NetGalley 2012 Reading Challenge BLUE STAR 10

A - Z THEME JAMAICA

Last Romanov by Dora Levy Mossanen

This is a powerful and well researched historical novel about a frightening time in Russian History. Dora Levy Mossanen writes about Nicholas and Alexandra and their family and close acquaintances during the time before and after the Bolshevik Revolution. I never realized the beauty of the Russian culture which goes far beyond the well known Faberge eggs.


"She cursed and screamed and grieved as she buried sapphires, rubies, diamonds, pearls and emeralds, certain they would...."

 The author describes in detail the palaces, the food delicacies and the jewels. Little did the family know their very wealth would sever their ties with the Russian people. Having heard or seen bits and pieces of the Romanov story on documentaries or movies I knew their end would be dreadful. Still, as they were led below stairs in one of the palaces my heart began to beat faster. I wanted to read their ending quickly. Executions are always frightening and ride me with anxiety.

Within the story I again heard more about Alexei. Greatly loved by his family they dealt daily with his illness as a hemophiliac."diagnosed with hemophilia now, an incurable disease. An inherited blood-clotting deficiency transmitted by..."


 There is also the story about Rasputin, the so called healer who worked his powers on Alexei. In this novel I still came away with  small understanding of this man who was able to weave a kind of bewitching magic on the Tsar and Tsarina. "Rasputin's drunken laughter can be heard from across the terrace, where he is seated with the artists. His stained linen shirt..."

While the story is told magnificently I didn't quite make the Biblical connection. The author travels back in time with Darya. This part of the book seemed to lack emotion and meaning. Altogether it's a powerful novel, and I fully recommend it. I did learn more about the history of the Russian and the Jewish people. Darya's romance with Avram is fantastically told along with the terrible hardships suffered by the Jewish people.

"Avram insulates her from the surrounding horrors. She has no access to Bessarabetz or Svet, the anti-Jewish newspapers....breaking windows, looting shops, dragging women by their hair. Glass was strewn underfoot, stuck in people's hair..."

Also, Dora Levy Mossanen's biography at the end of the book is very interesting.doralevymossanen