LobsterQuadrille's Reviews> Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914

Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchessis another vivid fictional diary by Carolyn Meyer, and probably the book that sparked my downfall-of-the-Romanovs obsession. Anastasia is a vibrant and funny narrator and feels very true to life. Meyer mostly resists the temptation that is a pitfall of many fictional books on this topic: that of making Rasputin look obviously evil and fraudulent through the eyes of the main characters. Meyer's version of Anastasia isn't unrealistically skeptical about him. After all, Anastasia and her siblings had highly sheltered and privileged lives and were raised by a devout mother who truly believed in the alleged faith healer. So this version of Anastasia does seem to believe in Father Grigory's abilities but is never very comfortable around him. And if accounts of his table manners and personal hygiene are any indication, I can imagine even his followers may have been put off a bit.

The historical note is a bit too one-sided about Nicholas II's shortcomings and makes him sound less blameworthy than he probably really was. Otherwise, this is a convincing and faithful account and a treat for anyone fascinated by this time and place in history.