While I am fairly well-versed in the Romanov dynasty and the Russian aristocracy in the last few generations of their reign, I was less familiar with the aristocracy post-revolution. And given how large the Russian nobility was, that is a lot of people with stories to tell. Helen Rappaport’s knowledge of the Romanovs and Europe in the twentieth century make her the perfect historian to write this book- it may be her favourite of mine. For our Book Bite this week, we have After the Romanovs by Helen Rappaport!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC; I also purchased the audiobook myself.
After the Romanovs: Russian Exiles in Paris from the Belle Époque Through Revolution and War, Helen Rappaport
Arriving in Paris, former princes could be seen driving taxicabs, while their wives who could sew worked for the fashion houses, their unique Russian style serving as inspiration for designers like Coco Chanel. Talented intellectuals, artists, poets, philosophers and writers struggled in exile, eking out a living at menial jobs. Some, like Bunin, Chagall and Stravinsky, encountered great success in the same Paris that welcomed Americans like Fitzgerald and Hemingway. Political activists sought to overthrow the Bolshevik regime from afar, while double agents plotted espionage and assassination from both sides. Others became trapped in a cycle of poverty and their all-consuming homesickness for Russia, the homeland they had been forced to abandon. Paris has always been a city of cultural excellence, fine wine and food and the latest fashions. But it has also been a place of refuge for those fleeing persecution, never more so than before and after the Russian Revolution and the fall of the Romanov dynasty. For years, Russian aristocrats had enjoyed all Belle Epoque Paris had to offer, spending lavishly when they visited. It was a place of artistic experimentation such as Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. But the brutality of the Bolshevik takeover forced Russians of all types to flee their homeland, sometimes leaving with only the clothes on their backs.
Why You Should Read This…
As I said above Helen Rappaport is one of the most knowledgeable historians working in this field right now, and it is obvious how true that is with After the Romanovs. The huge range of sources needed for this story, not to mention the volume, only help to bolster that, too. If you are at all interested in the extended Romanovs or the Russian aristocracy, this is a must-read book- there are so many fascinating and heartbreaking stories to follow.
While the executions of the Romanov family are at the heart of many books (understandably), there are so many others who were able to make their way to Paris. And their lives vary wildly. We meet former princes and princesses who tried to maintain their noble lifestyles, and others who were forced to become taxi drivers and clerks. And not only does Rappaport introduce us to many individuals, she also explores the Russian community in Paris as a whole. I loved getting to explore the political side of the community; although many of us think of immigrants as simply trying to survive, many of them were instrumental in forming unions and other political groups.
I also have to admit, I loved the chapter on Russian ballet in Paris. Diaghilev’s company was instrumental in the development of modern ballet, and I think that Rappaport explored that history thoroughly and with care. She also was fantastic at connecting the ballet to other areas of culture and showing why it was so important.
Pearl Hewitt’s narration was also wonderful. She had great pacing and handled multiple languages easily!
Is After the Romanovs by Helen Rappaport on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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