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A review by lisztaffe
The Romanovs: 1613-1918 by Simon Sebag Montefiore
2.0
The beginning comparing the first and last moments of the dynasty was probably the best bit of writing and definitely got my hopes up. But alas, the book really suffered from too much focus on the “scandalous” bits. Certainly some of it might be relevant but the very sensationalist manner of describing every character got really tiresome.
People aren’t “nymphomaniacs” for enjoying sex, for example, nor should homo- and bisexuality be so very shocking to us by this point.
The focus on those things really distracted from an otherwise very interesting and at times even deeply moving book.
I did also notice a few mistakes in minor relations of Romanovs to each other. Granted in such a numerous family it’s obviously not easy to keep everyone straight, but hey, that’s what you sign up for.
People aren’t “nymphomaniacs” for enjoying sex, for example, nor should homo- and bisexuality be so very shocking to us by this point.
The focus on those things really distracted from an otherwise very interesting and at times even deeply moving book.
I did also notice a few mistakes in minor relations of Romanovs to each other. Granted in such a numerous family it’s obviously not easy to keep everyone straight, but hey, that’s what you sign up for.