Reviews for T︠S︡arstvennye mucheniki v vospominanii︠a︡kh vernopoddannykh

The average rating for T︠S︡arstvennye mucheniki v vospominanii︠a︡kh vernopoddannykh based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-01-01 00:00:00 Lynn Libel I love the last Romanovs so so much. I've read several books on them and wrote a paper on Empress Alexandra for a class last semester, so I've come to learn a great deal about them over time. I am always impressed by their family life and the love they clearly had for each other. This book is the memoirs of the Romanov children's tutor, and reading about his time with the family, World War I, and the Russian revolution from his eyewitness perspective was fascinating but equally heartbreaking. This work in particular gave me a greater understanding of what Alexei and Nicholas were like on a personal level. Additionally, Gilliard's account is a testament to those employed by the royal family, especially those who were dedicated and brave enough to stay by the tsar's side until the very end. Clearly, Gilliard's closeness to the family gives him a bias that does not, perhaps, lend to a particularly well-rounded view of the events he describes. But honestly, who can blame him??? He spent years around the family and weathered some of their greatest trials right alongside them. His argument concerning why the Bolsheviks hurried to dispose of the bodies-- not in fear of the White army, but of the Russian people-- was an interesting perspective. When Nicholas and Alexandra traveled across Russia during World War I, they were met with worshipful subjects and cries of "God Save the Tsar." Gilliard argues that the vast peasant population was, for the most part, removed from much of the revolutionary action. However, one must consider that Gilliard's reasoning, however correct, may have been inspired by his devotion to the tsar and his family. I am constantly and starkly reminded of the Romanov family's humanity as I learn about their individual personalities, how they interacted with each other, and how the responded to the chaos happening around them. Gilliard's memoir captures all of this well.

Review # 2 was written on 2018-09-06 00:00:00 Melanie Garrett A different view of the Romanov family from the tutor of Alexis primarily, I found the book interesting and his opinions compelling if somewhat biased as to the reasons the dynasty fell resulting in the murders of this family. I always thought the Czarina was controlling and very manipulating in her raising of her children,why did her two oldest daughters never marry? They were far older than the normal age for marriage at the time of their death,they had only been allowed to attend two social events, no life at all outside of the immediate family,so sad. The Czarina also isolated the family from the rest of the Romanov’s thus creating even more animosity among the upper classes and then there was Rasputin thrown into the mix. The Czarina was a neurotic woman at best with weak Czar who could /would not oppose her. The book is interesting and it also shows the investigation after the murders as well as the murders of the extended family including the Czarina’s sister. Very good informative book and with the DNA having been done now we know for sure that the entire family was killed in the “house of special purpose”.