The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal by MESA POTAMOS PUBLICATIONS

The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal Reviews

• 
  Mimi

  When my priest recommended reading the story of a modern saint, he had no idea how resonant it would be as we went through Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha at home. Absolutely sublime, heartbreaking, beautiful story. Using newly translated letters and documents, the Royal Martyrs' story is so relevant to today.
• 
  Celia Östergaard

  Heartbroken. That’s all.
  
  ---------------------------
  
  Now I have the time to finally sit down and write a somewhat review of this book. I've been studying the Romanovs since I was fourteen. I intend to continue with history at university, where I hopefully can become a professor. Russian history has a special place in my heart, which is why I'm currently writing my own book about the Romanovs. No family in the world has such a tragic and painful history on their shoulders.
  
  What was so absolutely amazing about this book was all of the new information. I think I own every single book there is about them, I've seen every documentary (yes, even those in Russian) and I can tell you exactly what they ate for breakfast on the 16th July 1918. All of this, and this book still managed to teach me more. It contains documents that earlier have been secret information, and letters never before published.
  History books can, in my opinion, sometimes be boring. This? No. I couldn't stop reading. This is how history books should be written! Exciting, fresh, fun and interesting. I will read this again, mark my words.
  
  One downside of this book, and the only downside, was the perfectly detailed description of the night of the murder. I've studied them for FOUR years, yet I was surprised by the absolute satanic work those soldiers took out on the poor children who suffered the most. The fact that the twenty minute long slaughter was finished by killing little Alexei, Russia's future, is both symbolic, but also terribly cruel. I have no words. I don't even know what to write because I'm still in pain.
  
  Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, Alexei... I'm sorry. Sorry for everything you had to go through. May your innocent souls rest in peace.
• 
  Elissa

  This book is a treasure.
• 
  Alenka of Bohemia

  This book offers yet another view of the Romanovs, their personalities, decisions and influence on the Russian history (as well as guilt/innocence). Naturally one needs to take into account that this ais a book by deeply religious Orthodox Christians about other deeply religious Orthodox Christians and the faith and its importance for the last Imperial family is the underlying theme for this whole book. The writing flows very naturally, and even though at times I thought the book was way too apologetic in regards to Nicholas and his share of blame on the minefield of events between 1894-1917, it does make one consider those events from a perspective rarely explored by historians (who in general tend to be snarky and smart-ass, if not outright damning). Finally, one has to admit this publication is simply beautiful. Richly illustrated with black and white photos and a bunch of coloured ones near the very end as well.
• 
  Stephanie

  What a beautiful life of faith, gentleness, and love the royal family led. I was thoroughly captivated by this story of their pious lives even though I knew the end. Heartbreaking and inspiring.
• 
  Nicholas

  Very much looking forward to the english translation of this new book!
• 
  Leigh

  I have read a lot of Romanov books and I'm sure like many others I didn't think anything new could possibly be added to their story. This book promised something new, something different and so I decided to give it a chance. It does offer a new look at things and turns a lot of what was once thought to be established narrative on its head. From the events of Bloody Sunday, to Russia's involvement in the first world war, Rasputin's involvement in politics even Alexandra and her control over Nicholas and reliance on Rasputin, all are examined. And it really shouldn't have been a big surprise but a lot of what's been long believed was the work of clever propaganda, whether from the Soviets or the Germans. So I'd definitely recommend for anyone looking for a new look and reexamining of old long established events, and also for the many photographs some not seen. The back of the book contains several colourized beautiful pictures.
• 
  Bonsai

  It has "martyrs" right in the title and is written and published by a monastery, and yet somehow I managed to be surprised by the fact that this is a hagiography. Duh. And I mean downright blatant hagiography. I've been reading about the imperial family for 20+ years and somehow never realized they were flawless!
  
  Anyway.
  Some of the info here has never been published in English before, but aside from that very little of it is truly new. Amateur translations of many passages from Russian and French sources appeared on the Alexander Palace discussion forum a decade ago. It's nice to have more professional translations, but $40 plus shipping for a paperback? Ouch.
  
  If you want to venerate the Romanovs, then by all means this is the book for you. Otherwise, pass. If I had it to do over again, I'd keep my money.
• 
  Jack Clare

  This is one of the greatest biographies ever written. St Tsar Nicholas, pray for us!
• 
  Lorena

  Fascinating and melancholic.
• 
  Charles

  A book that just might well be all things to all people. On one hand a new substantive history of the lives of the Last Tzar of Russia and his family. It is filled with up-to-date sources, some of them new at the time of this books publishing. As a history it paints a view of the last royal family of Russia that is while favorable, not overly so, showing their human weakness. On the other hand, to the eyes on an Orthodox reader this is a pious hagiography which shows why the Royal Family are Saints and Martyrs in the Orthodox Church. It is possible the two readers will value different things from the same pages while not seeing the others prospective. While walking this tight rope the book is filled with pictures including a 56page full color insert. The book is well referenced and written with an eye for maintaining its historical sources. For history lovers and the faithful alike this a unique work you will not want to miss.
• 
  Antonio Papadourakis

  Και όμως, ο τίτλος κυριολεκτεί! Πρόκειται για την αγιογραφία του Αγίου Νικολάου Ρομανόφ και των 6 αγίων συγγενών του (οι υπόλοιποι 4 που εκτελέσθηκαν μαζί τους δεν λογίζονται άγιοι αφού δεν έχουν τα ιερά γονίδια....) που αντί να σκοτώσουν τον δράκο όπως ο Άγιος Γεώργιος, θανατώθηκαν από τον δράκο του μπολσεβικισμού.... Ειδικά το (σύντομο) κεφάλαιο που αναφέρεται στη ματωμένη Κυριακή του 1905 στην προσπάθεια του να αποσείσει τις ευθύνες από τους αγίους είναι κατάπτυστο!
  Το μόνο αξιόλογο του βιβλίου η καλή εικονογράφηση και η ρέουσα γλώσσα.
• 
  Kathryn Douglas

  This book was fascinating. I’ve been obsessed with the Romanovs since I was young and my obsession was rekindled this past year. I received this book for Christmas per my request and I am so very glad that I did. It presented a ton of new information. The way it was written made it feel like I wasn’t even reading history. My one objection was that some parts of the book were doused in “fact” that was supposed to be a sign from “god”. How can you prove historical fact and prove that it’s from god? That’s just something I don’t get, but most of the book was simply splendid.
• 
  Zosi

  Absolutely beautiful.
• 
  Marissa Menn

  I absolutely adore this book.
• 
  Alan Barratt

  The lives and murder of the last of the Russian Tzars