The period leading up to the Russian Revolution is a daunting task to take on for a writer, and I thought Carolyn Meyer does a commendable job. No character is one-note, and the author never falls back on rumour or stereotypes re: Rasputin and the Tsarina Alexandra but treats the starets's relationship with the Romanov family in a way that respects all the complexities of the historical period, Alexei's hemophilia, and Alexandra's devout Orthodox faith. Anastasia is a shvibzik (an imp) and each of the OTMA sisters has a clear, spirited personality, as does their little brother Alexei. I remember the author does a fantastic job of evoking a truly happy, close-knit family life. I'd love to go back and re-read this book now that I've lived in the same places the book is set (okay, I didn't live in the Winter Palace, but I was at least there haha!). This is the book that I constantly credit when people ask me, "Why do you love Russia so much?" Ten years later, I graduated from uni and moved to Russia for a year, and my love for the country and its history, literature, culture, and language is still as strong as ever. I read it at age 12, fell in love with the Romanov family and Russia, and promptly went out and bought a Teach Yourself Russian in Three Months set (with accompanying CASSETTES, which lets you know how long ago this was!). This was the book that launched my love affair with Russia.
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