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The Romanov Sisters

the Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra
Apr 13, 2017gloryjb rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Rappaport certainly has done a tremendous amount of research to write this book as shown by her long bibliography and many unobtrusive footnotes. It would be interesting to also read those eye-witness accounts from close Romanov household staff published in the 1920's that Rappaport lists among the books she used to write her biography of the 4 Grand Duchesses. Rappaport has a sympathetic view towards the girls who often are nursemaids to their mother and brother and, later, to wounded soldiers. Rappaport describes the lives of each of the girls from their birth to their death, giving information about their personalities, their daily routines, their past times/entertainment, their abilities, education, clothes, etc. I was astonished to read that later educators thought the children had not had a good education as their knowledge was so limited. I enjoyed reading about their crushes on the young officers protecting them and the advances of princes for their hands in marriage. I was also astonished to read how easily the girls adapted to the different living situations in their last year, accepting their confinement as fate. Their mother comes across as an invalid after the birth of her son, her duty of child bearing finally being finished. I ended up not liking their mother with her various unattractive personality traits, her control of the family, and her strong belief in the Romanov's family's right to rule. However, Rappaport successfully portrays a tight knit loving family picture, each relying on the other for company. It seems most unfortunate that the family couldn't escape those terrible times.