Rating: 
Summary: Robert K. Massie's books are wonderful reads
Review: Another well-written book by Robert K. Massie about the Romanov family and their tragic fate. The book begins at the death of the romanovs and explaining in great detail their death, and how their bodys were hidden for so many years. It present's evidence about people claiming to be the romanovs themself - even one of the most famous - Anna Anderson. It points out both sides to those who do and do not believe she was Anastasia Romanov. I myself do not velieve that she was due to the evidence this book presents - DNA, and how her story does not hold up at all. This is a wonderful book!Check out Nicholas & Alexandra, Anastasia'a Album, and the Last Tsar as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Final Chapter - good history
Review: I first read 'Nicholas and Alexandra' in 1987 on a sick day from school. I loved it immediately and it began for me a lifelong interest in Russian Imperial history. I now have many books on the subject, but this is still one of the best, and it could also be considered the sequel to 'Nicholas and Alexandra.' It starts by describing how the grave was found, how it was excavated, what was done to the bones in the coroner's office in Ekaterinburg where they were stored. It describes the purely idiotic way that the team that eventually identified whose bodies they were were chosen (in such a way as to seriously offend the goverment of the US). Apparently the Russian team thinks that the missing daughter's body is Maria Nikolaievna, the American team thinks it's Anastasia Nikolaievna. (In 1918, a couple of days after the grisly execution, Yurovsky determined that two of the bodies, Alexei and his mother, should be dug up and burnt. Anastasia's body was burnt by mistake instead of her mother's. Decomposition had bloated the body to appear as that of a middle-aged woman.) Then the book describes how Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed since 1920 to be HIH Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaievna, was, once and for all, identified as the woman she was accused of being back in the '30s. Then it goes on to talk about the current Romanov family, and the current pretender to the non-existant Russian throne. It is a must-have for any Russian Imperial history buff, and should be at least mildly interesting to people who like history.
Rating:
Summary: Appropriate afterword for "Nicholas and Alexandra"
Review: I'm guessing that most people buying "The Romanovs: The Final Chapter" have already read Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra" (first published in 1967) but if you haven't, I highly recommend it as "The Romanov's" is basically a final update to the family's tragic tale. Also, Massie's first book on Russia's last Tsar will make this book more personal to the reader as one gets a sentimental appreciation of who Nicholas and his family were from "Nicholas and Alexandra."
This book is far different than Massie's other historical epics as he takes on the role of an investigative journalist rather than a historian. Massie is on the front-lines, from DNA labs to court rooms, searching for a final answer as to whose skeletons were unearthed by an Ekaterinburg resident in the late 70's.
Massie leaves the reader with a plethora of factual information that all but ends one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century. Using DNA tests, Massie proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Russia's royal family and servants are the ones that were buried beneath the road outside Ekaterinburg. He also proves beyond a reasonable doubt, that Anna Anderson, who was the 20th century's greatest con artist, was not Anastasia, Tsarevna of Russia, but a mere Polish peasant.
With all the crime solving, the book at times gets bogged down into quotes, lengthy (but pertinent) explanations of scientific facts and petty arguments between scientists and lawyers, which limits Massie's masterful writing-style to a minimum. After reading all his books, the only sections that come close to capturing his colorful and accomplished style of prose are the first and last chapters.
That said, I'm very glad Massie was the one to tell the Tsar's final story and I highly recommend it to any reader of "Nicholas and Alexandra." Here's a few items of note: - A previous reviewer said that Massie does not explain what happened to the last two bodies, presumably of Alexei and either Anastasia or Marie, but in fact, Massie does with quotes of Yurovsky's writings on page 31 and again on page 68. By burning the two bodies and spreading the ashes and embers around, their remains were not preserved like the remaining nine bodies by being entombed in clay, so the final two missing family members in all likelihood will never be found. Another reviewer wished they had a family tree to keep the Romanovs straight. In my edition of "Nicholas and Alexandra", there is a family tree that shows all of Nicholas II's brothers and sister and one could make a photo copy from that book and add in all the nephews, nieces, cousins, etc. - Also, since this book was published in 1995, a few things have happened in Russia regarding the Romanovs. On July 17, 1998, Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra, three of their children and four family servants were buried in the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg. The Russian Orthodox Church still questions the legitimacy of the bones as being the Tsar but the church did partake in the funeral march and burial. In a poll taken at the time, only 47 percent of Russians believed they remains were of Nicholas II and his family. And in 2001, the Dowager Empress Marie Fedorovna, was exhumed in Denmark and reburied alongside her husband, Tsar Alexander III, in the same cathedral.
Rating:
Summary: Robert K. Massie's books are the best
Review: I'm guessing that most people buying "The Romanovs: The Final Chapter" have already read Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra" (first published in 1967) but if you haven't, I highly recommend it as "The Romanov's" is basically a final update to the family's tragic tale. Also, Massie's first book on Russia's last Tsar will make this book more personal to the reader as one gets a sentimental appreciation of who Nicholas and his family were from "Nicholas and Alexandra."
This book is far different than Massie's other historical epics as he takes on the role of an investigative journalist rather than a historian. Massie is on the front-lines, from DNA labs to court rooms, searching for a final answer as to whose skeletons were unearthed by an Ekaterinburg resident in the late 70's.
Massie leaves the reader with a plethora of factual information that all but ends one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century. Using DNA tests, Massie proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Russia's royal family and servants are the ones that were buried beneath the road outside Ekaterinburg. He also proves beyond a reasonable doubt, that Anna Anderson, who was the 20th century's greatest con artist, was not Anastasia, Tsarevna of Russia, but a mere Polish peasant.
With all the crime solving, the book at times gets bogged down into quotes, lengthy (but pertinent) explanations of scientific facts and petty arguments between scientists and lawyers, which limits Massie's masterful writing-style to a minimum. After reading all his books, the only sections that come close to capturing his colorful and accomplished style of prose are the first and last chapters.
That said, I'm very glad Massie was the one to tell the Tsar's final story and I highly recommend it to any reader of "Nicholas and Alexandra." Here's a few items of note: - A previous reviewer said that Massie does not explain what happened to the last two bodies, presumably of Alexei and either Anastasia or Marie, but in fact, Massie does with quotes of Yurovsky's writings on page 31 and again on page 68. By burning the two bodies and spreading the ashes and embers around, their remains were not preserved like the remaining nine bodies by being entombed in clay, so the final two missing family members in all likelihood will never be found. Another reviewer wished they had a family tree to keep the Romanovs straight. In my edition of "Nicholas and Alexandra", there is a family tree that shows all of Nicholas II's brothers and sister and one could make a photo copy from that book and add in all the nephews, nieces, cousins, etc. - Also, since this book was published in 1995, a few things have happened in Russia regarding the Romanovs. On July 17, 1998, Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra, three of their children and four family servants were buried in the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg. The Russian Orthodox Church still questions the legitimacy of the bones as being the Tsar but the church did partake in the funeral march and burial. In a poll taken at the time, only 47 percent of Russians believed they remains were of Nicholas II and his family. And in 2001, the Dowager Empress Marie Fedorovna, was exhumed in Denmark and reburied alongside her husband, Tsar Alexander III, in the same cathedral.
Rating:
Summary: Technical and yet easy to read, a compelling true story
Review: Massie relates two fascinating stories: the first involves finding the remains of the family of Russia's last Czar, and the second recounts the assertion of Anna Andersen to be the Czar's youngest daughter, Anastasia. In order to find the remains, layers of lies and bureaucracy must be untangled. Once unearthed, the task of identifying the bodies becomes a test of both science and diplomacy. The question of whether Anastasia survived the Russian Revolution proves to be fiercely debated. Personalities from all over the globe are involved in the discussion. Massie relates the various positions in an even-handed fashion and brings compelling scientific evidence to bear. The final chapter of the Romanovs proves that non-fiction can be more spellbinding than fiction. A must-read for anyone interested in Russia, forensic science, or well-crafted non-fiction. I liked Massie's _Nicholas and Alexandra_, but I LOVED this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Romanovs
Review: Massie wrote an excellent and very detail book on the quest to find and identify the last Romanovs. The book began with the finding and identification of the bones and then went into the Anna Anderson mystery. Massie is a great writer which he nonetheless proved in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Nobody does the Romanovs better than Massie
Review: Nicholas and Alexandra is the definitive book about the last rulers of Russia, and Robert Massie's The Romanov's: The Final Chapter is a fitting sequel to this venerable book. N & A ends with the execution of Nicholas and his family, but we discover in The Final Chapter that much has happened since the original was published in 1967. Lots of new information has become available due to perestroika, the fall of the Soviet Union, the opning of many long-sealed records and archives, and a renewed interest in the monarchy. All of these changes make us realize that there are many more chapters to the Romanov story, and this book is filled with mystery, tragedy, science, bickering, intrique, and above all, a profound sadness. We read about the discovery of the Romanov remains and how and why this was kept secret for so long. We learn about the DNA testing to determine the authenticity of the remains and the subsequent fighting over that. Of course, there is the problem of the two missing skeletons and the controversy this causes. We are introduced to a number of Romanov imposters including Anna Anderson. We learn about the fates of the true surviving Romanov's and their battle over who should be claimant to the throne. We also are informed of the destruction of the Ipatiev House by Brezhnev so that it wouldn't become a monarchist shrine. And finally, we hear about the rumors of a vast Romanov fortune that is supposed to be in foreign banks and has never been found. Since this book has been published, the Romanov remains have finally been reburied in St. Petersburg. But even this could not be accomplished without the bickering of the surviving Romanov's (as characterized in The Final Chapter). Some of them even boycotted the event. It is not always a pretty story. The Final Chapter is also filled with fascinating tidbits of information. For instance, Prince Philip (husband of Queen Elizabeth) provided blood samples for DNA analysis as his grandmother was the Empress Alexandra's older sister. All in all, this is a fabulous book! Those who expect this to be a boring, dry history will be pleasantly surprised. No author has told the Romanov story with as much style, passion and completeness as Robert Massie. It is no wonder that the story of Nicholas and Alexandra refuses to die, and why new generations of readers become enthralled with this tragic story--even 85 years after their deaths.
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Summary: The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert K. Massie
Review: Robert K Massie is a marvellous historian. Anyone who has read "Dreadnought" which concerns the lead up to World War I would probably concur. It is a master epic of naval history. "The Romanovs: The Final Chapter" is a very different book to "Dreadnought". It seems to be a means of cashing in on the current interest in European aristocracy and the ongoing mystique of whether Anastasia Romanov died with her parents and siblings in Ekaterinburg in 1918 at the hands of the Bolsheviks. However, while being a very different style of book, it is also a much less readable and significant piece of history. The reader seems to be on an endless journey through the minutiae of the Russian royal family and all the crackpots who claim a part of their heritage. It is not a read that is pleasant or easy to follow. I am unable to recommend this book to other readers. The Romanovs are no longer of any modern day relevance. This book, if it has one redeeming feature, is to confirm their irrelevance.
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Summary: The Romanovs....... come home
Review: Robert Massie wrote the book Nicholas and Alexandra years before the fall of the Soviet Union. Now that he has had access to more information, he continues the story to it's end. Since this is an area of history that has always fascinated me, I was anxious to read this book. It seems as if it had to have happened much longer than the short span of time that has passed since the Romanov family was executed. They lived in an unreal world, isolated from the events surrounding them. Massie does another excellent job of writing what could be a very dry, detail oriented book so that it is enjoyable to read, and leaves no stone unturned.
Rating:
Summary: Robert K. Massie's books are the best
Review: The Romanovs: The Final Chapter is an excellent book. It is written in great detail and begins with the death of the last Imperial family of Russia. I recommend reading Nicholas & Alexandra and then this if you are just begining to learn and read about them. Nicholas & Alexandra begins a little bit before Nicholas II took the throne and continues with their personal and political lives. The Romanovs: The Final Chapter provides scientific evidence to back up what you are reading. It is a detailed look at the death of the Romanovs, the finding of their bodys in the 70s, the refinding of their bodys in 1991, and the famous Anna Anderson theory. It doesn't provide an explantion to who Anna Anderson really was, but it provides facts to make your own conclusion (mine - Anna Anderson is not the Grand Duchess Anastasia). The Romanovs: The Final Chapter & Nicholand and Alexandra are seriously the two best books to read about the Romanovs. Also, the movie (based on the book) Nicholas and Alexandra is a wonderful movie. I recommend all of these for anyone who is new at learning of the last Imperial family, or who has read tons of books and wants more information.
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