Nicholas and Alexandra: An Intimate Account of the Last of the Romanovs and the Fall of Imperial Russia

A biography of Tsar Nicolas II, the last Romanov ruler of Russia, with the history of the last years of imperial Russia and the Communist revolution. Nicolas is portrayed as a quiet, kind and compassionate man, greatly in love with Alexandra, his wife. She, like many Royals of the late 19th century, is a relative of Queen Victoria, and unfortunately carries the X-linked gene for hemophilia. Her last of four children is the son that ensures the continuation of the Romanov dynasty, but he, Alexis, is born with hemophilia, and suffers greatly from bleeding into his joints after minor trauma. Alexandra believes that the prayers of the holy man (starets) Rasputin saved Alexis on several occasions, giving Rasputin power over the fate of show more imperial ministers and policy. This proves disastrous in the tumult of the First World War, as Russia suffers millions of casualties fighting Germany and Austria. The casualties lead the Russian army, once loyal to the tsar, to mutiny, and the Bolsheviks evict the more moderate Mensheviks that had formed the Duma, and seemed to be leading Russia to a constitutional monarchy. Nicholas, at the urging of Alexandra and Rasputin, resists yielding power throughout the war years, abdicating only after the army is in complete revolt. Lenin is sent back to St. Petersburg by the Germans, and his party takes over the government. This is a death sentence for the Tsar and his family
I enjoyed reading all the vivid details of Russian life, the drama of Rasputin, and the history of the time. I slowed my reading as the massacre of Nicholas, Alexandra, and their young daughters and son approached, because I had become fond of what seemed to be a good family. show less

I read many books regarding Russia. I'm fascinated by this incredible country. Published in 1967, Nicolas and Alexandra by Robert Massie seems to be the definitive book by which others are measured regarding this subject.

Massie is an incredible writer. His images are crisp and clear. The reader can feel the icy cold winds of Siberia, can almost taste the delicacies served at the grand balls held in the Winter Palace and can also have a sense of silently watching the Royal family in their daily lives as the clock ticks toward the inevitability of their death.

I felt like an observer, peering into the large windows of the palace as I watched the shimmer of the jewels and felt the texture of the jewel-laden gowns of the aristocratic women show more as they swirled around the golden dance floor, arms on the handsome Russian soldiers. Then, I was transported to the hovels of the Russian pheasants and felt the abject poverty and hopelessness.

Massie paints a lovely and tragic portrait of the couple, so in love and so doomed. Never wanting a leadership position, Nicholas was a terrible manager. Better at wearing a military costume than actually strategically planning a war or leading his people, this inept Tsar didn't have a clue how to rule.

Massie's major point is that had it not been for the agony of Alexi's hemophilia, had it not been for the desperation of Alexandra which led her to the mad monk Rasputin, the downfall of the Romanov's would never have occurred.

Throughout 532 pages, Massie enthralls the reader with the history and life of the vast country of Russia. Brilliant, poignant, never boring, this is a must read for anyone interested in Russian history. show less

ספר יוצא מן הכלל, לא רק בגלל שהוא מלמד אותך פרק קריטי בהיסטוריה האנושית כי אם גם ובעיקר בגלל שהוא גורם לך מעורבות רגשית עמוקה בחייה של משחת רומנוב. אנשים פשוטים ולא חכמים במיוחד שהגורל הציב אותם בראש אמפריה הגדולה בעולם. למרות כל הפשעים שהם עשו למרות הגינותם הבסיסית אינך יכול שלא להרגיש חמלה ושותפות גורל לזוג המיוחד הזה ולפשמפחה כפי שהם מתוארים באומנות על ידי רוברט מסי

What an incredible book -- probably the best book I've read this year. It reads like a novel, but it is biography as well as a history of 20th century Russia. This is the story of the famous Romanov family, Nicholas, the last Tsar of Russia and his Empress and children. I had never heard anything particularly good about this family except for their impeccable taste in Fabrege jewels. But in fact, they were a wonderful and very loving family, one that, despite power and wealth, had more than its fair share in hardship and tragedy. Nicholas, although an autocrat, was a gentle and humane person. I don't think Russia improved any under dictatorship of the proletariat, which was neither gentle nor humane.

Fascinating and well-researched story of the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas, and his wife Alexandra and their children. I first read this book approximately 40 years ago and loved it and find it even more fascinating now. The Tsar is presented as a kind, but totally confused and out of touch monarch. WWI truly brought out the huge gap between the European monarchs and the people of their countries and this was especially true in Russia. Many of the historical characters such as Rasputin are presented as real people and not just one-sided historical figures.

God, this wrecked me. Just as in Catherine the Great, Massie is an absolute wizard. How he manages to keep sense of names and dates and then translate that into something that never feels boring or dense is beyond me. An absolute masterpiece. Even in knowing what the end result was, I still couldn't help but be so shocked with how everything played out. Every member of the Imperial family is so lovingly fleshed out, especially Alexis, that the gruesome murders at the end felt like a death in the family. Brilliant and heart wrenching. Love. 5 stars.

I don't know where to begin. I'm a history fanatic. I've read Catherine the Great bio. Since then I've been in search for another good book about Russian history. Other than what I learned about Russia in the 70 and 80's in school, plus what I've learned of the country as an adult...I admit, I know nothing of the real history of how Russia got to the point it is now.

This book was a perfect lesson on how Russia has struggled with their identity as a country. Tsar Nicholas struggled being thrust into a position at the age of 16, following the death of his father.

His marriage to Alexandra was controversial from the beginning. Then her loyalty to her family only made matters worse. The Russians began to turn against her and the Tsar for her show more motherly duties.

Then the evil, twisted Rasputin came along. This only solidified the hate for the family.

Knowing little facts, I was heartbroken to read how the entire family was murdered. I'm not one to be emotionally taken by a book. I did catch myself gasping when I read how brutal the murders were.

I would suggest this book to any person that is interested in learning about history of different countries. Extremely well written. show less