Anastasia & Anna Anderson

Book Categories: Anastasia, Romanovs' Deaths, Alexei, Nicholas, Alexandra, Family Photos, Tutors, Rasputin, Miscellaneous, Fiction, Romanovs, Revolution, Russian Royalty, DVDs

Anastasia

Anastasia: The Lost Princess by James Blair Lovell. The author knew Anna Anderson and believed that she was Anastasia.

Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson by Peter Kurth. Like James Blair Lovell, author Peter Kurth met Anna Anderson and believed her to be Anastasia. A fascinating book. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

A Romanov Fantasy: Life at the Court of Anna Anderson by Frances Welch. Who was Anna Anderson, and how did she manage to convince so many people that she was Russia's lost Grand Duchess Anastasia?

The Quest for Anastasia: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Romanovs by Helen Mingay and John Klier supports the theory that Anna Anderson was a Polish factory worker. Available from Alibris.

I, Anastasia: An Autobiography by Roland Krug Von Nidda, translated from German by Oliver Coburn. Supposedly an autobiography of Anna Anderson, but actually written by someone else with help from her lawyers, and based on Anderson's own statements. From Alibris.

Queen Victoria's Gene by D. M. Potts and W. T. W. Potts is about the hemophilia gene Queen Victoria passed down to her descendants, including Anastasia's brother Alexei. Among the questions the book considers is whether Anna Anderson was really Anastasia. From Alibris.

Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov by Mary Englar. Biography for children ages 9 to 12.

Anastasia's Album by Hugh Brewster. Uses photos of the family from Grand Duchess Anastasia's own album, paintings done by Anastasia, and excerpts from her letters to tell the story of Anastasia and her family. For children ages 9 to 12. From Alibris.

Romanovs' Murder and Aftermath

The Last Days of the Romanovs: Tragedy at Ekaterinburg by Helen Rappaport. Describes the final 13 days in the lives of Tsar Nicholas II and his family against the backdrop of Russia in turmoil.

The Murder of the Romanovs by Andrew Cook. Draws upon new forensic evidence and newly discovered records to show that the entire family of Russia's last tsar was executed, despite claims that Anastasia and Alexei survived the massacre.

The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert K. Massie, gives new information about the Romanovs' deaths, the discovery of their bodies, and the women (including Anna Anderson) who claimed to be Anastasia.

The Fate of the Romanovs by Greg King and Penny Wilson. Based on hundreds of previously unpublished documents and including scores of never-before-seen pictures, this book discusses the last months of Russian tsar Nicholas II and his family. The authors believe Anastasia may have survived the massacre of her family.

The Many Deaths of Tsar Nicholas II: Relics, Remains and the Romanovs by Wendy Slater. Describes the deaths of the tsar and his family, the discovery of their bones, the alternative narratives that have grown up around these events, and the romanticization of the Romanovs.

Alexei Theories

The Escape of Alexei by Vadim Petrov, Georgy Egorov, I.V. Lysenko. The authors claim that Tsarevich Alexei miraculously escaped execution. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Blood Relative by Michael Gray. The author claims to be the son of Alexei. From Alibris.

Tsar Nicholas II

Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie. The classic. Tells the story of the romance and marriage of Nicholas and Alexandra and their struggles with their son's hemophilia. A must-read.

The Court of the Last Tsar: Pomp, Power and Pageantry in the Reign of Nicholas II by Greg King. Recaptures the glittering lost world of Nicholas and Alexandra: imperial ceremonies and entertainments, intrigues and scandals, and day-to-day details, from table settings to servant life. With 24 pages of color illustrations and 80 rare black-and-white photographs.

The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II by Edvard Radzinsky. Makes use of information that was unavailable until the fall of the Soviet Union.

Nicholas and Alexandra: The Last Tsar and Tsarina by Nina Tarasova. Curators of the State Museum the Hermitage in St Petersburg review the lives of Nicholas and Alexandra, including their marriage, coronation, court, and misfortunes. Illustrated with the magnificent coronation costumes and regalia designed by Faberge, personal objects, and religious objects.

Nicholas II: The Life and Reign of Russia's Last Monarch by Robert D. Warth. A scholarly look at the life of the last tsar.

Nicholas II: Last of the Tsars by Marc Ferro, translated by Brian Pearce, is another scholarly biography.

Books About the Tsar & World War I

Tsarina Alexandra

Alexandra: The Last Tsarina by Carolly Erickson. Biography.

The Last Diary of Tsaritsa Alexandra by Alexandra, edited by Vladimir M. Khrustalev. This is Empress Alexandra's diary, kept during her family's last six months of captivity. The final entry was made on the night of her death.

The Last Empress: The Life and Times of Alexandra Feodorovna, Tsarina of Russia by Greg King. Another biography.

Nicholas and Alexandra Paper Dolls by Tom Tierney.

Family Photographs

Tsar: The Lost World of Nicholas and Alexandra by Peter Kurth and Edvard Radzinski. Includes 350 illustrations.

Royal Russia: From the James Blair Lovell Archive by Carol Townend and James Blair Lovell. Romanov family photos, including some taken from the albums of Anastasia's mother and sister.

The Romanovs: Love, Power & Tragedy edited by A. N. Bokhanov includes hundreds of photos of the last Romanovs that have never before been published.

The Jewel Album of Tsar Nicholas II and a Collection of Private Photographs of the Russian Imperial Family by Alexander Von Solodkoff and Irina A. Bogatskaya. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

More Books About the Romanovs

Tutors to the Imperial Family

The Romanovs and Mr. Gibbes by Frances Welch. Sydney Gibbes was tutor to the children of Tsar Nicholas II. This biography draws on unpublished material, including Gibbes' letters and diaries.

An Englishman in the Court of the Tsar: The Spiritual Journey of Charles Syndney Gibbes by Christine L. Benagh.

Thirteen Years at the Russian Court by Pierre Gilliard. Memoirs of the Romanov children's tutor. Provides an intimate look at the family's final days. Gilliard met Anna Anderson and thought she might be Anastasia, but later changed his mind.

Books About Rasputin

Rasputin: The Saint Who Sinned by Brian Moynahan. A biography of the "Mad Monk."

The Rasputin File by Edvard Radzinsky disputes the traditional account of how Rasputin died. According to the author, Rasputin did not really consume poison without effect, as his killers claimed.

To Kill Rasputin by Andrew Cook. According to this book, the British secret service was responsible for Rasputin's assassination. Available from Alibris.

Miscellaneous

Romanoff Gold: The Lost Fortune of the Tsars by William Clarke. Did anyone survive the massacre of the last tsar's family? And what happened to Romanovs' $45 billion dollar fortune? Clarke's book examines these questions.

Hidden Treasures of the Romanovs: Saving the Royal Jewels by William Clarke. Biography of Albert Henry Stopford, an aristocratic English art dealer who risked his life to rescue Romanov jewels during the Russian Revolution. The gems were destined to adorn the rich and famous -- queens, duchesses and film stars. Illustrated.

Lost Splendor: The Amazing Memoirs of the Man Who Killed Rasputin by Prince Felix Youssoupoff. First-person account of the cross-dressing prince who poisoned Rasputin. Originally published in 1952, during Prince Youssoupoff's exile from Russia.

The Secret Plot to Save the Tsar: The Truth Behind the Romanov Mystery by Shay McNeal. Disputes the traditional account of the death of the Russian imperial family and agrees with the Russian Orthodox Church's position of nonrecognition of the Romanov bones. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

To Save Russia: The Reincarnation of Nicholas II by Donald Norsic. The author claims to be the reincarnation of the last tsar! From Alibris.

Fiction About the Romanovs & Rasputin

The Tsarina's Daughter by Carolly Erickson. Novel in which Russia's Grand Duchess Tatiana, daughter of the last tsar, tries to save her family from death.

The German Woman by Janet Ashton. Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine was born in 1872, a much-loved grand-daughter of Queen Victoria. Forty-six years later, as ex-Empress Alexandra of Russia, she died in a hail of bullets. In this fictionalized autobiography, Alexandra tells her own story.

The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar by Robert Alexander. Novel about the last days of Russian tsar Nicholas II and his family, told from the viewpoint of a young servant at the house where they were imprisoned.

Rasputin's Daughter by Robert Alexander. The harrowing tale of the final days of the "Mad Monk" who befriended the Russian imperial family, as told by Rasputin's bold young daughter Maria.

The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry. Suspense novel in which a modern American lawyer investigates what really happened to the family of Russia's last tsar.

Anastasia, the Last Grand Duchess Russia, 1914 by Carolyn Meyer. A fictional diary for children ages 9-12.

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap. During the Russian Revolution, Grand Duchess Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia, where romance blooms between Anastasia and a sympathetic guard. For young adult readers.

Dreaming Anastasia: A Novel of Love, Magic, and the Power of Dreams by Joy Preble. In modern-day Chicago, a young woman starts having dreams about the last tsar of Russia's daughter Anastasia. For young adult readers.

The Curse of the Romanovs by Staton Rabin. Fiction. Alexei Romanov, heir to the Russian throne, flees through time to New York City in 2010, using a method taught to him by Rasputin. For young adult readers.

Rubies in the Snow: Diary of Russia's Last Grand Duchess, 1911-1918 by Kate Hubbard. Fictional diary of Russian tsar Nicholas II's daughter Anastasia. For children. Available from Alibris.

The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne. Novel about a bodyguard who witnesses the fall of the Romanov dynasty. From Alibris.

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Documentaries and Movies

These DVDs are formatted for North American audiences.

Anastasia: Her True Story. Historians discuss the young princess and forensic findings that Anna Anderson was not Anastasia.

In Search of History: The Romanovs. Join authors Mark Steinberg and Peter Kurth for a riveting look at the end of an era. Go into the Soviet archives to see the historic documents that led to the discovery of the Romanovs' remains. Includes an interview with Prince Nicholas Romanov and footage from Nicholas and Alexandra's reign.

Nicholas and Alexandra is a very good documentary that includes footage of the tsar and his family. Sometimes available from Amazon.

National Geographic's Russia's Last Tsar, narrated by Jeremy Irons, features a good deal of interesting newsreel footage of the epoch and a lot of affecting snapshots of their family. Many of the candid snapshots were taken by the tsar himself or by Anastasia. Sometimes available from Amazon.

Anastasia - Dead or Alive. This 1997 documentary about Anastasia includes information about the DNA test that identified Anna Anderson as a Polish factor worker. Sometimes available from Amazon.

Anastasia. Classic 1956 movie starring Ingrid Bergman as the woman who poses as Anastasia. Anna Anderson received royalties from this film because it was based on her life story.

Anastasia - The Mystery of Anna. 1986 movie starring Amy Irving as Anna Anderson.

Nicholas and Alexandra. This 1971 movie about the last Romanovs won Oscars for set decoration and costumes.

Anastasia. Fanciful 1997 animated musical about an orphan who poses as the long-lost Anastasia.

DVDs About Rasputin

Rasputin: The Mad Monk. Leading historians reveal why Rasputin was tolerated by the royals despite his scandalous behavior, Rare photos and period accounts capture the strange intensity that made him a figure of mystery. From A&E's "Biography" series.

History's Mysteries: The True Story of Rasputin. This documentary attempts to separate fact from fiction and paint an accurate picture of Rasputin's life and death. Includes information assembled by the Russian Secret Police, which has only recently come to light.

Agony: The Life and Death of Rasputin. A 1974 Russian movie about the "Mad Monk."

Rasputin: The Mad Monk. A 1966 movie starring Christopher Lee. This DVD also includes the movie "The Devil Rides Out."