Overview

In 1795, Catherine the Great of Russia was in search of a bride for her grandson Constantine, who stood third in line to her throne. In an eerie echo of her own story, Catherine selected an innocent young German princess, Julie of Saxe-Coburg, aunt of the future Queen Victoria. Though Julie had everything a young bride could wish for, she was alone in a court dominated by an aging empress and riven with rivalries, plotting, and gossip--not to mention her brute of a husband. She longed to leave Russia and her disastrous marriage, but her family in Germany refused to allow her to do so. Finally, Tsar Alexander granted her permission to leave in 1801, even though her husband was now heir to the throne. Rootless in Europe, Julie gave birth to two--possibly three--illegitimate children, all of whom she was forced to give up for adoption. Despite entreaties from Constantine to return and provide an heir, she refused, eventually finding love with her own married physician. At a time when many royal brides meekly submitted to disastrous marriages, Julie proved to be a woman ahead of her time, sacrificing her reputation and a life of luxury in exchange for the freedom to live as she wished. The Rebel Romanov is the inspiring tale of a bold woman who, until now, has been ignored by history.

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Born in Bromley, England, Helen Rappaport was an actress who appeared on British TV and in films until the early 1990s, then focused on writing. She has published a number of historical works, including Joseph Stalin, No Place for Ladies, and The Last Days of the Romanovs. She is also the author of the Victorian true-crime story Beautiful for Ever and coauthor, with William Horwood, of Dark Hearts of Chicago. A fluent Russian speaker and a specialist in Russian history and nineteenth-century women's history, Helen has become well known as a Russian translator in the theater and has translated all seven of Anton Chekhov's plays. Jennifer Dixon is a retired board-certified music therapist, licensed counselor, and veteran of the Michigan Opera and several community theaters, that has explored the power of words and music to motivate, inspire, provoke, soothe, and heal-all of which she brings to her work as an audiobook narrator. Even though she was born within the sound of Bow Bells in London England (now residing in the beautiful state of Michigan), Jennifer has a ""proper old-fashioned BBC sound, with American overtones,"" but can conjure up her cockney side if need be!

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