Anastasia : The Riddle of Anna Anderson

Rating:
Summary: The book was great, But...
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. Ever since I saw the animated film and the old 1956 movie, Anastasia, I have been interested in the whole mystery. Peter Kurth wrote a great book and did good research but I don't believe that Anna Anderson was really Anastasia. First of all I must say Anna Anderson looks NOTHING like Anastasia, and I wonder why everyone says she does. I see NO resemblence what so ever. Also the DNA proves that Anna Anderson was not even related to the Romanov family and that should count for something, I mean it is only DNA! On top of all that don't you think that the Bolshvik soldiers would be more responsible and make sure that the ENTIRE family was dead, after going through the trouble to murder them. It would be nice if Anastasia had survived but it just isn't realistic.

Rating:
Summary: Silly...
Review: Im not going to devote more than a day to the theories behind the survival of members of the Romanov family. Naturally its fascinating to imagine scenarios about the escape of either Alexei or Anastasia, members of the richest and most powerful family in the world and/or pawns of a political struggle of the highest global degree. I do tend to believe that something sinister was going on in and around the Ipatiev house way then, because any descendant of that family would be a very valuable comodity indeed, but how could I possibly know? Are the DNA tests conclusive, or have they been tampered with? Im surprised that anybody can be so certain (no matter what stand you take), considering proof is little, and we all get third (or fourth, or who knows) hand information. I just read on some website (created by someone with quite an obsession on the subject) that Alexei was not a haemophiliac (im sure this could be disproved though). I suppose Id say I stand 60-40 in favor of NOT all the Romanovs being shot in the house at Ekaterinburg, but possibly thats only because some of the theories behind an escape sound very plausible.
In any case, I suppose we all wont be satisfied untill its discovered THAT THE ROMANOV FAMILY WAS SAVED BY VISITING ALIENS.
still, if anybody has some interesting opinion of bit of info id be interested in hearing about it.

Rating:
Summary: A Grand Book for a Grand Duchess!
Review: It was a great pleasure for me to read Peter Kurth's book. I have read most of the books written about the Anna Anderson/Anastasia affair and I find Mr. Kurth's book to be the best due to the extensive amount of research he has performed. Although the DNA "evidence" has concluded that Anna Anderson Manahan was a polish factory worker...I still believe that she was indeed Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicolaevna Romanov. I would highly recommend Peter Kurth's book to anyone interested in this subject because it provides an opportunity to learn about all of the other overwhelming evidence in Mrs. Manahan's favor that contradicts the DNA results.

Rating:
Summary: The only thing proving she isn't Anastasia is the DNA
Review: Kurth starts out with Anna Anderson in Berlin, where she attempts suicide and then follows her all the way up through to her life in Charlottesville, my version of the book also has an afterwards about her death and the eventually DNA results. He then goes on to explain all of the information and mannerisms which many people believed distinguished her as the Grand Duchess Anastasia. I won't go into all the different details since so many reviewers before me already have, but all I have to say is that if she isn't Anastasia, I find it amazing that she was capable of fooling members of the royal families who knew her personally, and childhood friends.

Whether or not I believe Anna Andersons claim, well honestly, I'm not sure whether I do or not. If there was only the evidence of her knowledge to go by, then yes I would absolutely believe her, there's just to many things she has an intimate knowledge of to make it all a mere coincidence. I can't imagine how a poor Polish factory worker would be able to speak German and English, and understand Russian, or have such an air of royalty which all who met her agreed she was in possession of. Also, there would be no way for her to gain knowledge of all that she knew, personally conversations she had with childhood friends, events which would only be important to the Imperial family, and the secret visit of the Duke of Hesse in 1916, among many other facts. DNA evidence makes it impossible however to believe it truly is her, because DNA simply doesn't lie, so unless they were testing the wrong person (which many fanatics believe is true) there's no way she could be the Grand Duchess, so unfortunately I'm left unable to believe. Of course there's the third option that Anastasias spirit jumped into Anna Andersons body, which would explain her knowledge and mannerisms, this is however quite far fetched, and unbelievable.

Overall I found this book fascinating and feeling deeply for Anastasia, or whoever this woman is, Kurth clearly believes Anna Anderson is the Grand Duchess and presents his information in a biased way, but I don't believe this negatively impacts this book in any way. Hopefully one day this mystery will be solved, until then however we'll be left wondering who this woman is, and if she isn't Anastasia, how she got all of this intimate knowledge of the family.


Rating:
Summary: Fabulous detective work..
Review: Kurth's book is a splendid account of the odd, beguiling and unique character that was Anna Anderson. The book, drawing from many unpublished sources, explains in detail the enthralling story of Anna's pathetic and tragic life. He details how recent DNA evidence is wrong by poking serious holes in the theory that Anna was the missing Polish factory worker Franziska Shantkovska. A wonderfull book and the best biography (with the exception of:Anastasia Survivor of Ekaterinburg by Harriet Von Kielmann-Rathlef 1929) on Anna to date.

Rating:
Summary: DNA test prove that Anna Anderson was NOT Anastasia
Review: Mr. Kurth's book has been out for some years now, so there is little that can be added at this point except that he did a marvelous job in presenting Anna Anderson's story to the world. This work is so thorough, in fact, that it convinced many non-believers that she was truly Grand Duchess Anastasia. In my opinion, the facts presented here far outweigh the dubious DNA tests that supposedly proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Anna was not Anastasia.

Firstly, IMHO, the DNA studies were used to try and hide the fact that Anastasia survived. The reasons behind this lie in the political realm, and this is not the forum to address these issues. However, time after time, Kurth provides us with information from and about Anna that only someone who actually lived through the life and times of the royal family would know. Although she made some errors (memory fails us all at times), it's the small details, such as Anna being overheard humming one of Anastasia's favorite tunes, that really strike the reader as having a great deal of validity. The fact that her Aunt Olga retracted her view about Anna's authenticity hints at family pressure, rather then a change in the belief that this was her niece.

Kurth's writing style is always interesting, and for those who are truly intrigued by this woman and the possible survival of one of the Grand Duchesses (and there are incidents beyond the scope of Kurth's work that also point to this very real possibility), the book is a must read. I found it hard to put down. I read it twice--once before the DNA results were made known and then again after it was announced that she was not the Grand Duchess. The evidence provided by Kurth far outweighs the results of tests that could be easily manipulated.

To sum up--Anna Anderson simply "knew too much". Even if coached, the wealth of her knowledge would have been impossible for a simple working class girl to learn from even the greatest of teachers. I hope Mr. Kurth was not swayed from his previous beliefs, for he has presented in this work some of the best evidence for this woman who lived through the glory of Imperial Russia and the living hell that followed.

Rating:
Summary: She Knew Too Much
Review: Mr. Kurth's book has been out for some years now, so there is little that can be added at this point except that he did a marvelous job in presenting Anna Anderson's story to the world. This work is so thorough, in fact, that it convinced many non-believers that she was truly Grand Duchess Anastasia. In my opinion, the facts presented here far outweigh the dubious DNA tests that supposedly proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Anna was not Anastasia.

Firstly, IMHO, the DNA studies were used to try and hide the fact that Anastasia survived. The reasons behind this lie in the political realm, and this is not the forum to address these issues. However, time after time, Kurth provides us with information from and about Anna that only someone who actually lived through the life and times of the royal family would know. Although she made some errors (memory fails us all at times), it's the small details, such as Anna being overheard humming one of Anastasia's favorite tunes, that really strike the reader as having a great deal of validity. The fact that her Aunt Olga retracted her view about Anna's authenticity hints at family pressure, rather then a change in the belief that this was her niece.

Kurth's writing style is always interesting, and for those who are truly intrigued by this woman and the possible survival of one of the Grand Duchesses (and there are incidents beyond the scope of Kurth's work that also point to this very real possibility), the book is a must read. I found it hard to put down. I read it twice--once before the DNA results were made known and then again after it was announced that she was not the Grand Duchess. The evidence provided by Kurth far outweighs the results of tests that could be easily manipulated.

To sum up--Anna Anderson simply "knew too much". Even if coached, the wealth of her knowledge would have been impossible for a simple working class girl to learn from even the greatest of teachers. I hope Mr. Kurth was not swayed from his previous beliefs, for he has presented in this work some of the best evidence for this woman who lived through the glory of Imperial Russia and the living hell that followed.

Rating:
Summary: a great actress or a grand duchess?
Review: The first 20 pages of Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Andersen are very interesting and make you want to keep reading. But Kurth is obiviously on a follower of Anna because instead of writing a true non-fiction (instead of stating facts) he has to find situations that prove Anna Andersen is Anastasia; expecially in the first trial chapter where he stresses that the judge was being unfair; which made him sound like a child whining (but, but. . .) Even with these small annoyances, the book was very enjoyable altogether.

Rating:
Summary: Decide for yourself....................................
Review: There are many people who still believe that Anna Anderson was indeed the Grand Duchess Anastasia. This book can provide you with many of the reasons why, if you decide to read it. If you are prepared to think outside the box, and if you are prepared to imagine possibilities that DNA can't tell you about, then this book will amaze you. But if you are a believer in the DNA results proving that Anna was not Anastasia, then I dare you to read it.

This book is well written and even better documented. It follows the life of Anna Anderson from her suicide attempt in Berlin....to her last days in the U.S. I won't go into evidence, which may make a believer out of you, but I can tell you that there's plenty of it! I started this book believing that there was very little chance that the young Grand Duchess could have possibly survived the murder............but I wound up believing that perhaps pride, prejudice, and greed in people can sometimes overshadow the genuine spirit of another.

This book is certainly well worth reading. This story is vivid and Kurth tells it in such a way that you can see the places and people right before your eyes. This is not only the story of a lost woman trying to find her place, but it's the story of displaced people trying to make new lives for themselves after the chaos of WW1 and the Russian Revolution.

Did I read this book because I'm a Romanov fan? Sure, but that's not the reason why I love it. There's something in this book for everyone - there's adventure, comedy, tragedy, love, hate, power, greed, understanding, misunderstanding, - all of the things that encompass the human spirit. I suppose whether you believe or don't believe Anna Anderson was Anastasia doesn't really matter............... What matters is that this woman, despite her faults, was a fascinating and complex person, worthy of such a great biography.



Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL
Review: This book will have you wondering about the mystery long after you finish reading it. Do I believe in Mr. Kurth's story? You can call me the biggest idiot that has ever walked this earth but my answer is a simple three letter word...YES. I have 31 books and counting on the Romanov's and their lives and this one is one of my favorites. Why? Or more importantly, why do I still believe? Read the book and have an open mind. You will find the answers there. There has been so much talk over the results of the DNA. Everyone calling Anna Anderson a liar, an actress or even much worse. My question is, how can anyone just pick up memories and never be wrong? What about a deformity of the feet? The hair, height, eyes? What about the ears? Ears are like fingerprints. They are very distinct with each person and they never change. I could go on and on about the positives as they far out way the negatives. What about the burial in Russia? The body they have buried as Anastasia is 5 feet seven inches. Anastasia was just over 5 feet. Anyone looking at any Romanov photo can clearly see that she was by far the shortest of all of the daughters. I think if Russia can lie about who is buried in their own homeland, then perhaps someone else can lie about the DNA evidence. Read the book and come to your own conclusion.