite miserable living conditions, they remained steadfast in their religious faith. Lenin returned to Russia from exile, fomented revolution and the country dissolved into civil war (watch Dr. Over less than a decade, this illness, a closely guarded secret, became the undoing of 300 years of Romanov rule.Īgainst this family drama, the book chronicles the political scene – the 1905 revolution, Russia’s entry into WW1, and the collapse of the monarchy in 1917. Rasputin immorality was well known, but for Alexandra, he remained her son’s lifeline. Yet the semi-monk Rasputin seemed able to control Alexei’s bleeding through prayer. After birthing four girls, son Alexei was born but found to have hemophilia, the “bleeding disease”, which in those days was incurable.

There was constant tension as Russians began to demand a parliament and civil and workers’ rights.Īlexandra’s “job” was to provide a male heir to the throne since girls could not inherit it. Most Russians were poor and illiterate, but young people were flocking to cities to work in new factories.

Nicholas Romanov, tsar by age 26, was inexperienced, shy, and ultraconservative.

Nicholas II was the last tsar of Russia and his wife was German-born Alix, granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England. This book began my lifelong interest in Russian history and culture.

Nicholas and alexandra by robert k massie