DOC Thirteen Years at the Russian Court by Pierre Gilliard in History

Review

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Gilliard's book a slow read and I thought his book on Anna Anderson excellent. It is a real shame his other book ...By R. LoweI found Mr. Gilliard's book a slow read and I thought his book on Anna Anderson excellent. It is a real shame his other book concerning Anderson was not taken seriously as it would have stopped 50 years of her hoax. However I wish he had written a more open book concerning his time as a teacher to the children of Nicholas and Alexandra. Maybe I am expecting too much but I think he seems to "sugar coat" the family. In reality Nicholas was a good father but a very poor ruler married to a woman who thought she knew all about Russia and its people but in fact she knew nothing. Her totally belief in not sharing ruling with the government was horrible and in the end because of her total belief in the autocracy caused the deaths of her and her family. I admire Mr. Gilliard for his following the family into exile and his never ending hope of saving them. I just wish it was a better written book.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Insight and Understanding of the last Tsar; Nicholas II and His FamilyBy SearcherA tutor to Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra's children wrote a perceptive and insightful view of the family and last years of their lives. Our school History books gave judgmental views of the Tsar; but never observations and facts of his life and his deliberations during the first years of 1900. Similarly influences upon Tsarina Alexandra were explained as well as how the daughters assisted her with her heightened concerned for their son; Alexi. The tutor author was an employee and there were many social protocols for him to observe but he has written an insiders view based on observation and documentation.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Personal and Moving!By Slugpuppy3This is a well written; heartrending; personal eyewitness account of the last Romanovs. Gilliard paints a picture of a family that is simple in taste (compared to the formal glitter of the Russian Court); devoted to each other and to their faith. A must read for anyone interested in Russian history or in how Tsar Nicholas II and his family lived and died.