THE ROMANOV BRIDE

At the turn of the century, Russia finds itself embroiled in a growing class battle. The long-standing rule of the elite Romanov dynasty is challenged by the common people, those whose lives are marked by poverty, illness, and unemployment. Once a peaceful demonstration goes horribly awry, rebellion takes hold of the country, turning hopes of change and communication into calls for violent protest and retribution. Swept away by the political current, Elisavyeta, a beautiful Romanov Grand Duchess, and Pavel, a worker turned rebel leader, see their lives drastically altered by the events that surround them.

Based on the true story of the life and death of Grand Duchess Elisavyeta Fyodorovna, Robert Alexander’s The Romanov Bride is a gripping and emotional journey through one of the most turbulent times in Russian history. Alexander fuses a talent for quick-paced, clear-eyed prose with an uncanny ability to understand the mind of the worker as well as the aristocrat. Alternating between Elisavyeta’s and Pavel’s competing yet complementary perspectives, he presents an honest view of the Revolutionary experience from both sides of the social divide. Although they are worlds apart, Elisavyeta and Pavel have more in common than they realize; both love their country and their countrymen, are committed to their beliefs, and—most importantly—have lost the love of their lives. These heartbreaking losses inspire Elisavyeta and Pavel to work, in their own ways, for the good of the common man. She abandons her life of privilege to serve the poor as the founding abbess of the Marfo-Marinski convent, while Pavel works to overthrow the monarchy and bring power to the people. Although Elisavyeta rejects the aristocratic life, she cannot escape her Romanov heritage; she is soon taken to Siberia as prisoner of the revolutionaries. Once there, she comes face to face with the man whose life has been so irrevocably intertwined with hers—it is Pavel who holds her future in his hands.

Alexander writes of a country fractured by political chaos, where good intentions have unintended consequences and redemption is found in the most unlikely of places. Drawing on years of experience with Russian culture and history, he creates a compelling portrait of two people caught in a political crossfire that both have helped create and neither can control. Alexander’s novels are known for their addictive blend of truth and fiction, and his latest work is no exception. Filled with rich detail, The Romanov Bride is a story of politics and passion, faith and forgiveness, and it will continue to haunt readers long after they have turned the last page.