The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Kristin Scott Thomas, directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky (The Counterfeiters) Drawing from decades of work, travel, and research in Russia, Robert Alexander re-creates the tragic, perennially fascinating story of the final days of Nicholas and Alexandra...
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Soon to be a major motion picture starring Kristin Scott Thomas, directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky (The Counterfeiters)
Drawing from decades of work, travel, and research in Russia, Robert Alexander re-creates the tragic, perennially fascinating story of the final days of Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov as seen through the eyes of their young kitchen boy, Leonka. Now an ancient Russian immigrant, Leonka claims to be the last living witness to the Romanovs’ brutal murders and sets down the dark secrets of his past with the imperial family. Does he hold the key to the many questions surrounding the family’s murder? Historically vivid and compelling, The Kitchen Boy is also a touching portrait of a loving family that was in many ways similar, yet so different, from any other.
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Format: paperback
ISBN:
9780142003817 (0142003816)
ASIN: 142003816
Publish date: 2004-01-27
Publisher: Penguin
Pages no: 229
Edition language: English
Category:
Novels,
Literature,
Cultural,
Book Club,
Adult Fiction,
Historical Fiction,
20th Century,
Adult,
Mystery,
War,
Family,
Russia
This book starts out similar to other Romanov stories emphasizing the family's devotion to each other and God. The story was somewhat slow with most of the real action and plot twists taking place in the final chapters. If you prefer accuracy in your historical fiction, you may be disappointed. This...
After Misha’s wife dies, he feels it’s his time soon and records his memories about what happened in 1918 and leaves the tape to his granddaughter Kate. Misha, or Leonka as he was called, went into captivity with the Romanov family and worked as their kitchen boy. He becomes involved in the family’s...
Interesting story..very quick read...Heartbreaking because one knows what happens to the Romanovs and two it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the ending of the story. I still loved it though and def. will be reading the other books by this author that look just as interesting.
While I enjoyed the premise of the story and the book overall, I found the first person narrative rather tiresome at times. The writing felt forced at points, in large part due to the first person perspective. I also found the constant mentioning of the "end" for the Romanovs tiresome since we clear...
The simplistic writing style seems to be the norm for historical-fiction nowadays and maybe it's to ensure the writing doesn't get in the way of the premise but the impact can be construed as patronising at times. Anyway, I am scooting through this and am just at the point where Nicholas reads The P...
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