While I won't take back my negative points on the review of Robert Alexander's The Kitchen Boy, I have to say, with this second of his books, he has absolutely, totally and completely redeemed himself in my eyes. THIS book is everything I wanted in a historical fiction, and more. Number #95 for the year (five left! Five left in 17 days! I have hope!) is The Romanov Bride.
Alexander tells the story of the beautiful Elizabeth Romanov, called "Ella" by her family and friends, a minor German princess who marries Sergei Romanov, the uncle of Tsar Nicholas II. Born and raised by her mother to have a special care for the poor and ill, Ella is unable to shake her compassionate feelings, even managing to feel pity and love for her tyrranical husband as he rules her and the people of Moscow with an iron fist. But when Sergei is assassinated by a revolutionary's bomb, Ella's life is transformed. Juxtaposed with Ella's story is that of Pavel, a poor Russian worker whose revolutionary ideas are fueled by his hatred and grief over the senseless murder of his young wife on Bloody Sunday. Pavel is determined to bring down the House of Romanov, no matter what the cost. But his interaction will Ella will, unwillingly, change his life.
This book is splendid, exactly what I love about historical fiction. There's a fascinating historical figure -- Ella -- and an original character invented by the author to cause a counterpoint -- Pavel. I'm not usually a fan of multiple points of view in a novel, but the two characters are so strikingly different, and both really contribute so much to the tale. Here we see the Russian Revolution from both sides -- the monarchist (Ella) and the communist (Pavel).
Ella is a lovely character -- there is nothing to hate about her, in fiction or in truth. There is a reason why she was later canonized as a saint in the Russian-Orthodox Church, yet for all her saintliness and humility Alexander still manages to make her human. Pavel is definitely relate-able -- his heartbreak, followed by rage and lust for revenge are all too well understood in this day and age.
This book is wonderful. My only regret -- that one of the children that Ella and Sergei "adopts", Dmitri, is never fully explained. This book contains many references to Grigori Rasputin and his part in the fall of the Russian Empire, and Dmitri was one of his murderers. Alexander never fleshes out this little tidbit of information, which mystifies me, for I'm sure he discovered it during his thorough research. Still, nonetheless, amazing work.
Rating: **** and 1/2
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