White Crow - The Life and Times of the Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich Romanov, 1859-1919

Based on material from the newly opened Russian archives, this is the first biography of Nicholas Mikhailovich Romanov (1859-1919), the only intellectual in the Russian Imperial Family. This unique study provides insight into the last six decades of tsarist Russia through the experiences of the odd ball member of the clan. An historian and a biologist, the Grand Duke made major contributions in both these fields. A political liberal, he fought tirelessly for reform from within the system. His reformist views made him a pariah within his own family, and contemporary recognition of his accomplishments came more from abroad than at home.

Entering the military, as all Romanovs did, the Grand Duke eventually became hostile toward it and was in fact the only family member ever to formally leave military service. He received honorary doctorates from the Universities of Berlin and Moscow and even won election to the French Academy-one of only two Russians to do so. As the political situation in Russia worsened, he urged the tsar to implement reforms, and he even participated in discussions of a palace coup. Exiled to Vologda after the Communist seizure of power, he was later imprisoned by the police and shot in January 1919.

List of contents

Preface
Outsiders within the Family
A Young Grand Duke
Imperial Scholar
Pariah in the Family
The Grand Duke at War
Revolt in the Palaces
A Country of Savages
Stillborn Future
Imperial Legacy
Bibliography
Index

About the author

JAMIE H. COCKFIELD is the Willis Borders Glover Professor of History at Mercer University.

Summary

His reformist views made him a pariah within his own family, and contemporary recognition of his accomplishments came more from abroad than at home. Entering the military, as all Romanovs did, the Grand Duke eventually became hostile toward it and was in fact the only family member ever to formally leave military service.

Product details

• Authors: Jamie Cockfield, Jamie H. Cockfield, Cockfield Jamie H.
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: ages 7 to 17
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2019
• EAN: 9780275977788
• ISBN: 978-0-275-97778-8
• No. of pages: 328
• Weight: 595 g
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature > Letters, diaries; Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Non-fiction book > History > Biographies, autobiographies; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, Russia, European History, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Historical, Biography: historical, political & military, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Royalty, HISTORY / Europe / General, 20th Century, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, Biography: royalty, Biography: historical, political and military, HISTORY / Russia / General, HISTORY / Russia / Imperial, World History: Politics and Government