The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

By: Candace Fleming

Narrated by: Kimberly Farr, Various

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the acclaimed author of Amelia Lost and The Lincolns comes more nonfiction at its very best - and a perfect resource for meeting Common Core standards.

Here is the riveting story of the Russian Revolution as it unfolded. When Russia’s last tsar, Nicholas II, inherited the throne in 1894, he was unprepared to do so. With their four daughters (including Anastasia) and only son, a hemophiliac, Nicholas and his reclusive wife, Alexandra, buried their heads in the sand, living a life of opulence as World War I raged outside their door and political unrest grew.

Deftly maneuvering between the lives of the Romanovs and the plight of Russia’s peasants - and their eventual uprising - Fleming offers up a fascinating portrait, complete with compelling primary-source material that brings it all to life. History doesn’t get more interesting than the story of the Romanovs.

©2014 Candace Fleming (P)2014 Listening Library

Critic Reviews

Kirkus starred review, May 15, 2014:
“A remarkable human story, told with clarity and confidence.”

Publishers Weekly starred review, April 28, 2014:
“A wonderful introduction to this era in Russian history and a great read for those already familiar with it.”


From the Hardcover edition.

Astonishing

this book had me on edge, from me only knowing the cartoon movie about Anastacia and not really knowing the Romanov family history, this book really informed me of the Russian history... I was amazed at the detail of events that happened to this family and how destroyed and destructive Russia was until the fall of the royal family.. I would definitely recommend listening to this book.. even hearing what was written from the diaries of the royal family and other who interacted with them was interesting and touching..

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

I thrilling history lesson.

Sometimes The true history is more interesting than fiction. I enjoyed the suspense as well as the learning. The narrator was mostly average.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Enjoyed the history, detail and her performance.

Would you listen to The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia again? Why?

Yes, I always revisit a good book, movie, play and now audio performance.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia?

The description of peasant life was riveting, also, the details of Rasputin's life, influence on the Romanov family, his murder and the final moments of the family's execution.

Have you listened to any of Kimberly Farr and Various ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

n/a

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great listening

Detail story of Romanov Dynasty describing historical facts of not only daily life of imperial family but many important historical invents at that period of time. Easy to adopt to own knowledge and enjoyable performance of the narrators. Recommending with confidence.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

THE LAST ROYAL FAMILY

Candace Fleming offers an intimate look at the life and death of the last royal family of the Czarist empire. The intimacy of the profile is reinforced by personal letters, contemporary literature, and historical accounts of the 1917 Russian revolution. Fleming reaches back to the beginning of Czar Nicholas’s reign 23 years earlier and ends with the families slaughter in the basement of a house in Yekaterinburg, Russia. East of Moscow and southeast of St. Petersburg.

Fleming offers an interesting and intimate view of the last Czar’s family. It is not laudatory but one comes away from the story feeling that the death of Nicholas and his family, like Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, were the result of changing times; not their ineffective, injudicious rule. They deserved to be dethroned but not murdered.

Money, power, and prestige corrupts all human beings–rich, poor, religious, or secular. Democratic regulation; not autocracy, social justice; not vigilantism, peace; not war are the needs of society.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great book and great read

Author did wonderful job contrasting Romanov family life with political life and against the lives of the peasants. This is a really fun read.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Where is Annastasia

Excellent book. I loved it and couldn't put it down. Very informative and gave me insight into Russian history. Highly recommend

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good introduction to this family

I liked this book. it was a good introduction to the last Tsar and his family. Probably not the in depth history that some might want, but a good starter for a rookie like me.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

terrible narration

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

a decent narrator, it was as if the narrators were telling a story to a bunch of first graders

What was most disappointing about Candace Fleming’s story?

everything

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment in the audio performance

13 of 21 people found this review helpful

Loved it

A very sad story, beautifully told and read. I did not want it to end.

Brought to tears

A wonderfully rounded and eye opening story of the Russian revolution from the Nickolas himself to the very peasants who worked the country side. A good listen for any interested in this interesting and dark piece of history.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great introduction to Russia under Nicolas II

An interesting and informative read. I really enjoyed listening to it. would recommend to anyone wanting to find out more about the revolution, but not wanting to get too bogged down in the political intricacies of the period.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

family circle

I don't think until you hear the story you appreciate the sadness of it all

The Family Romanov

An excellent book. For anyone who is interested in the history of the Romanovs, this book is a must. Historically accurate and well read, I enjoyed every second.