I Was Anastasia

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

From thebestselling author ofThe Frozen Rivercomes an enthralling historical mystery that unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Andersons fifty-year battle to be recognised as Anastasia Romanov. Is she the Russian grand duchess or the thief of another womans legacy

Countless others have rendered their verdict. Now it is your turn.

Russia, 1918:Under direct orders from Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik secret police herd Anastasia Romanov, along with the entire imperial family, into a damp basement in Siberia, where they face a merciless firing squad. None survive. At least that is what the executioners have always claimed.

Germany, 1920:A young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia Romanov is pulled shivering and senseless from a canal. Refusing to explain her presence in the freezing water or even acknowledge her rescuers, Anna Anderson is taken to the hospital where an examination reveals that her body is riddled with countless horrific scars. When she finally does speak, this frightened, mysterious young woman claims to be the Russian grand duchess.As rumours begin to circulate that the youngest Romanov daughter survived the massacre, old enemies and new threats awaken.

I Was Anastasia unravels the thrilling mystery around Anna Anderson in a tale that is every bit as moving and momentous as it is harrowing and twisted.

Reviews

[Lawhons] effortless,eloquent prose transports the reader viaa dramatic, suspenseful and satisfying work of historical fiction Lawhon brilliantly employs an inventive and non-linear dual narrativeto tell the tale of how Anastasia would become Anna Anderson, or, perhaps, how Anna became Anastasia In the end, what Lawhon does so convincingly is shake up our notion of identity. And not just that of Anastasia and Anna. Are we who we say we are, or who others believe us to be Itsa question that lingers long after the final page. * USA Today *
I Was Anastasiais a wild train trip through time. The doors swish open here, then there, scenes sometimes racing by, sometimes drifting far into the mysterious lives of Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson. Every view is tantalising, surprising, compelling, and utterly fascinating. Ariel Lawhon unfolds a complicated story with skill, style, and compassion. -- Lisa Wingate,author ofBefore We Were Yours
A young Tsarina traveling towards tragedy and an aging Grand Duchess penniless and betrayed. Twin stories so gripping you will believe history itself can be rewritten. Told with masterful intensity and moments of true human compassion. -- Helen Simonson,author ofMajor Pettigrews Last Stand
Ariel Lawhon is a masterful storyteller;I Was Anastasiais a wild ride, extravagant with its vivid sensory experiences and page turning suspense. Inspired by history, and infused with imagination and intrigue, this novel satisfies with every twist and turn.I was both captivated and enchanted; I will carry this story from its beguiling opening to its catch-my-breath ending in my heart and imagination for a long, long while. -- Patti Callahan Henry,author ofThe Secret Book of Flora Lea
The fate of the Grand Duchess Anastasia, youngest daughter of the last Tsar, is an old mystery that never gets old. In the hands of Ariel Lawhon, it springs to life again, challenging everything we believe about what we remember and who we are. Was Anna Anderson really the only survivor of the Romanovs or was she a persistent fraud Somehow, Lawhon, a masterly writer, not only leads her readers to ponder this riddle, but to care about it as well. This is a deft and deeply moving saga. -- Jacquelyn Mitchard,author ofThe Deep End of the Ocean
I dont know whats most impressive aboutI Was Anastasia: the wildly inventive structure, the ferocious heroine (or is it two), or the dark, twisted questions it raises about the stories we tell both to others and to ourselves. Ariel Lawhon has written a gorgeous, haunting puzzle of a book that will grip you until the final page. -- Karen Abbott,author ofLiar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy
[Lawhons] effortless,eloquent prose transports the reader viaa dramatic, suspenseful and satisfying work of historical fiction Lawhon brilliantly employs an inventive and non-linear dual narrativeto tell the tale of how Anastasia would become Anna Anderson, or, perhaps, how Anna became Anastasia In the end, what Lawhon does so convincingly is shake up our notion of identity. And not just that of Anastasia and Anna. Are we who we say we are, or who others believe us to be Itsa question that lingers long after the final page. * USA Today *
I Was Anastasiais a wild train trip through time. The doors swish open here, then there, scenes sometimes racing by, sometimes drifting far into the mysterious lives of Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson. Every view is tantalising, surprising, compelling, and utterly fascinating. Ariel Lawhon unfolds a complicated story with skill, style, and compassion. -- Lisa Wingate,author ofBefore We Were Yours
A young Tsarina traveling towards tragedy and an aging Grand Duchess penniless and betrayed. Twin stories so gripping you will believe history itself can be rewritten. Told with masterful intensity and moments of true human compassion. -- Helen Simonson,author ofMajor Pettigrews Last Stand
Ariel Lawhon is a masterful storyteller;I Was Anastasiais a wild ride, extravagant with its vivid sensory experiences and page turning suspense. Inspired by history, and infused with imagination and intrigue, this novel satisfies with every twist and turn.I was both captivated and enchanted; I will carry this story from its beguiling opening to its catch-my-breath ending in my heart and imagination for a long, long while. -- Patti Callahan Henry,author ofThe Secret Book of Flora Lea
The fate of the Grand Duchess Anastasia, youngest daughter of the last Tsar, is an old mystery that never gets old. In the hands of Ariel Lawhon, it springs to life again, challenging everything we believe about what we remember and who we are. Was Anna Anderson really the only survivor of the Romanovs or was she a persistent fraud Somehow, Lawhon, a masterly writer, not only leads her readers to ponder this riddle, but to care about it as well. This is a deft and deeply moving saga. -- Jacquelyn Mitchard,author ofThe Deep End of the Ocean
I dont know whats most impressive aboutI Was Anastasia: the wildly inventive structure, the ferocious heroine (or is it two), or the dark, twisted questions it raises about the stories we tell both to others and to ourselves. Ariel Lawhon has written a gorgeous, haunting puzzle of a book that will grip you until the final page. -- Karen Abbott,author ofLiar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy

Author Bio

ARIEL LAWHON is a critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been LibraryReads, Indie Next, Costco, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.