There is a continuing fascination with the Romanov dynasty that ruled Russia for over 300 years. Charlotte Zeepvat seeks to widen the picture by looking at the lives of members of the family during the last century of imperial rule; a time of contrasts and a period in which the Tsars reached the peak of their wealth; prestige and power; yet also faced the growth of forces which would destroy them. Zeepvat's subjects are the first Nicholas and Alexandra who ruled 100 years before the Revolution; Alexander II; Alexander III; and on to the last Tsar; Nicholas II. The book also looks at the lives of their sisters and brothers; revealing the detail of their daily lives in the palaces which were their homes including Gatchina; Ilinskoie and Alexander Palace; all visited by the author in her role as a tour-leader. Illustrated with her own drawings and photographs; the text provides a wealth of information for anyone interested in the tragic history of the Russian Imperial family.
#704117 in Books 2015-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x .60 x 9.10l; .0 #File Name: 0748632778288 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy M.N. Ozmangreat product3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A Needed Corrective in Today's Overheated "Conversation" about IslamBy jonathan lyonsAsma Afsaruddin has performed a valuable service for readers interested in a deeper understanding of one of the most contentious -- and contested -- issues of our day; that of Islam and its place in a globalizing world dominated by Western economic; political; and intellectual interests. Much of what passes for political speech; social media exchanges; and media accounts about Islam and the Muslim world lacks historical context and instead falls back on simple cliches or deeper discursive trends. Afsaruddin offers a much-needed corrective to this sad state of affairs. She addresses today's 'hot-button' issues of Islam and women; Islam and politics; Islam and sharia with insight and nuance; characteristics too often missing in the Public Square. The book then concludes with useful chapters on Islam in America and on trends and developments in interfaith dialogue. Contemporary Issues in Islam should be required reading for anyone proposing to author a think-tank White Paper; write an op-ed; make a political speech; or post a blog on the topic. We would all be the better for it.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A crucially important book; timely and authoritativeBy J.D. GaynardContemporary Issues in Islam does what many of us hoped a single book could do – effectively challenge essentializing; stereotypical discourses about Islam and Muslims and replace them with well-researched; historically-grounded; and nuanced accounts of the diversity within the Islamic tradition on a number of critical topics. These include Sharia (not a fixed law at all); politics (no; theocracy is not inevitable); gender (yes; women’s lib is possible in Islamic terms); coexistence with non-Muslims (tolerance is indeed an Islamic virtue); and much; much more. It is hard to over-emphasize the timeliness and importance of this immensely readable; even gripping book as Islamophobia (also discussed in the book) goes into overdrive in the West. The author has done yeo(wo)man’s work in writing this book. Although ISIS was only beginning to loom on the horizon when this work was completed; the book’s content is a clear and ringing rebuttal to the group’s poisonous ideology.
