The Tsar's Masquerade

by Raphael Mercikovsky

A secret letter from the past changes the course of history. Thus begins this historical novel about the last Tsar of Russia and his family. This is the story as you wished it were told. A tale of a loving father and husband who would do everything in his power to save his family. The stories and anecdotes you love are woven together to form an intricate and complex story unfolding in a way you never expected. Fiction and historical fact are blended together in a such a way that this novel feels very plausible. Over five years of intense research, interviews and writing went into this book.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romanovs

634 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tsar's Masquerade depicts Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov as heads of a loving, noble, but somewhat troubled family ruling Russia and preparing for catastrophic events prophesied generations before their time. We see the Russian Revolution(s) of 1917 through the eyes of the imperial family; historical events in Russia and some of the wider world form the background.

Familiar figures include Anastasia, the youngest of the Grand Duchesses; Alexei, hemophiliac heir apparent to the throne; and Grigory Rasputin, infamous mystic. It's a long book, but it's not terribly demanding. It made me want to read more about this era in Russian history, to find out what we know for sure, and what is the author's invention or speculation.