Michael and Natasha: The Life And Love Of Michael Ii, The Last Of The Romanov Tsars

Average customer rating:

Enjoyable and very readable biography

A thumping good read!

Star Crossed Lovers - A Wonderful Biography!

Deserves more recognition

Interesting but biased biography of Russia's real last Tzar.

Michael and Natasha: The Life And Love Of Michael Ii, The Last Of The Romanov Tsars

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: B000HWYN2M

Book Description

Michael and Natasha is both an astonishing love story and an illuminating look at the last glorious days of the Romanovs and the brutal revolution that ended their reign. Based on private diaries, letters, and documents long hidden in the Soviet archives, it sheds light on an extraordinary tale of enduring love and ultimate tragedy that, until now, has never been told.

He was the Grand Duke Michael Aleksandrovich, the tall, dashing brother of Tsar Nicholas II. She was Nathalie Wulfert, a beautiful, elegant, intelligent, divorced commoner, and the wife of a Guards officer under Michael's command. Everything was wrong...yet for Grand Duke Michael, it was love at first sight-an obsession that would lead to disgrace, humiliation, and exile.

Much of Michael and Natasha's story is told in their own words, through hundreds of hitherto unpublished letters. Here they reveal their passion, their joy, and their despair as they are banished from their own country, bathed in scandal in the courts of Europe, and forced to suffer cruel separation. But more than a love story, Michael and Natasha is a historical drama played out against the elegant background of a bygone age and a world at war. It is a spell-binding account of Michael's return to Russia, his reputation as a war hero, the downfall of Nicholas II, the strange and short reign of Grand Duke Michael, and the cruel and tragic end of one of the most colorful eras in world history.

MICHAEL AND NATASHA is both an astonishing love story and an illuminating look at the last glorious days of the Romanovs and the brutal revolution that ended their reign.Based on private diaries, letters, and documents long hidden in the Soviet archives, it sheds light on an extraordinary tale of enduring love and ultimate tragedy that, until now, has never been told.He was the Grand Duke Michael Aleksandrovich, the tall, dashing brother of Tsar Nicholas II. She was Nathalie Wulfert, a beautiful, elegant, intelligent, divorced commoner, and the wife of a Guards officer under Michael's command. Everything was wrong...yet for Grand Duke Michael, it was love at first sight-an obsession that would lead to disgrace, humiliation, and exile.Much of Michael and Natasha's story is told in their own words, through hundreds of hitherto unpublished letters. Here they reveal their passion, their joy, and their despair as they are banished from their own country, bathed in scandal in the courts of Europe, and forced to suffer cruel separation. But more than a love story, MICHAEL AND NATASHA is a historical drama played out against the elegant background of a bygone age and a world at war. It is a spell-binding account of Michael's return to Russia, his reputation as a war hero, the downfall of Nicholas II, the strange and short reign of Grand Duke Michael, and the cruel and tragic end of one of the most colorful eras in world history.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable and very readable biography.......2006-07-07

This book is chock full of previously undisclosed details about the life of Michael, brother of Nicholas II, and his extended family -- which is something I appreciate very much. I enjoyed learning about Michael's upbringing; his life as a spoiled young officer, and his loves before he met Natasha, who he clung to as tenaciously as Edward VIII clung to Wallis Simpson...with somewhat the same results!

Everything the reviewer, John Cofield, said is true: Michael and Natasha were probably very selfish, somewhat shallow people, and yet, there is something touching about their story, I think because they did love each other (even if that love went through some weird phases, given Natasha's need to flirt and be the apple of men's eyes). Their endings were tragic. Michael's assassination was vicious and was a real tragedy for Natasha, who ended up penniless and alone. However, in one respect, I have to fault Mr. Cofield: Michael was unable by temperament (alternatively spoiled; weak, pleasure-loving and prone to sudden falling in and out of love --not completely unlike his dead cousin, the Duke of Clarence) to ever provide consistent help to Nicholas II. Nor was he given the training or education to overcome these character flaws, which may have helped him improve himself. For that, the fault must lie with his indulgent parents, Alexander III and particularly Marie Fedorovna, who seems to have been a hopeless sort of mother...Anyway, as much as Nicholas could have used help with his burdens, his jealous and possessive wife Alexandra, would probably have prevented a closer relationship between the brothers even if there hadn't been the seductive Natasha to come between them. Nicholas was pretty much a damned figure from the word go, in any case. The more you read about the last Romanovs, the more you see that nothing went right for this man! He came to the throne too soon; he married the wrong woman, and he was stubbornly unable to change his view that autocracy was the only way for Russia.

As for the quality of the writing in this book, I liked it very much, it really moves along and you get a real flavor for Imperial Russia and the characters of the Imperial Family. A very enjoyable reading experience, and recommended to all who like Russian Imperial history.

A thumping good read!.......2005-09-03

I have read several books on the Romanovs. This is one of the best so far. The story is heartbreaking. When the man you love is born with a job and expectations he's not allowed to have choice or freedom. What is worse is the rotten treatment and rejection he received from those who are supposed to love him. I would recommend this book highly.

Star Crossed Lovers - A Wonderful Biography!.......2004-08-03

I have read many books about the Romanov family over the years. Rosemary and Donald Crawford's "Michael and Natasha : The Life And Love Of Michael II, The Last Of The Romanov Tsars" is one of the best - certainly the most riveting. Although very well researched, documented and indexed, the book reads like a wonderful novel. It is an extraordinarily moving love story and gives the reader a bird's eye view into the lives of the Romanovs and the fall of their dynasty.

Grand Duke Michael, was the dashing youngest brother of the last Tsar of Russia. The book chronicles Michael's early life, giving a detailed account of his relationship with his family. He became involved with Natalia, (or Natasha) Cheremetevskaya, a commoner, while he was serving in the imperial army. She was 26, quite beautiful, and captured Michael's heart during their first dance. Natasha was twice divorced and was widely dismissed as a scheming social climber. Michael's romantic courtship of Natasha, their extremely close relationship, morganatic marriage and banishment from Russia is all documented here, along with observations by friends, family and actual letters. There are also never-before-seen photographs. Apparently Grand Duchess Olga, Michael's sister, not only knew Natasha, but evidently was a friend. Some of the unusual photographs in the book document this friendship. After the couple married, Olga turned her back on them. When Tsar Nicholas II abdicated, and abdicated for his young son, Michael was offered the throne, but he refused the opportunity to rule Russia because society and the Russian people would never have accepted his wife. There exists the possibility that if Michael had accepted the crown, there may have never been a Bolshevik Revolution.

One of the most fascinating books on the period that I have read. It is a powerful and tragic story and I highly recommend it.
JANA

Deserves more recognition.......2003-07-18

I absolutely loved this book. Although the story is terribly tragic and sad in the end, this is the best love story I have ever read. Bravo to the Crawfords for writing this book because it's a story that needed and deserved to be written about. I too fell in love with Misha and Nastaha while reading the book and I cried at what happened to them in the end. They were doomed right from the start but it was all worth it, in my opinion. Even though this book has been out for almost seven years now, it amazes, and kind of saddens me that there is still little recognition and knowledge about these two extraodinary people. There definitely should be more. Nevermind the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Michael and Natasha were the real-life Romeo and Juliet and they paid a greater price for their love, and lives, then the Windsors did. It's kind of unfair too. Everyone knows about Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, but what about Michael II and Nathalie Brasova? They gave up just as much in order to be together, were also banished and were just as disgraced and humiliated by society, maybe even more. And in my opinion, Michael and Natasha are much more intriguing and fascinating then David and Wallis. It was clear that the Duke of Windsor loved Wallis very much and was deeply in love with her, but her love for him didn't appear to equal to his and her loyalty to him was questionable. In Michael and Natasha's case, they both loved each other wholeheartedly, were madly in love with each other and were both very loyal to each other. They and their story deserves to be more recognized and noted in the world. If only I was a screenwriter, and knew how to go about writing the script for the story, so I could bring this fascinating story to the screen so then the whole world would finally know the love story of G.D Michael Aleksandrovich of Russia and Nathalie Brasova. Or at least know how to get a film company to produce such a film. Maybe it will one day, I hope. The middle part of the book however, when David Crawford took over, did get a bit boring, when the war and revolution started. But through and through, it was a compelling and fascinating story. The tragedy of the story though was that Michael and Natasha were the right people in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Interesting but biased biography of Russia's real last Tzar........2003-07-05

Michael and Natasha is a fascinating but deeply biased account of two nearly unknown members of the Romanov family. Granduke Michael (the actual final Tzar) and his mistress turned morganic bride Natasha. Giving us a glimpse into the life of the well-to-do in Edwardian Russia. The account of Michael's relationship with the Tzar certainly provides interesting insight into just how estranged the Tzar was from the rest of his family.

The book also gives us a glimpse into the life of one of Rasputin's assassins and an intimate of Tzar Nicholas' family the Granduke Dimitry. Dimitry was apparently one of Natasha's admirers and frequently visited her family. In my opinion this book gives a far better account of his life and character along with his motivations to kill then any other I've read. It helps you to understand his relationship with the Tzar. The only other comparable account of his life are in the memoires of his sister Marie (Once a Granduchess, etc.,)

My only annoyance with regard to this book was it's blatantly biased outlook. While well researched and very entertaining you get the feeling after a while that the authors fell almost as much in love with their book's real center piece (Natasha) as her husband Misha did. Anyone who didn't like or agree with Natasha is automatically branded a villain or a dullard.

While certainly beautiful and interesting Natasha was also a combative personality, self-centered, vain, manipulative, a shabby mother. Yet all of these faults are excused by the authors who merely go on to gush about her beauty and charm. How any man alive would have died to have her! It got nauseating at times and kept me from giving the book the five stars it otherwise deserved.

I'm afraid Natasha's charm eluded me in the midst of her many temper tantrums. I could never bring myself to sympathize with Natasha as I did with Michael. Nonetheless she was an interesting woman a deserved to be written about. Her one redeeming feature was her geniune (though not uninterested) love for the Granduke.

The description of the life led by lesser known members of the Romanov family after the Bolshevik coup alone made it worth reading. A must have for all Romanov aficionados!

Average customer rating:
Michael and Natasha The Life and Love of Michael II, the Last of the Romanov Tsars
Rosemary and Donald Crawford
Manufacturer: Scribner (Simon & Schuster)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J0TQ8S

Average customer rating:
MICHAEL AND NATASHA: THE LIFE AND LOVE OF MICHAEL II, THE LAST OF THE ROMANOV TSARS
Rosemary & Donald Crawford
Manufacturer: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NWHZ1M

Average customer rating:
MICHAEL AND NATASHA: THE LIFE AND LOVE OF MICHAEL II, THE LAST OF THE ROMANOV TSARS
Rosemary & Donald Crawford
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NWALAO

Book Description

A memoir of a sportsman's life from the son of one of the 20th century's greatest writers.

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Contributors include: Boris Karloff, George Arliss, Mary Astor, Leslie Howard, Edward Arnold, and Bette Davis.

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This inside looks at the early glory days of hold'em, playing in smoky backrooms with legends such as Titanic Thompson and Doyle Brunson. Get a look at vintage Las Vegas when Cowboy's friend, Benny Binion ruled Glitter Gulch and ride along with the road gamblers as they faded the white line from Dallas to Shreveport to Houston in the 1960s in search of games. Read fascinating yarns about life on the rough and tumble, and colorful adventures as a road gambler; feel the fear and frustration of being hijacked, getting arrested for playing poker, and having to outwit card sharps and scam artists. Wolford survived it all to win a gold bracelet at the World Series playing with poker greats Amarillo Slim Preston, Johnny Moss and 1978 World Champion, Bobby Baldwin. Wolford also won 30 rodeo belt buckles. Baldwin says, Cowboy is probably the best gambling story teller in the world.

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Master story teller Cowboy Wolford, who passed away in 2003, has preserved a major part of the histories of poker and rodeo in this fast-moving and colorful account of his adventures on the pro rodeo circuit from 1950-1960, followed by his exploits on the pro poker "road" circuit from 1960-1990. Nobody tells a better story than the ol' cowboy who won the calf roping championship at the Calgary Stampede two years in a row and, a decade later, pulled off the most famous bluff ever recorded at final table of the $10,000 championship event at the World Series of Poker. This books is endorsed by just about every "name" in poker, including Bobby Baldwin, Jack Binion, and Doyle Brunson.

Product Description

More than 8 million people have been trained in Social Styles by Wilson Learning and use it every day at work and home. Many say it's a life-changing experience. Your Social Style - whether you're a Driver, Analytical, Amiable, or Expressive - is the behavior you feel most comfortable with. When you know your own style and adapt it to others' Social Styles, communication gets easier, conflict lessens, and your influence increases. No wonder entire corporations have put all their employees through the course. Graduates will refresh themselves and newcomers will master the principles of Social Styles with this easy-reading handbook. Helps you understand yourself and others in a non-judgmental, proven, productive way. Wilson Learning is a global leader in human performance improvement solutions for Fortune 500 and emerging companies worldwide, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN and Tokyo.

Customer Reviews:

This Oughta Be Taught in Grade School.......2006-07-14

The Wilson Learning version of the social styles matrix is one of the most valuable interpersonal vocabulary lessons most of us should take. Although there have been modifications and restructuring of these principles over time, the basic message remains very clear and timely: There are recognizable patterns of social interaction; they can all be successful; they can be accomodated positively and negatively; and we can reach each other and encourage each other effectively by recognizing them and training ourselves to be flexible and empowering in our relationships with others.

The book is an excellent recap for those, like myself, who were formally trained by the folks at Wilson Learning. It is also an introduction worthy of passing on to any who have not had the privilege. I have purchased and shared three copies of this volume with my co-workers in the past two months, and we are having (once again) a whale of a time discovering how we behave towards each other and how those behaviors affect our productivity and job satisfaction.

Invaluable.

Libraso!.......2004-07-24

francisco@yoursocialstyle.com
On these day of tech-changes and everything is changing up side down, never has been as necessary as it is now to nurture relationships. When Visionaries like Peter Drucker mention that knowledge society is here and we can prove that, the theme of social styles, show us the extent of working relationships, and in personal life!

Cogratulations to the people at Wilson Learning,

Francisco

The Social Styles Handbook: Find Your Comfort Zone and Make People Feel Comfortable With You

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The Social Styles Handbook: Find Your Comfort Zone and Make People Feel Comfortable With You
Learning Library Wilson
Manufacturer: Nova Vista Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N63FQC

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