Review of
Instaread Summary of The Romanovs 1613-1918 by Simon Sebag Montefiore
Five out of five stars
The most
significant point made in this summary of the 300 year rule of the Romanov
dynasty is that their legacy and the principles they applied are still active
in the successor states to the Russian Empire. The rigid communist state
developed by Lenin and Stalin as well as the autocratic Russian state carved
out by Vladimir Putin follow the path of the Romanov Tsars.
A second point
is that when it came time for a new Tsar to be selected there were some that
declined the position or assumed it with great reluctance. Members of the royal
family were rich and powerful, some questioned the assumption of such
responsibility and declined it.
The Romanov dynasty
lasted for 300 years, through times of great change. Historians look at it as a
failure since it was overthrown in 1917. Yet, one hundred years later, the
modern ruler of Russia is very much within the Tsarist tradition, so Romanov
style rule still lives.
This summary is
too brief to fully describe the Romanovs, from their military success and
defeats to their sexual escapades. It was amusing to read the frank
descriptions of how sexual dalliances were used to expand and maintain power
and marriages were political and dynastic rather than emotional.
This book was made available for free for review
purposes.
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