The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna
C W Gortner
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna
C W Gortner
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
It descends into the infamous tragedy that befell the imperial family. But The Romanov Empress isn’t a sob-fest; rather, it’s a lush character study of Maria Feodorovna and the fatally flawed life she cherishes to her dying breath.
His ability to weave what reads as a simple tale from such complex historical and familial storylines is impressive. With historical fiction, particularly an era so flush with royals and revolutionaries, there is a danger in getting lost in details and shortchanging character development. Happily, Gortner avoids that trap.
Maria is fairly good-hearted, but forget about her checking her privilege. According to her, the czar and imperial family were ordained to rule by God. There is no scene in the book more heartbreaking or queasily funny than when Cossacks break into Maria’s bedroom in the middle of the night, and she reminds them that she’s the dowager empress—though by then, it hardly matters. The imperial downfall has already begun.
Through the voice of Maria, Gortner succeeds in adding a new perspective to the well-known story of Nicholas, Alexandra, and Rasputin. As a sister, wife, mother, and empress, she is a fierce and dynamic narrator.
I was captivated by the first half of this novel and I loved watching Maria come into her own as Russia’s empress. Her relationship with Sasha is quite lovely to behold, especially once they realize they actually do love one another. Unfortunately, I found myself beginning to lose interest about midway through the story.
Though many are familiar with the story of Nicholas and Alexandra and their doomed children, Gortner...shines a rose-tinted fictional spotlight on Empress Maria Feodorovna.
Politics and war form the backdrop of a story more closely focused on court gossip, family tensions, and the arrogance and isolation that led the Romanovs to their doom. 'We existed in a dream,' Maria reflects, 'enclosed in our lacquered splendor.' A briskly narrated tale of power and revolution..
...mesmerizing.