The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
1. Bibliography
Fleming, Candace. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2014.
ISBN: 978-0375867828
2. Plot Summary
Flemming tells the fascinating tale of the fall of Russia and the circumstances leading up to the mysterious fall and end of Tsar Nicholas and his family and the rise of Communist Russia
3. Critical Analysis
Fleming does a phenomenal job of telling the multifaceted story of Tsar Nicholas and his wife Alexandra and their four daughters Olga, Tatiana, Marie, Anastasia and treasured son Alexei. Although the story of pre-World War I Russia and the birth of communism could read as boring or dry, Flemings writings are anything but dry. The Family Romanov reads as a storybook unfolding before the reader’s eyes. Her use of first-hand accounts, dialogue, pictures, and historical information make this an incredibly gripping read.
Accuracy: Fleming includes a multitude of family photos that correlate nicely with the reading and the timeline. Fleming includes all of her primary and general sources in the back of the book with an author’s note. She also includes a family tree, an index, and a map of the Russian Empire. Also interesting to note, Fleming includes a list of suggested resources for readers who would like to know more about the Family Romanov and Russia.
Organization: The book is organized chronologically and each chapter has a creative and relevant title. At the beginning of the book, there is an explanation of Russian royal terminology, a map of the empire, and the Romanov royal family tree (including notes about who is a hemophilia carrier). Dispersed throughout the chapters, several first-hand accounts and journal entries appear from various people. Family photos and photos of life in Russia also appear through the book. Particularly startling, a graphic of the breakdown of the social classes in Russia is included with the pictures. At the end of the book, the reader can find author’s notes, suggested additional readings, source lists, and an index.
Design: The pages of the book are thoughtfully laid out nicely to include and distinguish between a wide variety of information, pictures, photographs, and first-hand accounts.
Style: Fleming is an incredibly talented writer, one who has the ability to make a fascinating story come alive in such a way that the reader forgets they’re reading a nonfiction book. As the School Library Journal says, “Reading [The Family Romanov] is like eating peanuts. Once you start you won’t stop.”
4. Review Excerpts
From School Library Journal: “Peppering each section are primary source accounts detailing the destitute lives of common peasants, tellingly juxtaposed against the conspicuous wealth of the Romanovs. A superb work of history that will be devoured like fiction.”
From Publishers Weekly: “Fleming’s fulsome portraits of Nicholas and Alexandra, along with her depiction of their devoted relationship, highlight the role their personalities played in their downfall, as well as that of their beloved country. A wonderful introduction to this era in Russian history…”
From The Horn Book: “The epic, sweeping narrative seamlessly incorporates scholarly authority, primary sources, appropriate historical speculation, and a keen eye for the most telling details. Moreover, the juxtaposition of the supremely privileged lifestyle of Russian nobility with the meager subsistence of peasants, factory workers, and soldiers creates a narrative tension that builds toward the horrifying climax.”
5. Connections
Other books about Russia and The Romanov Family
The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra
By Helen Rappaport
ISBN: 978-1250067456
Romanov: The Last Tsarist Dynasty
By Michael W Simmons
ISBN: 978-0147510723
Also by Candace Fleming
Giant Squid
By Candace Fleming and Eric Rohman
ISBN: 978-1596435995
The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum
By Candace Fleming
ISBN: 978-0375841972
Students could read this book while studying World War I or communism. Students could create a family tree and a timeline of causes and events. Finally, for more advanced students, Students could read this nonfiction book in conjunction with studying DNA or forensic science and DNA.
Fleming, Candace. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2014.
ISBN: 978-0375867828
2. Plot Summary
Flemming tells the fascinating tale of the fall of Russia and the circumstances leading up to the mysterious fall and end of Tsar Nicholas and his family and the rise of Communist Russia
3. Critical Analysis
Fleming does a phenomenal job of telling the multifaceted story of Tsar Nicholas and his wife Alexandra and their four daughters Olga, Tatiana, Marie, Anastasia and treasured son Alexei. Although the story of pre-World War I Russia and the birth of communism could read as boring or dry, Flemings writings are anything but dry. The Family Romanov reads as a storybook unfolding before the reader’s eyes. Her use of first-hand accounts, dialogue, pictures, and historical information make this an incredibly gripping read.
Accuracy: Fleming includes a multitude of family photos that correlate nicely with the reading and the timeline. Fleming includes all of her primary and general sources in the back of the book with an author’s note. She also includes a family tree, an index, and a map of the Russian Empire. Also interesting to note, Fleming includes a list of suggested resources for readers who would like to know more about the Family Romanov and Russia.
Organization: The book is organized chronologically and each chapter has a creative and relevant title. At the beginning of the book, there is an explanation of Russian royal terminology, a map of the empire, and the Romanov royal family tree (including notes about who is a hemophilia carrier). Dispersed throughout the chapters, several first-hand accounts and journal entries appear from various people. Family photos and photos of life in Russia also appear through the book. Particularly startling, a graphic of the breakdown of the social classes in Russia is included with the pictures. At the end of the book, the reader can find author’s notes, suggested additional readings, source lists, and an index.
Design: The pages of the book are thoughtfully laid out nicely to include and distinguish between a wide variety of information, pictures, photographs, and first-hand accounts.
Style: Fleming is an incredibly talented writer, one who has the ability to make a fascinating story come alive in such a way that the reader forgets they’re reading a nonfiction book. As the School Library Journal says, “Reading [The Family Romanov] is like eating peanuts. Once you start you won’t stop.”
4. Review Excerpts
From School Library Journal: “Peppering each section are primary source accounts detailing the destitute lives of common peasants, tellingly juxtaposed against the conspicuous wealth of the Romanovs. A superb work of history that will be devoured like fiction.”
From Publishers Weekly: “Fleming’s fulsome portraits of Nicholas and Alexandra, along with her depiction of their devoted relationship, highlight the role their personalities played in their downfall, as well as that of their beloved country. A wonderful introduction to this era in Russian history…”
From The Horn Book: “The epic, sweeping narrative seamlessly incorporates scholarly authority, primary sources, appropriate historical speculation, and a keen eye for the most telling details. Moreover, the juxtaposition of the supremely privileged lifestyle of Russian nobility with the meager subsistence of peasants, factory workers, and soldiers creates a narrative tension that builds toward the horrifying climax.”
5. Connections
Other books about Russia and The Romanov Family
The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra
By Helen Rappaport
ISBN: 978-1250067456
Romanov: The Last Tsarist Dynasty
By Michael W Simmons
ISBN: 978-0147510723
Also by Candace Fleming
Giant Squid
By Candace Fleming and Eric Rohman
ISBN: 978-1596435995
The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum
By Candace Fleming
ISBN: 978-0375841972
Students could read this book while studying World War I or communism. Students could create a family tree and a timeline of causes and events. Finally, for more advanced students, Students could read this nonfiction book in conjunction with studying DNA or forensic science and DNA.
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