THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER I

by E.M. Almedingen ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 26, 1966

This is competent biography on a par with Miss Almedingen's Catherine. Empress of Russia (1962) but it is crippled to some extent by editorial thoughtlessness since the reader Ks often driven to the Appendix to determine what is going on. However Alexander's story per se is capable of overriding this difficulty (not to mention the extensive use of French throughout). He was the grandson of Catherine the Great and the son of the mad, doomed Paul I. He married Elizabeth, a little princess of Baden, surely one of the most touching smaller saints of history. Stalked by Catherine's shadow and the ghost of the murdered Paul, Alexander was quite mad in his own right. He failed, though God knows he tried, to save Russia and he succeeded in saving Europe in 1812. Perplexing, pitiable, Alexander deserved to become the legend he did, He died Suddenly in a remote spot (Taganrog) and myth has it that he intentionally disappeared to become a hermit and holy man. Since the Russian court kept its diaries in French, and the lovely Elizabeth poured out her broken heart to her mother in French, this accounts for the sometimes bi-lingual biography although it would have been kinder to have translated the original materials used. But it's a fascinating subject-- a fascinating story.

Pub Date: April 26, 1966

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Vanguard

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1966

Categories: NONFICTION