A review by zlibrarian
Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia by Michael Farquhar

4.0

Concise yet vivid accounts of tsarist regimes, unsparingly honest about cruelty, brutality and indifference to the lives of others. The complex political and familial connections within each regime are presented in a way that will jar the memories of readers already familiar with Russian history and pique the curiosity of readers with less familiarity. Good notes at the end of each chapter, and frequent references to other historians and biographers within the text that may inspire readers to seek out other works. The author’s tight storytelling, combined with foreshadowing, give each chapter a sense of increasing foreboding as the inevitable murder of the Romanovs draws near. As a librarian, I’d consider recommending this to students with the advice that they should go on to read some of the source material listed in the bibliography.