NICHOLAS II: THE LAST OF THE TSARS by Princess Catherine Radziwill-1931 hardback

Description: NICHOLAS II: The Last of the Tsarsby PRINCESS CATHERINE RADZIWILLPublished by Cassell and Company Ltd.; London: 1931FROM A SMOKE-FREE HOME Here we have a hardback book with a mylar cover--(but this is NOT a Library book) --that measures 9.75" x 5.25" and has 319 pages. Here is another book from this author about the Romanovs. This one was written rather late in the author's life (1931) and benefitted from available information about the more recent and tumultuous events of Imperial Russia--WWI, the Russian Revolution and the last days of the Romanovs. I've purchased several of the author's books, under this name and two other pseudonyms. She was an extremely resilient and independent woman, especially for her time. Thanks to TomFolio.com., I give you a few highlights of her life. Born in Russia in 1858, she was married at 15 to Prince Wilhelm Radziwill and moved to Berlin to live among the huge Radziwill family. Reading between the lines, I gather her marriage was not a success. She published her first book in 1884 Under the name Count Paul Vasili "Berlin Society." The people about whom she wrote were thoroughly outraged: the rest of Europe was greatly entertained. In the next few years this was followed by similar treatments for London, Paris, Rome, Vienna and Madrid. All was not well in the Radziwill household. In the 1890s her much-older-husband took their daughters away under the care of an aunt to arrange for "suitable" marriages for them. In 1906 she was divorced from Prince Wilhelm. She continued writing, probably out of necessity. Divorce proceedings and the revolution lost her all of her holdings in Russia and left her essentially broke. From 1917 on, she spent the rest of her life in New York, writing more books, several Magazine articles, and making a little money in office work. In 1941 she died of a heart attack at the age of 83. I'm sure many people enjoyed her books--and she did write a lot of them. However, I don't think her contemporaries would consider her an historian. Most of the famous people about which she wrote were known to her primarily by reputation and by others in her circle. For example, she may have been present at one of the large European Royal functions, but not as an intimate or confidante. And after 1906 her entre to the larger functions would have been barred due to her divorce. So, her subjects may not be as black or as white as they may appear to be. But enjoy the read. She is a good writer, just don't believe all that she says unless she gives you the facts to back it up.Condition: The pages of this book are in excellent condition for its age--almost 100-years old. It's a clean copy except for a prior owner's name and a bookplate on the frontispiece and the back of the front cover. You will also see here the taping of the mylar cover which is now yellowed with age. (Please see Pic #3.) The pages are free of rips, writing and folds. The binding is a little loose, but it is still intact and there are no loose of missing pages. The book's covers show a little wear at the corners and quite a bit of wear at the lower spine edge. Given the age of this book, I think you will be pleased with its condition, but please take a look at the pix and judge for yourself. THIS BOOK WILL BE WRAPPED AND BOXED FOR SHIPPING.I'm slowly starting to part with some of my history/biography (mostly royalty) of England, Russia and some European countries from the period 2nd half of the 19th century thru the Russian Revolution. I got more taken with the period, than with the book I thought I would write. Now that I am in down-sizing mode, a lot of these books must go. So, if this period (and it does cover a lot of ground) is of interest to you, please check back with me in the weeks (and probably months) to come. Many of the books that I bought were used and not expensive, so I'll be bundling a lot of them in order not to be at this forever. Shipping will be via USPS Media Mail. Thanks for checking out my listing.

Price: 35.95 USD

Location: Afton, Virginia

End Time: 2024-12-01T15:11:54.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD