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Rating: 
Summary: Great Read
Review: I read this book twice in the 1980s. It is truly fascinating. Its one of those books that completely draws you in. By the time I finished it, I was convinced without a shadow of a doubt that Anna Anderson was indeed Anastasia. I was so convinced that when DNA tests were done in the early 90s and experts declared that Ms. Anderson was not Anastasia, I thought it had to be a mistake. I still find it hard to believe that it was not her. She knew things that only someone inside the Romanov family inner circle would know. If Anna was not Anastasia she even managed to fool an old childhood friend of Anastasia.The woman was either psychic, lucky and an incredible actress, or she was the real deal and the DNA tests were a crock.
Rating: 
Summary: what a remarkable story!
Review: Kurth's satifsying book on Anna Anderson indeed leaves one puzzled in light of the subsequent DNA testing. I read this book before the tests were made, found it convincing, and still do. It seems that a more interesting question than whether this woman was the Grand Duchess Anastasia, is the question of why an obscure Polish woman would undertake a life of overwhelming suffering by claiming to be whom she apparently was not, since, whatever the truth, this affair was more than a charade performed by a charlatan. There remains a mystical element deep within the mystery of Anna Anderson, one which I suspect DNA testing is incapable of addressing. Kurth's exposition of his subject is well done, if a bit over-engaged. His love for the mystery of this woman over the mystery of her identity, for the recovery of the lost, and an almost fin-de-siecle ministering to the Romanov legend, makes the discourse a little florid in spots. But the prose is generally kempt, Kurth has a genuine intelligence, and the story is a captivating one. Kurth's humility in face of the declarations of science is admirable and makes one the more sympathetic, and baffled, by the outcome. This is a first-rate read, however, and I suspect history has not entirely played out the story of Anna-Anastasia.
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.
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