Customer Reviews

A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra: Their Own Story

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A Lifelong Passion is, at its heart, a magnificent love story, made all the richer because, unlike most love stories, it is rooted in absolute truth. Although the dynamics of the relationship between Nicholas and wife, Alexandra, are quite complex, there is no doubt that they adored each other and their five beautiful children. Politics aside, the heart of their life lay in the family. And this was a fmaily undivided. They shared everything: their joys, sorrows, tragedies, fears, triumphs, and ultimately, their tragic and untimely deaths.

A Lifelong Passion is not a work of fiction. The authors have meticulously researched the diaries and letters of both Nicholas and Alexandra and their children, then created a compilation that reads like a passionate thriller. We really come to know the Romanovs as well as those close to them: the brothers and sisters of Tsar Nicholas, the Dowager Empress Marie, Kaiser Wilhelm, Queen Victoria, and others.

A Lifelong Passion is also a portrait of the decline of a dynasty, seen through the eyes of those who lived it. Filled with political plots and intrigue, the book serves as a sweeping panorama of the last days of the Russian Empire. We get to know Imperial Russia "firsthand" and I found myself thoroughly engrossed.

A Lifelong Passion is a long book, yet it is never boring. The pace never slows and our desire to know more never ends. Ultimately, the book ends in a tragedy made all the greater because we have come to know the victims so very well. Whether you agree or disagree with the politics of Tsar Nicholas II, whether you like or dislike the people involved, you can't help but feel you've come to know them, and their tragic demise causes you to grieve.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It's a love story as poignant as The Thorn Birds, as panoramic in scope as Doctor Zhivago. A timeless classic filled with history, tragedy and love. Highly recommended!

This book takes one back not just to Imperial Russia, the lost world, but it takes you into the hearts of a man and a woman so deeply in love that their passion cries from each word. It takes you into the minds of their five children: intelligent Olga, sophisticated Tatiana, sweet Maria, wild Anastasia and clear-brained Aleksey. The letters encompass everything--their first meeting between Princess Alix von Hessen and Tsarevitch Nicholas of Russia, when she was 12 and he 16. It shows the love and care they had for eachother even then. It shows how they jumped over hurdles to be together, breaking down every barrier so they could be together eternally. It shows their love and joy at their five children, who were their world. It shows their family members, concerned, sometimes angry, at their actions. It takes you back to a world where you loved and were loved, a world that was vanished in 1918 by the merciless slaughter of these people, these children, who never had a chance to live.

While reading the love letters and notes Nicholas and Alexandra wrote to each other both before and throughout their marriage I couldn't help thinking how modern day psychologists would probably label their relationship "obsessive and codependent." Even so, I found this intimate glimpse into the lives of Nicholas, Alexandra, their children, relatives, friends, courtiers, civil servants and even their assassins, most enthralling. But the book is not your so-called 'page turner'. I lingered over each page and even tagged favorite parts and quotes or cross-references with Post-it notes. This is history revealed from within the very heart of the experience. So much so, I at times had the eery sense of actually being present while the words I was reading in print were first being written in longhand or punched out a letter at a time with stubby childish fingers on an early-model typewriter. Except I don't happen to believe in reincarnation. I just think this is history presented the way it should be, through the words of the people who lived it. These people expressed themselves quite well and need no theorist's interpretation of their writing or intentions. Reading this book is not unlike going off into your grandparent's attic and finding all these letters and pictures you never knew existed and losing track of time as you untie the ribbon around the bundle of love letter and discover while reading them how half your family came into being. Only in the case of Nicholas and Alexandra I had a problem with the fact I already knew what the end was and I didn't want to get to it. The people I met in this book tugged at my heart and mind so much I desperately wanted for there to have been a mistake and learn that they had in fact escaped from Ipatiev house and lived out their lives in comfortable exile on the Isle or Jersey or in the south of France. And then I had to ask myself, would I even be here reading about them if they had lived? The lives and deaths of the Romanovs affected so many people it is difficult to fathom what the impact of their remaining alive might have been. And I think it's pointless to speculate despite the fact so many people built whole lives around pretending to be survivors of that hideous execution. Much better to enjoy the memory of what they really left that was inspired and wonderful, learn from their numerous mistakes, grieve their loss and go on to reading about other aspect of history. You see, the real danger that comes of reading this book is the fact you can easily become as addicted to rereading it as Alexandra was obsessed with trying to find a cure for her son's hemophilia, or find ways to spend more time alone with her husband. Then I shudder in realizing how she did indeed get her wish in the end, though certainly not in the way she wanted to.

I have just spent two engrossing months with the Romanov family in Russia, savoring each word in this incredible collection of letters, memoirs, diaries, and other historical documents. What an amazing story, a real-life Greek tragedy, but one filled with so much hope, faith, and love! As a fan of Russian culture and history, it was easy to fall in love with this book. However, I think that it could be enjoyed by anyone who has a passion for his family, his faith, or his country. There are beautiful love letters, revealing diary entries, international secret telegrams, and chilling memoirs of murderers. This book captures almost every emotion humanly possible, and I experienced the full range while reading it. There are parts that will make you laugh out loud, cry out loud, and parts where you'll want to go back in time and warn the characters as you see them walking right into mistakes that will ultimately contribute to their downfall.

Besides Tsar Nicholas and the Tsarina Alexandra, this book details the lives of many other fascinating characters who are not as well-known. I felt a connection with Alix's older sister Ella, and I was especially attached to the sensitive KR and his constant struggles with his faith. And I felt disgust for Prince Yusopov, while at the same time understanding his desire to protect the royal family from their attraction to religious charlatans. Obviously, there is no surprise ending to this book. Still, it is gripping up to the very last page and the lives I gained insight on will be with me for a long time.

I own this book, and several others centred on the lives of the Nicholas
Romanov family. In my opinion, a person's collection of primary-research volumes should begin with this book. For indeed, this book is not simply letters, notes, or personal reflections by the late Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra. It is a revelation. Many people to this day mistakenly believe that Nicholas and his sickly wife were vile and cruel people. An honest look into this book will undoubtedly change the opinions of all except the most virulent anti-Romanovs. Not only will the reader discover that Nicholas was actually a kind and benevolent leader, despite his youth, lack of training and inabilities to effectively cohere a nation spanning 11 timezones, they will discover that he was a fun, winsome, and charming person. Still, Tsar Nicholas could not effectively hold Russia together and Revolution came in the guise of V. I. Lenin and Josef Stalin's monstrously vicious and deadly regime. In all candour, the job of running Russia has remained almost insuperable in the 88.5 years since the assassination of the Imperial family.

Additionally, what the reader will discover from this book is that Tsar Nicholas was a warm and loving father to his 4 girls and 1 son, as well as an untiring devoted husband to his wife. To illustrate this, their eldest daughter Olga declined a Royal marriage proposal in order to keep the family close together as World War 1 loomed upon the scene.

What about the Objectivity of this book?
To use ACADEMIC terminology, this book has both ETICS and EMICS ( or the Outside viewpoint, and the Inside viewpoint), for there are letters, reflections and correspondence from the chldren of the family, Olga, Tatiana, Marie, the famous Anastasia, and her nearly as famous hemophiliac brother, Aleksey, as well as relatives such as KR and GrandDuchess Olga.

To add to all of this, there are others outside the family who render their candid reflections and evaluations of the Imperial family, people such as other family relatives, members of the British General staff, King George V of England, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and many others.

Lastly, from the emics viewpoint [inside perspective], the reader will discover that the old Bolshevik fabricaion that the Niki Romanov family were lasy, and cruel, and rolling in endless wealth was simply that: a blatant lie. The truth is that the Romanovs were compelled by STATE Customs to maintain SOME vestiges of Royal look and appearances. Do be aware that the monthly allowance of the Imperial children was only about 9 Am dollars/5 British pounds sterling in 2006 money! The children had to wear their clothes until the garments were either worn out or were outgrown. Add to this, the children had to make their own rooms and take care of their own domestic needs. And they had to keep busy, as well as study their school homework as assiduously as possible.

Read about the love and devotion between the parents and their children and also get a perspective from the minds of the children themselves. They were simply wonderful children, sometimes humorous and even rollicking, but always sincere and admirable. This book is what academicians call Sine Qua Non---absolutely indespensible. And it is FUN to read. The reader also will find that all of the letters, memoirs, and correspondence are in Chronological order. It is an absolute JOY to read and it is sheer revelation for those who are willing to be honest casual readers or honest scholars. The BEST!

I was captivated by the letters written between members of the royal family and their diary excerpts. It was enlightening to read how they felt while such momentous occurrences were transpiring within Russia during that time period. The authors did a good job of selection which cannot have been an easy decision given the vast amount of material which must have survived the revolution. I wish there had been more photographs of the family in the book, but that would be my only criticism. I would highly recommend the book for enthusiasts, but warn the uninitiated, that without a background and an intense interest in the Romanovs, the going could be tedious.

This is the best Romanov book I have ever read!!! It gives you all of Nicholas and Alexandra's letters and I can understand now how much in love they really were. It begins with their first meeting, when Alexandra was 12 and Nicholas 16, and ends with their execution. I loved it but it just makes me sad thinking about two people who were very much in love, were executed. I highly recommend this book to all Romanov fans!

The story of the Romanov FAMILY is what matters here - & it's put together so well that you can't help but keep reading. Rather than just giving the reader a bunch of historical facts, the author includes letters not only between Nicholas & Alexandra, but also those of the extended family throughout their reign. I was constantly amazed by the insight (or lack thereof) of the entire family. The juxtaposition of the letters between family members & the reports submitted by those who deposed the family was excellent & provided for a very well-rounded inside look at what was actually happening during Nicholas' reign.

This was a great book to read. I found it really amazing that you could take the hundreds of love letters that Nicholas and Alexandra exchanged and make them into such a complete, understandable story. You read their letters and you can clearly tell that they were in love. Each letter plays a special role in how the whole story is set up. This book is a true original, never before has this tragic story been told through the eyes of the people who actually lived it. Not only do you get an insight into the story through Nicholas and Alexandra, but also through their four beautiful daughters and their son Alexei.There are also many letters from several other Romanov family members as well. You will like this book, it's almost like you are in those archives in Russia reading their actual diaries and love letters.

An exquisite compendium of letters-- love letters, pleading letters, funny
letters-- all bursting with passion and a vivid depiction of a way of life
long-gone. Anyone with an interest not only in Nicholas and Alexandra, but
in the family of royals that reigned over turn-of-the-century Europe, and
in the politics of the Russian revolution, will not be able to put this
600+ page book down. As the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia were closely
related to nearly every ruling house in Europe, this is a must-read for all
royalty/history buffs. -- Diane Jones Randall