Romanov Daily Life and Artefacts – Page 9

August 17, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY AND VOLTAIRE

The article below was translated from Russian by Helen Azar.

French philosopher François-Marie Arouet, or Voltaire.

Note from the translator:

When I first showed up at the Tsarskoe Selo Rare Book Fond for my library school internship, I found out that they just made an amazing discovery: two previously unidentified books from the vast collection of books once owned by the famous French philosopher, François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire. At this time, it was thought that all of Voltaire’s books, which were brought to Russia by Empress Catherine the Great upon his death, were accounted for, and thousands of his marginalia had been transcribed and published. But it seemed that two of these books slipped through the proverbial cracks. Voltaire’s handwriting in the marginalia of these two books, held for years in The Rare Book Fond at the Tsarskoe Selo Museum. Somehow no one recognized them for what they were, for all these years. Read more ROMANOV FAMILY AND VOLTAIRE

August 17, 2015Helen Azar 2 Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY AND THE CAMERA

ROMANOV FAMILY AND THE CAMERA

All members of the Romanov family were avid photographers. Luckily for us, because they left behind hundred upon hundreds of photographs! They often mentioned photographs in their diaries and letters, as well as one of their favorite past times: “pasting” their photographs into albums. Read more ROMANOV FAMILY AND THE CAMERA

OLGA ROMANOV AND DANCING

Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna dancing with an officer aboard imperial yacht. — Grand Duchess Olga Romanov dancing with an officer aboard imperial yacht.

From the diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna: (more…)

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August 14, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY HAVING FUN

Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov playing a game of "the bushes" with officers on the Dnepr in 1916. Photo credit: ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 82 об. фото 1242 — Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov playing a game with officers on the Dnepr in 1916. Photo credit: ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 82 об. фото 1242

During the war years when no balls or court entertainments were allowed to take place, and life was a series of solemn events, the Romanov sisters managed to find various ways to brighten their dutiful days as well as those of others. Read more ROMANOV FAMILY HAVING FUN

August 13, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

THE ROMANOV FAMILY AND TENNIS

Tennis anyone?

The Romanov family loved to play tennis. They mention it throughout their letters and diaries constantly. In Grand Duchess Olga’s 1913 diary alone, she mentions “tennis” a whopping 100 times! Read more THE ROMANOV FAMILY AND TENNIS

August 13, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

GRAND DUCHESS OLGA’S CAT

In keeping with the Romanov family pet theme, I would like to dedicate his own page to Grand Duchess Olga’s cat Vaska. From Grand Duchess Anastasia’s letter to her “Papa” Nicholas II:

“31 October, 1916. Tsarskoe Selo. My dear Papa Darling! Well it is again my turn to write to you… Forgive me that I’m writing so violently, but this quill scratches terribly and nothing comes out… We continue playing billiards a bit at our infirmary, sometimes it turns out well – and then I’m happy… Right now Olga’s cat is running around here, I think he grew and is rather cute… Well now, my dear Papa! I send you and Aleksei a 1000 awfully big kisses, may God be with you. Your loving loyal and faithful Kaspiyetz [sic].”