The Fate of the Romanovs

by Greg King, Penny Wilson

Overview

Abundant, newly discovered sources shatter long-held beliefs

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 revealed, among many other things, a hidden wealth of archival documents relating to the imprisonment and eventual murder of Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their children. Emanating from sources both within and close to the Imperial Family as well as from their captors and executioners, these often-controversial materials have enabled a new and comprehensive examination of one the pivotal events of the twentieth century and the many controversies that surround it.

Based on a careful analysis of more than 500 of these previously unpublished documents, along with numerous newly discovered photos, The Fate of the Romanovs makes compelling revisions to many long-held beliefs about the Romanovs' final months and moments. This powerful account includes:
* Surprising evidence that Anastasia may, indeed, have survived
* Diary entries made by Nicholas and Alexandra during their captivity
* Revelations of how the Romanovs were betrayed by trusted servants
* A reconstruction of daily life among the prisoners at Ipatiev House
* Strong evidence that the Romanovs were not brutalized by their captors
* Statements from admitted participants in the murders

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780471207689
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	09/01/2003
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	672
Product dimensions:	6.46(w) x 9.38(h) x 1.94(d)

About the Author

GREG KING is the author of five previous books. A noted historian on Imperial Russia and the Romanov Dynasty, he is a frequent contributor to television specials in the United States, Canada, and Britain.

PENNY WILSON is a historian who specializes in Russia's late Imperial period. The authors? Web site is thefateoftheromanovs.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword.

Cast of Characters.

Introduction.

Authors’ Note.

1. The Ruin of an Empire.

2. A Traitor to the Revolution.

3. The House of Special Purpose.

4. “It Was Dreadful, What They Did . . .”

5. The Seventy-eight Days.

6. Russia in Chaos.

7. The First to Die.

8. The June Conspiracies.

9. “A Happy Hour with the Grandest People in the World”.

10. The Coming Storm: Enter Yurovsky.

11. Murderous Intentions.

12. Götterdämmerung.

13. The Four Brothers.

14. Aftermath.

15. The Investigations.

16. “Holy Relics of Our Saints”.

17. Unearthing the Past.

18. “An Unknown Grave from the Soviet Period”.

19. Bones of Contention.

20. “It’s All Secret, All Political”.

21. The Secret of Koptyaki Forest.

22. “Drowned in This Mist of Holiness”.

Epilogue.

Appendix 1: Ekaterinburg Guards.

Appendix 2: Inventory of Romanov Possessions in Ekaterinburg.

Appendix 3: The Romanovs’ Jewels.

Acknowledgments.

Notes.

Bibliography.

Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This book is sure to become the standard for which all future books on the Romanovs will be based.... This is historical research at its best. A stunner of a book." —Marlene Eilers, author of Queen Victoria's Descendants and publisher of Royal Book News

Editorial Reviews

The family members of Nicholas II, Russia's last tsar, were executed in July 1918, soon after the Bolshevik Revolution-and the speculation as to what exactly happened hasn't died out during the past 85 years. In this comprehensive volume of one of history's great intrigues, independent scholars King and Wilson stoke the flames of controversy with a creative theory: Lenin and the other Bolshevik rulers in Moscow didn't give the orders to kill the tsar's family, as has been believed. This wasn't out of any sympathy for Nicholas and his family-in fact, the authors point out that Lenin was perhaps the epitome of realpolitik, allowing little emotion in his political decisions. Using an intriguing reading of the Russian archives, the authors argue that Lenin preferred a trial to an execution for fear of antagonizing the Germans, whom he wanted to appease in order to consolidate his own grip on power. Instead, it was local Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg, where the royal family was held, who made the decision to go ahead and execute Nicholas and his family. The executions were blamed on Lenin because it served as a convenient myth for those lamenting the fall of the Romanov dynasty. While the book is somewhat longer than necessary, those fascinated with the case will find it worthwhile. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

…a masterpiece of historical research…” (Good Book Guide, 1st December 2005)

From the Publisher