When the Bolsheviks took over Russia, the Romanovs, along with many other Russians, were forced out of their beloved homeland. Many resettled in Paris, where for the first time in their lives, they experienced poverty, hunger, and prejudice. Rappaport does an excellent job describing the hardships of the Russian diaspora in Paris, their first experiences with manual labor, their transition from royalty to peasantry.

The book is very well-written, thoroughly researched, and surprisingly readable for a work of academic non-fiction. If you are a history buff like me, I highly recommend picking up a copy. This one just came out Tuesday, March 8, 2022, so you should be able to find a copy at your local bookstore.

Thanks to Helen Rappaport, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-galley of this book.

I have waited several weeks to write this review because I wanted to see if my opinion changed or differed in any substantive way because of hindsight. The answer to that is that I'm still slightly confused about why this book specifically mentions the Romanovs in the title. The entire book is not focused on the Romanovs and after the first chapter that name takes more of a backseat position. Paris After the Romanovs is a title that would seem to fit the subject matter best, at least for me.

I don't know if this book suffered from being written during the early portions of the COVID-19 pandemic or not, but I found myself growing weary of the subject matter and putting the book aside for days at a time. There wasn't any spark that ignited my enthusiasm so when the book began to grow tiresome, I had no problem putting it on a table and leaving it alone.

This book details the experiences of Russians who are living in Paris after the fall of the Romanovs. Interesting information is provided about the individuals and their lives in Paris. This nonfiction historical title will interest readers who want to learn more about Paris during the Belle Epoch.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A fascinating, well-researched look at the lives of Russian refugees in Paris before and after the 1917 Revolution. Perfect for those who want to understand more of Russian history in light of today's events. Out now.

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#aftertheromanovs #HelenRappaport #StMartinPress #NetGalley

I have always been very interested in Russian history around the time of thr Revolution, so when an ARC was offered to me, I decided to give it a shot. Overall I thought the book was good, but it had too many short vignettes of SO many people that it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who, despite my familiarity with some of the people. I think it would have been much more enjoyable if it focused on half the number of people, but delved much deeper into their lives and experiences. I also finished this after Russia had declared war on the Ukraine, which added to my unease in reading this, as I do not want to be giving any kind of support to Russia right now.

This was trademark Rappaport, very excellent and well researched. She clearly has a great command of her sources and the narrative was well and engaging. The glimpses of Russian society in Paris in the interwar period were fascinating. Rappaport also managed to take a well worn topic and look at it from a new angle which is always so great.

When I opened my Kndle to read After the Romanovs, I was worried I would not stay interested after seeing the pages of the Russian Cast of Characters. How was one supposed to remember them? And, on a Kindle it is hard to go back and forth to check. I solved this problem by making screenshots of the pages. As I started reading, I felt I was at a gossip party. I had been worried that the book would be too deep for me. I loved Rappaport’s style of imparting knowledge about the Russian invasion in Paris life during “Belle Époque” era. I am watching The Guilded Age right now and this is a good companion piece to get the feel of this period. It also made me think of the Caroline Ferriday’s mom in LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly . It is also extremely hard to read the footnotes on a Kindle as they are in the back. Resolution: I have ordered a hard copy of After the Romanovs so I can reread sections and access the characters and footnotes etc. I love this time period and I think this book will be an excellent resource to use when reading historical fiction of this time period. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

After the Romanovs by Helen Rappaport

Russophiles rejoice! This is a data rich book about talented Russian émegrés and their undying love for the motherland. Many escaped to Paris where they reestablished careers they loved. While the regime back home changed often, the end results were the same: Clashes, coups, war and famine. Still, most artists were pining for a return.

While there was poverty and starvation in both Russia and Paris, at least no one abroad was out to kill them for their non-conformity. That was actually a plus in Parisian circles. Artists, writers, ballerinas and intellectuals alike worked to continue to hone their crafts. Some succeeded, while others flailed. Some returned, some stayed.

There are names you will recognize, Marc Chagall, for instance, and hundreds more you’ll be lucky to ever spell correctly. Endless footnotes will tell you the author did her homework, but if you’re looking for a storyline, this is not your book.
#StMartinsPress#NetGalley

This is a book that can be enjoyed no matter what your previous knowledge of royal Russians in exile is. Research is impeccable and the footnotes and further information was helpful and interesting. I particularly enjoyed the parts of the book about emigres influence on fashion, jewelry and culture. However, it did seem strange reading this while the present situation in Ukraine was happening.
My only complaint is the title was misleading and I would have preferred a more straightforward book name.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #AfterTheRomanovs for an advanced digital copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy of After the Romanovs by Helen Rappaport in exchange for an honest review. It publishes today, March 8, 2022.
Once again, Rappaport brings history to life in another one of her fabulous works. She has a way of turning something that could be considered boring, and making it more than interesting.
I learned a lot about early 20th century European history, and plan to suggest this to others in my life with similar interests.

After The Romanovs was a little dense and it is by no means a quick read. Also, with the climate in Russia today, it honestly was a little harder to read at this time, but also it provided a lot of insight to why Russia is the way it is to this day. I do appreciate how much research the author put into this book and I learned a lot of interesting things about Russian history that I was not previously aware.

This has the bones of a good history book, but I think it does fall apart in execution. It attempts to cover the lives of the myriad Russian aristocrats following the fall of the monarchy, and apart from a handful of them, I just wasn’t that invested.

If you are a fan of Russian history and anything to do with the Russian aristocracy after the fall of the Romanov dynasty then this is a must-read. Rappaport's writing is well researched, but entirely accessible. It was my first time reading her and I've already ordered her other books!

Valuable resource for several areas of interest.
Once again, I found myself drawn into a book that would have made an excellent resource for any number of my college history papers. Nothing like a textbook, but filled with information and well-documented sources, this book will be a great addition to any library for those interested in French history, Russian history, WWI history, the rise of the Bolsheviks, the end of the tsars of Russia, the fall of the Romanovs, the history of migration and emigration across Europe, the history of refugees, and so much more.

Fascinating read of the culture and people in the years up to and after World War I.
The author does a wonderful job painting the picture and submerging the reader in the world of Paris, eastern Russia, and several places in between during the end of the 1800s and through the interwar period of the 1920s and 1930s. Without getting bogged down in details, the presentation is a great balance of providing as much information as possible while still being relevant and impactful.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in a variety of topics up to, during, and following World War I.
Stars 3.5
Would I Recommend? Yes

This book was a bit more cerebral (lots of footnotes) than I expected. It was definitely well-researched based on the notes and such for the last 30%. I ended up like it and learning some though.
It begins before "after the Romanovs"...at least to my understanding of Russian history. In fact, about half the book is about before Tsar Nicholas II and his family were murdered. I truly had no idea about Paris being a second home to Russian emigres for decades upon decades. The book focuses on the royals, the wealthy, and the artists who fled Russia at various times in the early 19th century and made a new life (or not) in France.
I feel like it could have been better organized and still needed some editing, but I read an ARC. I imagine those things will be fixed by the time the book releases.
This book was definitely readable for a scholarly work, though; and I think would be of interest to many who want to learn more about Russian history...particulary of the exiles.


Thanks to NetGalley annd the publisher for my complimentary copy; all opinions are my own.

An intriguing, well-documented history of the Russian aristocratic family. From the high life in Belle Epoque Paris through the Bolshevik Revolution, the reader is taken on a historic roller coaster as we witness the lavish Parisian lifestyle where money was no object to the whims and desires of the family. Then we turn to Lenin's rule of "appropriating" the assets of the rich and intellectuals forcing them into menial jobs as punishment for their prior existence. The assumptions of espionage divide and lead to arrests, imprisonment, and eventual execution of family members.

The book reads like a suspenseful novel but this is the Romanov's story. An eventful insight into their history and the history of Russian politics which is so relevant today.

3.75 stars

A well-researched and anecdotal look at the White Russian emigres who fled before, during and after the Russian Revolution. This group included those in line for the throne after the Tsar's murder and a few details of some of the nearly-delusional efforts to reinstate the monarchy.

It's quite a mix, everything from the interesting tidbit of the high percentage of the male Russian aristocracy who ended up as Parisian taxi drivers, to the desirability of the countesses and princesses in the world of Parisian fashion. Some had escaped Russian with their jewels or other assets, but many were reduced to poverty. Great stories of the lucky people who built lavish homes and replicated their upper class lifestyle to those who worked in factories or as seamstresses.

Many artists and creative folk fled, including some very famous names of authors, dancers, painters, poets, composers, and opera singers. It all makes for a very interesting, if sad, read. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was exactly the right time to read this book. The first chapter was about Russians living the high-life in Paris right before the Russian Revolution and that was interesting but I wasn't especially hooked. BUT THEN - the book shifted into the story of the Russian refugees who settled in France due to the revolution and I was fascinated. I feel so much more of a connection to the Ukrainian refugees I see on the news today because I read this book.
Tens of thousands of Russians fled to France in the 1910s and they dealt with common immigrant issues - language, prejudice, building a new life. Some of these refugees, though, were Grand Dukes who survived by driving taxis and Princesses who survived by doing piece work for the Paris fashion houses. I had no idea of what they went through - this was all new to me. I enjoyed reading their stories very much and am so glad I read them right now.

After the Romanovs: Russian Exiles in Paris from the Belle Époque Through Revolution and War by Helen Rappaport is the story of Russians in Paris. Paris has always been the city of culture, fine wine and food, and the latest fashions. It also has also been a refuge for those fleeing persecution. For years, Russian aristocrats had enjoyed all that the City of Lights had to offer. Living lavishly Paris was their home away from home. However, with the rise of the Bolshevik Revolution and the fall of the Romanov dynasty, many Russians came to Paris, some with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Suddenly former princes become taxi drivers, their wives sewing for the fashion houses. It is a story of menial jobs, political plots, espionage and assassination with few success stories while many lived in a cycle of poverty. The one thing that joined them all was love of the land that they were forced to leave behind.
After the Romanovs bring the human stories to the historical events. A very detailed account of those who left Russia, afraid for their lives, while hoping for the chance to bring Russia back to her glory. The interesting aspect of After the Romanovs is the cycle in which people can easily become “enemies.” Vladimir Lenin declared the bourgeois, enemies of the revolutions. But the bourgeois weren’t just the monarchy and the wealthy class but intellectuals, writers, and artists who influenced the country’s culture. Many of these individuals would have been considered “have-nots” but because of their professions, they were now enemies of the revolution. I enjoyed reading what happened to those who fled Russia after the revolution and how they fared. Ms. Rappaport does not shy away from the nit and gritty facts of these individuals’ stories, beliefs and attitudes that contributed to their downfall. If you are interested in this area of history, I highly recommend After the Romanovs.

After the Romanovs:
Russian Exiles in Paris from the Belle Époque Through Revolution and War
is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

I don't often read actual history books, but when I do I always try to find a subject that really interests me.

After the Romanovs is a well done piece of Non-Fiction. You can really tell that the author has researched thoroughly the comings and goings of this time, and the people involved.

I think if you're interested in the Romanovs, Paris, and this time period in general, I would say grab this one and give it a read. It was very interesting to me, although I would say for people to be aware that this does read like a history textbook you would find in school.

Some readers can find that daunting and a little off-putting, but I actually found it really easy to read and it was interesting enough that it was hard to put this one down. I especially loved the very beginning, as the author lists the people involved and gives a short breakdown of who they are. That was extremely helpful.

I sincerely appreciate St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.