The Family Romanov

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

Bibliography

Fleming, Candace. 2014. THE FAMILY ROMANOV: MURDER, REBELLION, AND THE FALL OF IMPERIAL RUSSIA. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 9780375867828

Plot Summary

In The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, Candace Fleming tells the dramatic true story of the last ruling family of Russia. Beginning with the glittering life inside the Romanov palace and ending tragedy during the Russian Revolution, Fleming skillfully intertwines the perspectives of Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, and their children with those of the impoverished workers and revolutionaries who longed for work.

Critical Analysis

Fleming’s storytelling reads almost like a novel, but is built on a lot of research and primary sources. The pacing of the story is great as it alternates between the Romanovs to the reality of peasants and workers. The inclusion of sidebars, photos, and direct quotations allows readers to experience history through multiple lenses.

Fleming portrays the Romanovs with empathy without excusing their shortcomings, and gives voice those the ordinary people who struggled. This humanizes this subject well to understand what exactly shaped the revolution.

Review Excerpts

Starred Review from Booklist: “History comes to vivid life in Fleming’s sweeping story of the dramatic decline and fall of the House of Romanov.”

Connections

This book provides a great opportunity to connect history, literature, and social justice. In a classroom setting, I would pair it with fictional accounts like Anastasia: The Grand Duchess by Carolyn Meyer. Students could also compare photos of the Romanov’s lavish lifestyle with images of Russian workers from the same period to visually analyze inequality. 


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