The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia (Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (Awards)) Kindle Edition

The novel The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming portrays the events in life of the final Russian Tsar in perfect detail. It shows the internal struggle between royal family and people they ruled. The change in Tsar Nicholas is shown in the finest detail as he is propelled through the First World War and the October Revolution. This change is shown in his daily diary entries where you read that he struggles with his own insecurities and indecision along with his lack of faith in himself. He struggles with communicating with the common folk and their struggles passed unbeknownst to him as shown in the quote,”In 1903—the same year as Nicholas’s costume ball—four out of every five Russians were peasants. And yet the upper classes knew next to nothing about them. They didn’t visit the peasants’ villages or deal with the hired laborers who worked their estates. Instead, they remained comfortably ensconced in luxurious St. Petersburg. From there it was easy to romanticize the peasants’ life. Most nobility (Nicholas and Alexandra included) envisioned peasants living in simple yet cozy huts, their ‘cheeks glowing with good health’ and their teeth ‘whiter than the purest ivory,’ gushed one Russian writer… Nothing was further from the truth. Most peasants had never slept in a proper bed, owned a pair of leather shoes, eaten off a china plate, or been examined by a doctor. Most had never been beyond the borders of their villages.”(Fleming 5.) You meet Nicholas’s regal wife who,”in private with her husband was warm and affectionate… At public ceremony however she became a ‘different individual.’ Because she felt awkward and ill at ease,”(Fleming 30.) As for the common people their story is told through retold first person accounts of the struggles they faced at the time called Beyond The Palace Walls where their struggle during those times is shown to you in vivid detail. It talks about their struggles for food and how they are barely able to survive while Nicholas lives his grandiose lifestyle in his palace. In my personal opinion this novel is an excellent read and probably one of the best nonfiction novels I have ever read. It captures the imagination with its vivid use of detail and evokes from you a sense of pity for both the Royal Family and the peasants they ruled during the times of the Great War and the Revolution. You pity Nicholas for the choices he had to make in order to protect his family and his country until the very end, but it also brings about a sense of hate for the people who bring about his end and the pain they cause the Royals. I would definitely recommend this to a friend simply because it is facts about the First World War and if they already know everything about that then this novel provides a deeper insight into the lives of Russia’s Final Royal Family.

Nicholas II, the last tsar of Russia, never really learned how to be a tsar and never really wanted to be one either. While he preferred to hang out with his little family, his wife, four daughters, and hemophiliac son, rebellion was starting among the common workers of Russia. The Family Romanov discusses Nicholas’s reign, Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution, the Romanov family, and the end of Imperial Russia. Scattered throughout the book are writings by regular Russians showing what life was like under Tsar Nicholas. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the events of that time period.

The Family RomanovThe Family Romanov by Candace Fleming is absolutely a book worth reading. What seems like an ordinary novel is in fact a nonfiction books with true stories and letters incorporated in a way that makes the book extremely interesting to read. The book starts by describing the life of the angry and discontented peasants and factory workers, who at this time make up 98.5 % of Russia, versus the life of the old families whose ancient ancestors once ruled the land. You get to know the Royal family themselves and the secret sickness the new heir Alexi has. After many failed attempts they take help from Rasputin, who seemingly cures the little prince for the time being. This is how Rasputin later gets the power to influence the Royal Family including the Tsar. The Tsar doesn't listen to his advisors but he does listen to his wife Alexandra, who’s ideas mostly come from Rasputin. The poor people of Russia start striking for better treatment, but when this is met by violence from the government they retaliate. Somewhere in the middle of the book the first World War breaks out which causes more people to lose faith in the Tsar. Because they are so discontent and angry at the Tsar, rebel groups get support and end up taking hold of the power and putting the royal family on house arrest. The book ends with the royal family being brutally murdered by the rebels and Lenin taking control. Lenin now introduces Communism and the lives of the Russians’ deteriorate more to their disappointment.

Publisher makes a big deal that it won a couple of prize ratings from who? Fluff that all it is. A better book on the last years of Imperial Russia is In War's Dark Shadow.

Good read. Not overly involved in politics. Just enough to explain the background of Russian royalty in general and specifically the last Romanov royal family. The reader will feel sympathetic about the family yet understand the rage of the Russian people.

This is a really interesting compilation of stories and occurrences that makes the Romanov family's history more understandable

This book details the historical events that were happening on the Romanoff side of history and the historical events that were happening at that same time on Russian peasant side of history. It puts things in perspective and shows you why the Russian Revolution occurred and Romanoff Dynasty collapsed.

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming was a very good non-fiction novel about the fall of Imperial Russia. It did a great job of showing how Tsar Nicholas' actions lead to the spread of communism. I enjoyed the stories about each individual member of the family. I liked learning about Russia's controversial relationship with Rasputin. I think Fleming did a great job of giving the reader just enough information about what was going on all over Russia to provide a better understanding of the events. Just a great book overall and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical non-fiction.

I was very disappointed with this book. I am appalled at the sheer venom the author poured over the Imperial Family, not to mention the glaring misinformation that leapt out in every chapter. Very poorly researched, equally poor writing. I do not recommend this book to any one.

Great info, well written, up to date.

I found this book, more like the true story.and I will keep this book in my libray for the children in our family . Someday some of them might like to know the true story . of them.

Great read!

great,thanks