Status
Available
Series
Publication
New York : Random House, 1995.
Description
Biography & Autobiography. History. Nonfiction. HTML: "Masterful.". "Riveting . . . unfolds like a detective story.". "An admirable scientific thriller.". "Compelling . . . a fascinating account.". "A masterpiece of investigative reporting.". HTML: In July 1991, nine skeletons were exhumed from a shallow mass grave near Ekaterinburg, Siberia, a few miles from the infamous cellar room where the last tsar and his family had been murdered seventy-three years before. But were these the bones of the Romanovs? And if these were their remains, where were the bones of the two younger Romanovs supposedly murdered with the rest of the family? Was Anna Anderson, celebrated for more than sixty years in newspapers, books, and film, really Grand Duchess Anastasia? The Romanovs provides the answers, describing in suspenseful detail the dramatic efforts to discover the truth. Pulitzer Prize winner Robert K. Massie presents a colorful panorama of contemporary characters, illuminating the major scientific dispute between Russian experts and a team of Americans, whose findings, along with those of DNA scientists from Russia, America, and Great Britain, all contributed to solving one of the great mysteries of the twentieth century..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Whisper1
Written in 1995, at the time of publication, only nine of the eleven bodies of the Romanov family and their servants were found. In 2007, the bodies of young Alexei and his sister Maria were discovered.
Massie is the author of the classic, well-documented and meticulously researched book Nicholas
The plan to kill the Romanovs was hastily pulled together. Hours before the murders, some of the appointed guards could not follow through when they learned that women and children would be killed.
The execution and disposal of the bodies was macabrely gruesome. On July 17, 1918 the Romanovs, their dog, the family doctor and three servants were ushered into the basement of House of Special Purpose.
They went quietly, assuming that they were moved because the approaching White army might save them. Sadly, eight days later, the White army broke through, too late to rescue them from horrific, violent death ordered by the Bolsheviks.
While Russian bureaucracy still denies a direct link to Lenin in orchestrating the killings, most likely Lenin did indeed pull the strings that orchestrated the murders.
Masse's book follows the trail of the discovery of the nine bodies through DNA testing, giving comprehensive detail regarding the location and state of the bodies.
Clearly, the Romanovs were shot, mutilated, burned and doused with sulfuric acid. The disposal of the bodies was as botched as the killing, originally buried in shallow graves, the bodies were burned and then re buried.
While Masse's book plods along with gruesome details, and some chapters seem redundant, I recommend this book for those interested in the fate of The Romanovs and the political treachery of the Russian communist government.
Massie is the author of the classic, well-documented and meticulously researched book Nicholas
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and Alexandra. Obviously, still interested in the fate of Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra and their five children, Massie, tenaciously pursued the details surrounding the discovery of the remains in a wooded, secluded area of Ekaterinburg.The plan to kill the Romanovs was hastily pulled together. Hours before the murders, some of the appointed guards could not follow through when they learned that women and children would be killed.
The execution and disposal of the bodies was macabrely gruesome. On July 17, 1918 the Romanovs, their dog, the family doctor and three servants were ushered into the basement of House of Special Purpose.
They went quietly, assuming that they were moved because the approaching White army might save them. Sadly, eight days later, the White army broke through, too late to rescue them from horrific, violent death ordered by the Bolsheviks.
While Russian bureaucracy still denies a direct link to Lenin in orchestrating the killings, most likely Lenin did indeed pull the strings that orchestrated the murders.
Masse's book follows the trail of the discovery of the nine bodies through DNA testing, giving comprehensive detail regarding the location and state of the bodies.
Clearly, the Romanovs were shot, mutilated, burned and doused with sulfuric acid. The disposal of the bodies was as botched as the killing, originally buried in shallow graves, the bodies were burned and then re buried.
While Masse's book plods along with gruesome details, and some chapters seem redundant, I recommend this book for those interested in the fate of The Romanovs and the political treachery of the Russian communist government.
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LibraryThing member MerryMary
A comprehensive study of the fate of the last royal family of Russia - the Romanovs. The story of the family's murder and the concealment of the bodies was fascinating. The story of the discovery of the bodies and the forensics of their identification was fascinating. What was not fascinating was
Soviet bureaucracy would seem to be a given in this situation, but the worst offenders were the Western scientists, the TV mogul who wanted an exclusive, and the various branches of the family. Parts of the story really got bogged down and frustrating as various parties argued about who had authority over the bodies, who should do the DNA testing, who should pay for what, who should report to whom...it seemed endless.
The book also contains two really interesting examinations; of the numerous impostors of the royal family, and the surviving members of the Romanov family and their various ambitions concerning the Russian throne.
The book was written in 1995, before the discovery of the bodies of Alexis and the last sister, most likely Anastasia.
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the endless politics, in-fighting, posturing and delaying that went on during the identification phase. Soviet bureaucracy would seem to be a given in this situation, but the worst offenders were the Western scientists, the TV mogul who wanted an exclusive, and the various branches of the family. Parts of the story really got bogged down and frustrating as various parties argued about who had authority over the bodies, who should do the DNA testing, who should pay for what, who should report to whom...it seemed endless.
The book also contains two really interesting examinations; of the numerous impostors of the royal family, and the surviving members of the Romanov family and their various ambitions concerning the Russian throne.
The book was written in 1995, before the discovery of the bodies of Alexis and the last sister, most likely Anastasia.
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LibraryThing member corgidog2
Very interesting for those still wanting to know more about the last days of the Romanov family of Russia, their murders and their grave.
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Interesting stuff - just goes to show that no matter how "scientifically" something is done, there is always someone who will say that there is a conspiracy. Interesting history
LibraryThing member aelizabethj
This seems to go hand in hand with Massie's biography of Nicholas and Alexandra. I seriously am just gorging on the Romanov tragedy recently, so this was the perfect followup to Nicholas and Alexandra, almost an epilogue of sorts. The only thing I will say is, this was first published in 1995/1996,
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and two of the Romanov children's skeletons were still missing - since then, everyone has been found and accounted for, and I'd love to have that reflected in the book. Otherwise, fascinating as always. Show Less
LibraryThing member anneearney
I loved some parts of this book, while others were so-so, at least for my tastes. I liked: the Romanov's final days, their deaths, the mystery surrounding the burial of their bodies, the DNA research to determine whose bones they had, and the interviews with the surviving Romanovs. Liked less: the
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discussion of the pretenders, especially the going on and on about Anna Anderson, and the DNA research to disprove her identity. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I'm glad it wasn't any longer. Show Less
LibraryThing member adpaton
The question of what became of the Romanovs was one the most popular mysteries of the 20th Century, giving rise to any number of fraudulent pretenders, some of whom were mad and others who were determined to get their hands on the mythical millions which the Royal family allegedly sent to the Bank
Massie paints a stark and realistic picture of the murder, and uses various sources to describe what was done to the bodies and the disinformation put out by the fledgling Soviet government: that the family was dead there was little doubt, but until the bodies were found and identified there would always be a smidgeon of doubt - the smidgeon that gave rise to dozens of imposters.
More than 20 years after writing Nicholas and Alexandra, Massie revisited the state of play in the Romanov saga: he details the story of how the bodies were found in 1991, the process of identification using DNA and other methods, the problems within the Russian Orthodox Church at home and abroad, and the various branches of the Romanov family competing for the title of Pretender to the Throne of all the Russias.
The story is exciting as any novel and the writing is a page-turning delight: unfortunately, as I discovered too late, the book was published in 1995 leaving 20 years of history and a myriad questions unexamined. The mystery of the where-abouts of two of the Royal children, the mystery of the missing Grand-Duchess, the mystery of the kissing suitcase, the issue of the funeral - issues left hanging because, in 1995, there were no answers.
The Romanovs: The Final Chapter is like reading a really good thriller, only to find the titular final chapter is missing. By the way, I should add I read the book deep into the countryside, many hours away from access to Google and the answers: possibly I may have been less irked by the age of the book had I immediate internet access and could find the answers as I read.
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of England during the war. Massie paints a stark and realistic picture of the murder, and uses various sources to describe what was done to the bodies and the disinformation put out by the fledgling Soviet government: that the family was dead there was little doubt, but until the bodies were found and identified there would always be a smidgeon of doubt - the smidgeon that gave rise to dozens of imposters.
More than 20 years after writing Nicholas and Alexandra, Massie revisited the state of play in the Romanov saga: he details the story of how the bodies were found in 1991, the process of identification using DNA and other methods, the problems within the Russian Orthodox Church at home and abroad, and the various branches of the Romanov family competing for the title of Pretender to the Throne of all the Russias.
The story is exciting as any novel and the writing is a page-turning delight: unfortunately, as I discovered too late, the book was published in 1995 leaving 20 years of history and a myriad questions unexamined. The mystery of the where-abouts of two of the Royal children, the mystery of the missing Grand-Duchess, the mystery of the kissing suitcase, the issue of the funeral - issues left hanging because, in 1995, there were no answers.
The Romanovs: The Final Chapter is like reading a really good thriller, only to find the titular final chapter is missing. By the way, I should add I read the book deep into the countryside, many hours away from access to Google and the answers: possibly I may have been less irked by the age of the book had I immediate internet access and could find the answers as I read.
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LibraryThing member EricCostello
The problem you have in reading this book is that it's very depressing; almost literally no one looks good in this narrative. Massie discusses the murder of the Russian Imperial Family in 1918, what happened to the bodies, early efforts in the Soviet period to recover the bodies, the formal effort
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to recover and scientifically identify the bodies, and further efforts to identify whether "Anna Anderson" was truly the Grand Duchess Anastasia. The sheer amount of selfishness, squabbling, small-mindedness, greed and in general foul behaviour that permeates the book during all of these events leaves a horrible taste in your mouth. The book is also slightly outdated (at least the edition I read), since the two "missing" bodies of the Czarevitch and one of the daughters turned up some years later. For Russian history mavens only, I'm afraid. Show Less
LibraryThing member mahallett
too long. some parts really interesting about the tsar and family. less interesting about the Romanov families who escaped and the false impersonators.
LibraryThing member dara85
I enjoyed the first part about the bones and the DNA. The first part about Anna Anderson was interesting, but went on too long. She was a nasty, quarrelsome, mentally unstable individual. The chapter about the living Romanovs I could have lived without. The very last chapter showing the journal of
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the the Tsarina was interesting. Show Less