The Family Romanov – Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia

 

The Family Romanov – Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia – Candace Fleming

I didn’t realize when I bought this (an e-copy; just had to click the “purchase” button) that this book is supposedly for “younger audiences”.   A kid’s book possibly.  Oh well. Why not read it anyway?  Well, even though this book was definitely tinted towards younger readers, it wasn’t at all too remedial nor juvenile for an adult to enjoy.  In fact, many adults are intimidated by thick, scholarly tomes where one needs a dictionary handy.  Maybe this is just the sort of book that encourages more adults to read as opposed to letting sensationalized cable talk shows rot out their brains?   Then, of course, there’s the irony of many books that kids “have to read” in English when they’re 17 years old ain’t exactly easy.  My guess is most high school students never enjoyed Beowolf nor Crime and Punishment.   So a “young reader” monicker shouldn’t dissuade one from picking this book up.

This book was a very enjoyable primer of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, and his family. The author gives us an adequate background of the family as well as the troubled country of Russia.  Of all the books I’ve read on the time period, this book focused the most on the actual wife and children of Nicolas II as opposed to the political and socioeconomic landscape.  Yes, we do read about that (how could we not?) but the main focus that the author coveys is just how aristocratic and disengaged this family was towards its subjects.  To prove her point, the author includes little “snippets” and the end of each chapter that contrast the life of an average starving peasant in order to juxtapose what we’ve just read about the spoiled Romanovs.  As well meaning as these episodes are, I couldn’t help feel they were a bit unnecessary and forced.  Yes, these contrasts need to be pointed out, but the author seemed to include these out of obligation rather than passion.  We should have read a lot more, or nothing at all.

The country is edging towards anarchy and chaos as the 20^th century begins.  Much of this is due to factors beyond anyone’s control, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that Nicolas II simply isn’t a good leader.  He never wanted the job, but with monarchies, you really don’t get to pick who the next person in line for the throne is.   The problem of being a tsar, and being raised to become one your whole life, is that you’re sheltered from what the citizens really think of you.  We must remember that “Tsar” essentially means “God’s chosen leader” so every decision that a tsar makes is supposedly from God; and there’s little or no room for disagreement.  When anyone who seriously questions the tsar and his decisions, the individual is either taken out and shot or exiled to Siberia, so it’s easy to see that the royal family is completely oblivious to the pains of the countrymen.

A great (yet sad) example is when World War I begins, and Russia is woefully unprepared.  As the masses of men are conscripted and sent to battle with little or no weaponry and inept leadership, we read about how thousands are slaughtered on the battlefield every day.  How does Nicholas II respond?  Well, he decides that HE should then become the supreme leader of the army.  He dons a pressed uniform, goes to the front, and essentially prances around the troops (while not engaged in fighting, of course) thinking that this will somehow raise morale.  He is, after all, God’s chosen one. Right? Let’s just say his idea wasn’t a good one.

Eventually the revolution removes the Tsar and his family and they’re sent to live in exile.  Finally, the family is then hauled into the basement of the facility where they are imprisoned and mowed down by assassins’ bullets. This episode has been well documented, but what makes this book unique is that we read an awful lot of about the family in between the exile and their deaths, and it’s quite fascinating to read.  Before reading this book, I never really knew much about the Romanov children, yet I felt I had a much deeper understanding and appreciation after reading this book.  In fact, we see the children become forced to live like “normal” people once they are exiled, and they seem to make the adjustment quite well.  (Although “normal” probably means they were still better-off than 95% of the population of the country who were starving.)

If you’ve come across this review and you don’t read much history because you find it boring, or too meticulous for your tastes, I would recommend this book. This gives the reader a good understanding of the people, the places, and the country as it spiraled into civil war and eventually reigned by malleable communist leaders.  This is a book that one won’t feel intimidated.   There needs to be more books like this.  No, it isn’t scholarly, but people need to do more reading, and this book might be just the thing.