The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna

(Paperback)

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For readers of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir comes an "impressive" novel that "reads like a historical soap opera" (USA Today) of the beloved Empress Maria, the Danish girl who became the mother of the last Russian tsar. Narrated by the mother of Russia's last tsar, this vivid, historically authentic novel brings to life the courageous story of Maria Feodorovna, one of Imperial Russia's most compelling women, who witnessed the splendor and tragic downfall of the Romanovs as she fought to save her dynasty in the final years of its reign. Barely nineteen, Minnie knows that her role as a Danish princess is to leave her family and enter into a royal marriage. Fortune brings Minnie to Russia, where she marries the Romanov heir and becomes empress. When resistance to his reign strikes her family and the tsar sets out to crush all who oppose him, Minnie-now called Maria-must tread a perilous path of compromise in a country she has come to love. Her husband's death leaves their son Nicholas as the inexperienced ruler of a deeply divided empire, together with his headstrong wife, Alexandra, whose fervor has led her to a disturbing relationship with a mystic named Rasputin. As the wave of revolution rises anew to engulf Russia, Maria will face her most dangerous challenge and her greatest heartache. From the opulent palaces of St. Petersburg and the intrigue-laced salons of the aristocracy to World War I battlefields and the bloodied countryside occupied by the Bolsheviks, C. W. Gortner sweeps us into the anarchic fall of an empire and the bold heart of the woman who tried to save it. Story Locale- Late-19th and early-20th-century Russia, Denmark, and England

Reviews

[A] timely new historical novel . . . The reader is whisked from the stately splendor of the Russian court in the late 1860s to its tumultuous end with the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, seen through the eyes of someone who was as impressive and as complicated as the time in which she reigned. . . . [C. W. Gortners] ability to weave what reads as a simple tale from such complex historical and familial storylines is impressive. . . . Marias life as a royal reads like a historical soap opera.USA Today

Gortner, an experienced hand at recreating the unique aura of a particular time and place, will deftly sweep historical-fictions fans into this glamorous, turbulent, and ultimately tragic chapter in history.Booklist(starred review)

A twist on the tragic story youve heard many times before.Bustle,The 17 Best Fiction Books Coming Out In July 2018

Through the voice of Maria, Gortner succeeds in adding a newperspectiveto the well-known story of Nicholas, Alexandra, and Rasputin. As a sister, wife, mother, and empress,she is a fierce and dynamic narrator. . . .A solid recommendation for readers of historical fiction, especially those who favor the lives of kings and queens.Library Journal

Mesmerizing. . .This insightful first-person account of the downfall of the Romanov rule will appeal to history buffs; at its core, itsthe powerful story of a mother trying to save her familyand an aristocrat fighting to maintain rule in a country of rebellion,giving it an even broader appeal.Publishers Weekly

Engaging. . .Gortner is wonderfully subtle, but given the times we live in, the problems are obvious: When a tiny percentage of people hold most of the wealth, it leads to demagoguery.The Romanov Empressrelates an important piece of history. Its also a warning about what comes when a nation is marred by rampant inequality.BookPage

In his tenth historical novel,Gortner creates a vibrant portrait of imperial Russia. . . .A briskly narrated tale of power and revolution.Kirkus Reviews

A lost age and a woman for the ages come to life in this epic tale. Gortner skillfully opens a window into the life of a woman who is both complex and entirely human, and sets the stage for the violent end of the Russian empire. Captivating and beautifully told, this story is a gem as rich as the opulent era it depicts.Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

A sweeping saga that takes us from the opulence and glamour of tsarist Russia to the violent, tragic last days of the Romanovs. Brave and inspiring, Maria Feodorovna confronts assassinations, the Rasputin affair, and the Russian revolution. C. W. Gortner breaks new ground here, skillfully painting an intimate, compelling portrait of this fascinating empress and her family.Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling co-author of Americas First Daughter

Author Bio

C. W. Gortner holds an MFA in writing, with an emphasis on historical studies, from the New College of California and has taught university courses on women of power in the Renaissance. He is the internationally acclaimed author of The Vatican Princess, Mademoiselle Chanel, The Queen's Vow, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici, and The Last Queen, among other books. Gortner divides his time between Northern California and Antigua, Guatemala.