Posted on No Comments on ROMANOV FAMILY LETTERS AND POSCARDS ARCHIVE VIDEO

ROMANOV FAMILY LETTERS AND POSCARDS ARCHIVE VIDEO

Beneicke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University has been an invaluable source of primary material for my books. Nothing compares with looking at the original letters and postcards written by the members of the Romanov family themselves! Photographs do not do this experience justice of course, so the last time I was at Beinecke in early July, I decided to make a few videos so I can share a little of the experience with you.

Here is the fist video, I hope you enjoy! Read more ROMANOV FAMILY LETTERS AND POSCARDS ARCHIVE VIDEO

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Posted on 1 Comment on ROMANOV FAMILY PETS

ROMANOV FAMILY PETS

     ROMANOV FAMILY PETS

Grand Duchess Anastasia with her dog Jimmy, Grand Duchess Tatiana with her French bulldog Ortipo, and Tsesarevich Alexei with this spaniel Joy. Only Joy survived the revolution.
Grand Duchess Anastasia with her dog Jimmy, Grand Duchess Tatiana with her French bulldog Ortipo, and Tsesarevich Alexei with this spaniel Joy. Only Joy survived the revolution.

All the members of the Romanov family were animal lovers, and each imperial child had pets: dogs, cats, horses, and even a pet elephant. The children even had a little pet cemetery where they buried their beloved animals, which was located on the Children’s Island in the Alexander Park. They visited it often and brought fresh flowers… Read more ROMANOV FAMILY PETS

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Posted on No Comments on ROMANOV GRAND DUCHESSES: THEIR LOVE OF CHILDREN

ROMANOV GRAND DUCHESSES: THEIR LOVE OF CHILDREN

Grand Duchess Olga Romanov with her little German cousins
Grand Duchess Olga Romanov with her little German cousins

ROMANOV GRAND DUCHESSES: THEIR LOVE OF CHILDREN

All four Romanov grand duchesses loved little children, but Olga and Marie did in particular.

OTMA regularly went to visit the “Nanny school” – a local orphanage – and in Olga’s diaries we often see references to them playing with children, and clearly enjoying this.

It makes one feel very sad indeed to consider that these loving young women never lived to have children of their own. Read more ROMANOV GRAND DUCHESSES: THEIR LOVE OF CHILDREN

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Posted on No Comments on IMPERIAL LIFE IN LIVADIA PRIOR TO THE WAR (1913).

IMPERIAL LIFE IN LIVADIA PRIOR TO THE WAR (1913).

Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia with Empress Alexandra and some officers, in Livadia. Photo credit: ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 2 об. фото 36
Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia with Empress Alexandra and some officers, in Livadia. Photo credit: ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 2 об. фото 36

From Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna’s 1913 diary: Read more IMPERIAL LIFE IN LIVADIA PRIOR TO THE WAR (1913).

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Posted on 1 Comment on OLGA ROMANOV: GRAND DUCHESS IN LOVE (1913 DIARY)

OLGA ROMANOV: GRAND DUCHESS IN LOVE (1913 DIARY)

 

OLGA ROMANOV: GRAND DUCHESS IN LOVE

Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna in Oreanda, Crimea. Photo credit: ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 47 фото 689
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna in Oreanda, Crimea. Photo credit: ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 47 фото 689

From the 1913 diary of Olga Romanov:

“… [We] went to Kharax, returned at 3 o’clock and walked in Oreanda and our Livadia vineyards… Wonderful weather – sunny… [I] walked with Sh. the whole time, and also sat with him at tea, also with S., and again [had] a strange feeling…”

During the year 1913 Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna fell in love with two young officers, in her diary she referred to them as “Sh.” and “S.”. You can read more about them in Olga Romanov’s full 1913 diary in the book below. Read more OLGA ROMANOV: GRAND DUCHESS IN LOVE (1913 DIARY)

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