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Secret Lives of the Tsars
Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia | Michael Farquhar
4 posts | 6 read | 10 to read
Michael Farquhar doesnt write about history the way, say, Doris Kearns Goodwin does. He writes about history the way Doris Kearns Goodwins smart-ass, reprobate kid brother might. I, for one, prefer it.Gene Weingarten, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and Washington Post columnist Scandal! Intrigue! Cossacks! Here the worlds most engaging royal historian chronicles the worlds most fascinating imperial dynasty: the Romanovs, whose three-hundred-year reign was remarkable for its shocking violence, spectacular excess, and unimaginable venality. In this incredibly entertaining history, Michael Farquhar collects the best, most captivating true tales of Romanov iniquity. We meet Catherine the Great, with her endless parade of virile young lovers (none of them of the equine variety); her unhinged son, Paul I, who ordered the bones of one of his mothers paramours dug out of its grave and tossed into a gorge; and Grigori Rasputin, the Mad Monk, whose mesmeric domination of the last of the Romanov tsars helped lead to the monarchys undoing. From Peter the Greats penchant for personally beheading his recalcitrant subjects (he kept the severed head of one of his mistresses pickled in alcohol) to Nicholas and Alexandras brutal demise at the hands of the Bolsheviks, Secret Lives of the Tsars captures all the splendor and infamy that was Imperial Russia. Praise for Secret Lives of the Tsars An accessible, exciting narrative . . . Highly recommended for generalists interested in Russian history and those who enjoy the seamier side of past lives.Library Journal (starred review) An excellent condensed version of Russian history . . . a fine tale of history and scandal . . . sure to please general readers and monarchy buffs alike.Publishers Weekly Tales from the nasty lives of global royalty . . . an easy-reading, lightweight history lesson.Kirkus Reviews Readers of this book may get a sense of why Russians are so tolerant of tyrants like Stalin and Putin. Given their history, it probably seems normal.The Washington Post From the Trade Paperback edition.
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DGRachel
DGRachel
Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia | Michael Farquhar
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Pickpick

While I found some of the language Farquhar uses to describe many of the Romanov rulers objectionable, it is very clear that most of them suffered from developmental disabilities and/or severe mental illness. This book is a gossipy wild ride through 300 years of madness, ineptitude, and dreadful, traumatic parenting. Don‘t expect serious discussion of politics, international relations, or statecraft - this version of history is a train wreck.

49 likes2 stack adds
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DGRachel
DGRachel
Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia | Michael Farquhar
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I saw @MadelineMcCrae review last night and immediately had to see if my library had it. 😂

I should wait until I finish Birnam Wood, but I‘m not enjoying it. I‘ll push through for #CampLitsy23, but I‘m 40% through and it‘s just a slog, so…I think I‘m going to read a bit of unhinged history. I love Romanov history almost as much as I love the Plantagenets.

CoverToCoverGirl The Plantagenets are fascinating. 🙂 2y
RosePressedPages That‘s amazing! I hope you are as baffled while reading it as I was 😆 2y
DGRachel @MadelineMcCrae I‘m only 70 pages into this and OMG. Clearly, the “serious” history I read 30 years ago focused on the wrong things. This book is 🦇💩🤪 2y
RosePressedPages @DGRachel My thoughts exactly 😂 2y
54 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
RosePressedPages
RosePressedPages
Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia | Michael Farquhar
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Pickpick

None of these people were sane. Not. A. Single. One.

dabbe Now THAT looks like a fun book to read! 🤣🤩🤗 2y
RosePressedPages @dabbe It was so much fun to listen to it on the way to work and be continuously baffled every single chapter😂 2y
73 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Simona
Simona
Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia | Michael Farquhar
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Mehso-so

This is my pick for #Nonfiction2019 #SomethingWithPolitics If you are interested in Russian royal dynasty and if you are looking for something light from history field, than I recommend this book. It‘s quick and well informative book about the world of unbelievable power, but some parts were just on the too trashy side ...

tagged users iconRiveted_Reader_Melissa
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I can‘t imagine pushing all that history into 12 hours. That‘s an impressive audiobook! Good job! 5y
ValerieAndBooks I‘ve read some of his other books, so I might like this one too 😂! 5y
Simona It‘s still enough informative if you aren‘t familiar with the Russian court, but it‘s lacking in some deeper analysis of the history... just okay/readable overview. @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @ValerieAndBooks (edited) 5y
55 likes2 stack adds3 comments