Once A Grand Duke

Former Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovic of Russia presents his memoirs and his reflections on the downfall of the Romanov family in this enlightening account of the final fifty years of the Russian Empire. The author narrates his childhood experiences growing up in the Caucuses and explains how he turned away from his expected role within the army in favour of serving in the navy. He describes his visits to South Africa, America and Europe and we see the headstrong Duke’s love of the outdoors. When his cousin becomes Tsar Nicholas II, Alexander Mikhailovic must play a part in the government and the reader is given an inside perspective of the running of the Russian Empire. His distorted perspective of autocracy is presented unapologetically and his opinions are often hypocritical. His hatred of the liberals who were responsible for the deaths of many of his friends and family members is unsurprising, but is contradicted by his own liberal ideas and rebellion