The Romanov Bride by Robert Alexander
Title: The Romanov Bride by Robert Alexander
Pages: 320
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary (off Goodreads): As the Russia of Nicholas and Alexandra rushes toward catastrophe, the Grand Duchess Elisavyeta is ensconced in the lavish and magnificent Romanov court. In the same city, but worlds apart, Pavel is a simple village man in search of a better life. When his young wife, Shura, is shot and killed by tsarist soldiers during a political demonstration, Pavel dedicates his life to overthrowing the Romanovs. Pavel's underground group assassinates Elisavyeta's husband, the grand duke, changing her life forever.
Grief-stricken, the grand duchess gives up her wealth and becomes a nun dedicated to the poor people of Russia. When revolution finally sweeps in, Elisavyeta is the last Romanov captured, ripped from her abbey in the middle of the night and shuttled to Siberia. It is here, in a distant wood on a moonlit night, that Pavel is left to decide her fate.
I absolutely love Robert Alexander. He has come out with three books, all centered on the fall of the Romanov family, and each one has been nothing but a pleasure to read. While The Kitchen Boy still holds the number one place in my heart, The Romanov Bride was a compelling, emotional story.
I think that this point in history is one of the most tragic. Not just because of the fate that befell anyone who was even mildly related to the Romanov family, but because in reality, it all could have been avoided. It is so easy for the outside viewer to see the points where everything went wrong, the things that caused life in Russia to spin completely out of control.
The Romanov Bride switches back and forth between Pavel's story (a high ranking revolutionary) and Grand Duchess Elisavyeta (or Ella, for short), Alexandra's sister. It was a brilliant move on R. Alexander's part because it gave the reader the ability to see both sides of the story. Both people were trying to create a better Russia, they were just going about it in two different ways. Pavel turned to the revolution after his wife was shot it what was supposed to be a peaceful political march. This is our first real example of the miscommunication and social gap between the royal family and the peasant. Grand Duke Sergei, Ella's husband, heard of the march and sent soldiers, thinking the masses meant to murder the Tsar. From Pavel's point of view, you realize it was meant to be a peaceful march of people who loved their Tsar and wanted only to tell him of their troubles. After Pavel's wife was killed, he turned into an avid revolutionist.
I wish there had been more of Pavel's point of view in the book. Though the book is set up that it's him telling another man (who we find out is a priest) about the story, about his life. However, we don't really get to be inside Pavel's head that often. When we do get there, it's almost heartbreaking. The death of his wife (who was pregnant) destroys him. He wants nothing but to bring down the royal family because he genuinely believes that they are what is keeping Russia poor. He believes it's their fault that Russia and her people are constantly hungry. He thinks that the more politicians and Romanov's that he kills, the better Russia will be. As the reader, while you know the logic is generally incorrect, you can't help but want to join him, to want to give Pavel his better Russia.
However, Alexander then skillfully switches to Ella's point of view. You realize that SHE genuinely believes that Nicholas was put there by God to govern his people and that opposing him is wrong. She believes that Russia will fall into turmoil if he is removed from the throne. She believed that, yes, something had to change, a constitution made, the people given more rights but with the Tsar ruling over all. Even after Pavel's people kill her husband, she still strongly believes that, believes that Russia can recover but Nicholas has to remain Tsar.
We see a lot of Ella's goodwill, a generosity that is almost daunting. After her husband's brutal assassination, she remains strong. She gathers the pieces of his mutilated body and gives him a proper burial. After his death, she opens a convent that has a hospital, orphanage and home for the poor. You see her interact with the peasants of Russia, people who come to love her because they begin to realize that maybe all royalty isn't greedy. At one point, a man's wife is in the hospital, a woman who eventually dies. Ella cares for her, even in her last hours, never leaving the woman's side despite the hostile looks and words that her husband has for Ella. Ella offers church services for the woman and even pays for the funeral. The man, in support of the revolution, says to her, "If I had met a royal like you, I would have never joined the revolution." They're powerful words, vividly showing us the social gap between the common man and his ruler. Both think the most horrible things of the other, never realizing that they both want the same thing. Ella loved her adopted home with a ferocity you rarely see. It hurt her to know that the place she loved, the people she loved, thought her a spy and a traitor.
Eventually, after the first World War breaks out and things fall into near ruin, the revolution succeeds. The Tsar is overthrown and the government taken over by the revolutionaries. While Ella does remain in her Abbey for most of this, eventually she is arrested, simply because she is a part of the Romanov family. She is brought to a mineshaft in the middle of the night, beaten and then tossed into a shaft, twenty meters deep. Pavel is the one to do the deed. However, he has had time to talk to this woman, this woman whose he almost killed once before, this woman whose husband he helped to kill. He tells her about his life and she tells him about her own.
The final scene in this book is easily the most powerful. We realize that Pavel has actually been telling this story to a priest, confessing. We also realize that he's in a Russian concentration camp, mere minutes from being executed. The Russia that he worked so hard to achieve was a farce. It was nothing he expected it to be and, what is worse, this new Russia cares little for its people. He murdered so many, including Ella, a kind woman who dearly loved Russia and its people. He does not believe himself worthy for forgiveness but, the father tells him that it's not his call. It ends with Pavel being shot, falling dead into a hole, still hoping for a better Russia.
This book was powerful and moving, just as all of Alexander's books have been. He utilized point of view well, which surprised me. Usually, view changes are not done well but this one is masterful, highlighting how these two vastly different people are really so incredibly similar. I recommend the book to anyone who enjoys this time period or just genuinely enjoys moving (though sad) stories.
Books so far this year: 22/75
Currently Reading: The Sweet and Far thing by Libba Bray and Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
You can read this review and all others at im_writing and my Goodreads account.