Overview

A heart-wrenching, suspenseful look at the downfall of the Russian empire as told through the eyes of the four Romanov sisters. Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. Like the fingers on a hand--first headstrong Olga, then Tatiana the tallest, Maria most hopeful for a ring, and Anastasia the smallest. These are the daughters of Tsar Nicholas II, grand duchesses living a life steeped in tradition and privilege. They are young women each on the brink of starting her own life. The summer of 1914 is that precious last wink of time when they can still be sisters together--who link arms and laugh, sisters who share their dreams and worries, and who flirt with the officers of their imperial yacht. But in a gunshot the future changes--for these sisters and for Russia. As World War I ignites across Europe, political unrest sweeps Russia. First dissent, then disorder, mutiny--and revolution. For Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, the end of their girlhood collides with the end of more than they ever imagined. At the same time hopeful and hopeless, naïve and wise, the voices of these sisters become a chorus singing the final song of this great empire. Impeccably researched and utterly fascinating, acclaimed author Sarah Miller recounts the final days of Imperial Russia.

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9781416983415

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Reviews

The Lost Crown.Miller, Sarah (Author) Jun 2011. 448 p. Atheneum, hardcover, $17.99. (9781416983408). The Russian Grand Duchesses, who were murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918 along with the rest of their family, have become something of a literary mainstay. This thoroughly researched novel brings the four young women to readers in their own voices. In alternating chapters (each with a small photo of the narrator), Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia report on their lives and their relationships and slowly but surely reveal the perilous situation in which they find themselves. Each Grand Duchess comes across as a unique personality, with the best known, Anastasia, the most distinctive. But each girl is given time and space to reveal and reflect, and like the best historical novels, this allows modern-day teens to see parts of themselves in very different people. Sometimes the Russian words and history overwhelm the narrative, but by the heartbreaking book's conclusion, readers will be caught up in the girls' story. A glossary, a note about the Russian calendar, and an affecting epilogue complete the book. -- BOOKLIST , April 15, 2011

As Romanov fiction goes, this is probably the best of the bunch. <p> Helen Rappaport, author of The Last Days of the Romanovs: Tragedy at Ekaterinburg <p>

Author Information

Sarah Miller began writing her first novel when she was ten and has spent half her life working in libraries and bookstores. She is also the author of Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller, which was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and nominated for numerous state award lists. Sarah lives in Michigan with her family. Visit her online at SarahMillerBooks.com.

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