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The Tolstoys: Twenty-Four Generations of Russian History
An array of historical and family records, portraits, and other memorials underlies an account of the family that, over four centuries, supplied Russia with statesmen, soldiers, writers, and eccentrics
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
32 people want to read
About the author
Nikolai Tolstoy
33 books35 followersCount Nikolai Dmitrievich Tolstoy-Miloslavsky (Russian: Николай Дмитриевич Толстой-Милославский; born 23 June 1935) is an Anglo-Russian author who writes under the name Nikolai Tolstoy. A member of the Tolstoy family, he is a former parliamentary candidate of the UK Independence Party.
Source: Wikipedia
The photograph by Justin K Prim.
Source: Wikipedia
The photograph by Justin K Prim.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 26, 2017
Bottom line:
Count Nikolai Tolstoy’s family history The Tolstoys: Twenty-Four Generations of Russian History 1353-1983 is about as even handed as you can expect from a man retelling his proud family’s proud history. It is reasonably documented having over ten closely spaced pages of footnotes. He is not always tender with the reputation of individual members of the family tree. What mostly came through to me was that Imperial Russia was not the best place to live. Success was all too often a matter of pleasing the Tsar and playing various court games. Vast wealth could be passed down unearned to people who at most felt some obligation to do something rather than hide out in the much safer if more boring edges of the empire.
Internationally, the name ‘Tolstoy’ is likely to be one of the ten most recognized names in Russian history. For those of us who make that much of the association it is because of the writer Count Leo Tolstoy. What may not be as well known, even within modern Russia is that Tolstoys have exercised vast power as intimates of the Romanov dynasty. As Generals and lessor field grade officers they have lead soldiers against Napoleon and withstood sieges against Turkic Armies. Diplomats have conducted delicate negotiation. Other Tolstoy’s were well known as artist, poets and at least one world traveler and teller of tall tales.
Among the surprises for those who have read and or studied Russian history there is a version of how a Tolstoy was entrusted with the interrogation of and ultimate death of Tsarevich Alexei presumptive heir to the throne and son of Tsar Peter (remembered as The Great).
Some may note that the older Tolstoy line might have disappeared into history except for its timely association, through marriage with the Miloslavski’s who would instead disappear in Russian History.
On a more personal level, I had long wondered about the vast array of noble titles in Russian history and literature. The author made this a simple question. Every member of a family inherited whatever title was bestowed upon it.
The Tolstoys relates an often fascinating number of biographies with associated history. The writing is not particularly academic and there are a reminders that the author is telling the history of his family. It seems fairly objective but it is easy to down play scandals and great shortcoming in the name of brevity. Tolstoys are rarely accused of being cruel masters over their varying numbers of surfs and many seemed to not spend enough time at their estates to misuse them.
This is not a dull book. Most of the people discussed are not dull or lived in exciting times. Rarely does the writing style match the excitement of the times or of the particular Tolstoys.
Count Nikolai Tolstoy’s family history The Tolstoys: Twenty-Four Generations of Russian History 1353-1983 is about as even handed as you can expect from a man retelling his proud family’s proud history. It is reasonably documented having over ten closely spaced pages of footnotes. He is not always tender with the reputation of individual members of the family tree. What mostly came through to me was that Imperial Russia was not the best place to live. Success was all too often a matter of pleasing the Tsar and playing various court games. Vast wealth could be passed down unearned to people who at most felt some obligation to do something rather than hide out in the much safer if more boring edges of the empire.
Internationally, the name ‘Tolstoy’ is likely to be one of the ten most recognized names in Russian history. For those of us who make that much of the association it is because of the writer Count Leo Tolstoy. What may not be as well known, even within modern Russia is that Tolstoys have exercised vast power as intimates of the Romanov dynasty. As Generals and lessor field grade officers they have lead soldiers against Napoleon and withstood sieges against Turkic Armies. Diplomats have conducted delicate negotiation. Other Tolstoy’s were well known as artist, poets and at least one world traveler and teller of tall tales.
Among the surprises for those who have read and or studied Russian history there is a version of how a Tolstoy was entrusted with the interrogation of and ultimate death of Tsarevich Alexei presumptive heir to the throne and son of Tsar Peter (remembered as The Great).
Some may note that the older Tolstoy line might have disappeared into history except for its timely association, through marriage with the Miloslavski’s who would instead disappear in Russian History.
On a more personal level, I had long wondered about the vast array of noble titles in Russian history and literature. The author made this a simple question. Every member of a family inherited whatever title was bestowed upon it.
The Tolstoys relates an often fascinating number of biographies with associated history. The writing is not particularly academic and there are a reminders that the author is telling the history of his family. It seems fairly objective but it is easy to down play scandals and great shortcoming in the name of brevity. Tolstoys are rarely accused of being cruel masters over their varying numbers of surfs and many seemed to not spend enough time at their estates to misuse them.
This is not a dull book. Most of the people discussed are not dull or lived in exciting times. Rarely does the writing style match the excitement of the times or of the particular Tolstoys.
August 19, 2018
Very in-depth history. Detailed predicaments of nobility. The bourgeois aristocrats, and the profound moral outlook some had was interesting. Affirmation once again of the inequities Russia has faced. Not light reading, at all.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews