I've always been super interested in the Russian and German noble houses, so for a book to come out on Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld who later married into the Romanov family was right up my alley. Following her journey to Russia as Konstantin's young bride was incredibly enlightening, such a long journey in war torn Europe could not have been easy but to then also have such a disappointing and horrible marriage must have have been so incredibly disheartening. It's no wonder she was so depressed!

After leaving Russia it's interesting to see how she retained her Russian status; I think even they knew how mistreated she was and it was their way of damage control? I'm definitely saddened that she fell into obscurity in her later years, though it's entirely understandable why she went to such lengths to be sure nothing much of her life and correspondences remained. The fact too that her grave has more or less been lost just adds to her mystery!

My only major criticism (and even then it's not really that bad) is that I would love to see pictures throughout. Of course this may just come from getting an advanced copy (especially where the family trees and maps were also not included). All my previously read books by Rappaport were really good for this, so I'm chalking it all up to the advance copy. Should this be the case, I'll definitely take a peek at them when the book is published!

Thank you for this ARC!

There are a lot of names throughout the history of the 1800s that we know- even if you aren't really a history person. Catherine the Great, Queen Victoria, Napoleon. Julie of Saxe-Coburg isn't a woman whose name jumps to mind, but, as Helen Rappaport's most recent biography proves, she was certainly a part of the power family circles of the times. After trying to live the life others dictated for her, Julie seems to have balanced political necessity with a personal desire to live a quiet life- rebelling against all expectations for her rather successfully.

The older sister of Leopold (who would marry Princess Charlotte of England and later become King of Belgium) and Victoire (who later became Queen Victoria's mother), Julie was one of the daughters of an ambitious but poor Saxe-Coburg noble house. When Catherine the Great was shopping for a German bride for her grandson Constantine, Julie ended up the winner-or loser. While she got on well with Catherine, her brother-in-law Alexander and his wife Elise (another German bride), Constantine was an abusive man, obsessed with the military and overall not someone you'd want to be married to. By the time Alexander became tsar Julie had had enough and asked permission from her brother-in-law to leave Russia (and Constantine) permanently.

She was always known as a "Russian grand duchess" and was frequently an unofficial envoy for Russia, but Julie never returned to Russia- despite her parents and siblings disagreeing with her leaving her husband. Whether she told any of them at the time the full truth behind her reasons for leaving him or not isn't clear, though in her journals her mother frequently laments at Julie's miserable existence, so she must have known something. Society as a whole never knew exactly what to do with Julie- she was a Russian grand duchess so they wanted to make a big deal out of that, but she was a woman separated (and eventually divorced) from her husband and they all frowned on that.

As interesting as reading about Julie in the book was, it was also frustrating. She's an elusive woman and impossible to feel like you get to know. Rappaport quotes from letters and journals of others about her, you see her through the eyes of people who liked her, admired her, or disliked her based on what she could do for them. But Julie's own letters and journals seem to have completely been destroyed- exactly because she was so close the Romanov family and was such a rebellious person. She knew things the family didn't want talked about, her very existence outside of Russia seems to have been a problem even when they used it as an advantage. Covering up the kind of individual, semi-free life she wanted to lead (even from her neice Victoria) seems to have been somthing the men in the family especially tried to do as she got older. Finding any words she herself wrote, let alone a personal thought she had, are now all but impossible. Meaning by the end of The Rebel Romanov, I wasn't sure I knew Julie as a person any more than when I started the book. I knew about her. I knew about some of the tragedies of the life she had lived and how she had been strong enough to move forward against immense social and sometimes familial pressure to do the opposite. I would love to have known the woman behind the public mask she wore. I expect she was strong and stubborn in a lot of ways. And I think history has a lot more women like her than we know about. We just haven't discovered their voices yet. But Julie meets several other divorced or separated women and gives us hints at the lives they were leading- so maybe we just need to start following those hints.


I received a DRC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I'm a 90s child. Give me anything involving the Romanov's and I will eat it up.
I love reading all crumbs about Catherine the Great, always and seeing all the political connections of the 1800s throughout Eurasia
And history is always great because it reminds ones that no matter what, people have always been people

This is a well-written, entertaining, meticulously researched biography of Julie of Saxe-Coburg. It is interesting and informative, and contains detailed and vivid descriptions of her life, court intrigue, traditions, locations, and historical figures. The footnotes, notes, bibliography and acknowledgements are enlightening, and are truly appreciated. Many thanks to Dr. Rappaport, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this fascinating book. This is my honest opinion.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Rebel Romanov by Helen Rappaport is a historical nonfiction about Julie of Saxe-Coburg, a Grand Duchess of Russia in the nineteenth century. When Catherine the Great contacts the Saxe-Coburg family to arrange marriages to German princesses for her grandchildren, she is delighted that Konstantin agrees to marry Julie. But their marriage is far from perfect and will not last long.

I was expecting more of a biography of Julie’s life, but as Helen Rappaport notes several times, that’s actually extremely tricky. Despite her station as a Grand Duchess of Russia, an in-law of Catherine the Great, a beloved aunt of Queen Victoria, and the sister-in-law of Czar Alexander II, there is not that much on Julie or her life, especially after she and Konstantin became estranged. She desired a life of privacy and it appears that many of those who truly loved her respected that to at least some degree, including respecting her forgoing attending weddings and other important royal events. Because of this, we get a lot of details about what is going on more broadly in the lives of European royalty and the ways in which they did connect to Julie.

I feel like reading this helped shed a light on where the elitist, militaristic, expansionist characteristics of the Russian court started to reach a fever pitch that ultimately led to the downfall of the Romanovs in a hundred years. Catherine wanting her grandsons to be educated but pushing masculinity onto them and zero arts, the lack of anyone holding Konstantin accountable for how he terrorized the soldiers under him and his own wife, and the dismissal of basically every other country absolutely contributed to these problems. A single nonfiction shouldn’t necessarily give all the answers because a lot of things are complex, but I do think that this work is an additional piece of the puzzle that helps make the picture more vivid.

I felt really bad for Julie not even a full chapter into this. It’s so obvious that she’s heading towards an unhappy marriage and that no one is going to save her, so she has to save herself in a time where that could mean, and did end up, basically destroying any chance of normalcy or having the things that she really wanted. She had at least two children (there’s two confirmed and there’s a possible third but we’re not positive) and couldn’t raise them because she was still married to a man that she hadn’t seen in years. And getting a divorce was made way too difficult even though both parties were miserable and wanted to marry other people. Unfortunately, there are still women to this day trapped in similar situations and drawing attention to the fact that even someone in a position of privilege like Julie can experience this will hopefully make readers more empathetic to survivors of domestic abuse.

Content warning for mentions of domestic abuse

I would recommend this to fans of nonfiction about the web of the European royal families and readers of works about the Romanovs

"The Rebel Romanov" by Helen Rappaport offers an intriguing exploration of a lesser-known historical figure: Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, later Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna of Russia. While I have good knowledge of many of the famous personalities mentioned in the book, like Catherine the Great, Queen Victoria, and Leopold I, I was unaware and eager to learn about Julie - the third daughter of a relatively minor Germanic ducal house - who had connections to them all

Rappaport’s work is both well-researched and highly readable, guiding readers through Juliane’s journey from her early life in Saxe-Coburg to her reluctant role as Grand Duchess in the Russian court following her politically motivated marriage to Catherine the Great's grandson. The book spans her life from her pre-marriage days to her death at the age of 78, offering insights into the Russian court, the Napoleonic Wars, and the culture of the Romantic era.

While the biography sheds light on many aspects of Juliane’s life, her private experiences and the full nature of her relationships remain elusive, shrouded by the limitations of historical records -- she was a full supporter of "burn after reading". Additionally, it was fascinating to trace how the relatively obscure Saxe-Coburg family rose to prominence, placing its descendants on the thrones of England, Belgium, and Portugal through strategic marriages.

Overall, "The Rebel Romanov" is a compelling portrait of a woman navigating the demands of duty, society, and personal resilience within a transformative era. It’s a testament to Helen Rappaport’s skill as a historian and storyteller that Juliane’s story feels both vivid and relatable, despite the inevitable gaps in our understanding of her inner world.

The amazing story about a forgotten historical figure who fought for her happiness after being selected as a Russian Imperial Bride by Catherine the Great. Julie was Queen Victoria’s aunt.

The Rebel Romanov is a book about an Imperial Grand Duchess of Russia who played (mostly) by her own rules, but this biography has opened my eyes to a part of world history I never fully appreciated. The Saxe Coberg family was previously unknown to me, but in seeing the family history through Julie (or Anna Fyordovna), the reader will see how alliances were forged that placed Saxe Cobergs on the thrones of Europe but also formed unyielding allegiances that would play out in future world conflicts.

This book is an incredible biography on the life of a woman whose name has largely been lost to time, but Helen Rappaport breathes new life and color into the story of a remarkable and influential royal woman. I enjoyed this book; it was well researched and it really expanded my understandings of aristocracy and politics of the early 1800s. Highly recommend if you enjoy scholarly deep dives into interesting women and families who shaped Europe as we know it.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An interesting book about a very interesting lady from a pivotal time in Europes history. This book was a nice weekend read or a rainy weekend.

I unfortunately only have dislike to report on this one. Whenever I browse books about the Romonov family, Helen Rappaport often seems associated with them. Maybe it was because this was a bit of an odd topic that the book did not land for me. I thought it might be a fun book to start off with Rappaport's bibliography yet from the start, I found myself detached from the text. It often felt more like I was reading a Wikipedia article than a book. It felt like my reaction was more of a me problem than the book's problem. I was unsure to what the book's argument was nor did I feel a sense of interest or empathy about the subject manner. Each chapter was so forgettable, I kept having to reread to remember.

Thanks to St Martins Press and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

Julie of Saxe-Coberg had quite a life and then some. Raised in a small German duchy, she was, at one time, in line for the Russian throne. And then she took her self back to Germany and say "no thanks." And for that she is a bit of a mystery. Helen Rappaport does an excellent job of describing Julie's world, her decisions, and ultimately her life after joining the Romanov family. She was connected to some of the biggest monarchies in Europe, but lived a quiet life away from a lot of pomp and circumstance. That being said, for a title that uses the word "rebel," I wish I had gotten more about why Julie was a rebel beyond her scorning the Romanovs and moving back to Germany. But for a woman so connected, she is so deeply hidden and I appreciated Rappaport's efforts to bring her life to the light.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of "The Rebel Romanov: Julie of Saxe Coburg, the Empress Russia Never Had" by Helen Rappaport

"In the constant quest for social preferment and advantageous dynastic union, the vultures of royal ambition were always and forever circling."

This quote out of Chapter 12th of Helen Rappaport's "The Rebel Romanov: Julie of Saxe-Coburg, the Empress Russia Never Had" pretty much sums up the life and times of the aunt of England's Queen Victoria.

While Rappaport's research is thorough with careful notes included throughout, Julie is simply not a rebel and does not offer much throughout her lifetime to warrant any special recognition. On the extremely negative side and in her defense, she was "sold" to the grandson of Catherine the Great at the age of only 14 and had to endure a miserable life with Konstantin. Although she escaped the marriage and many years later was granted a divorce, her years encompass moving around with an entourage, affairs with men resulting in pregnancies she hid away, and seeing to her own needs at the expense of others.

Unfortunately, "The Rebel Romanov" has succeeded in turning this reader off to the frivolity, selfishness and hypocrisy of royals anywhere.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy of The Rebel Romanov Julie of Saxe-Coburg, the Empress Russia Never Had by Helen Rappaport in exchange for an honest review. It publishes April 15, 2025.
Helena Rappaport is my go-to for all things Romanov, and she delivered again with this wonderful book. I have read several books by Rappaport, and the way she turns what could be boring or dry history into a riveting story that I won’t want to put down will never cease to impress me!
The careful details shared in this book are so informative, yet fresh and interesting will teach you so much as well!

Look, when I pick up a book about a rebellious Romanov-era princess entangled in royal drama, I expect juicy levels of gossip, scandal, and backstabbing worthy of an HBO miniseries. What I got instead was a very well-researched—but rather dry—account that read like a dissertation with occasional hints of drama peeking through, waving weakly from the sidelines.

Julie of Saxe-Coburg had all the ingredients of a historical trainwreck I could have gleefully devoured: a terrible marriage to a violent man-child, an overbearing empress, whispered affairs, secret children, and a scandalous romance with a married doctor (oh, the audacity!). But instead of diving headfirst into the court intrigue and illicit rendezvous, this book methodically lays out the facts in a way that feels more like attending a very serious lecture than indulging in a juicy historical escape.

To be clear, the research? Impeccable. The drama? Strangely subdued. Julie was an absolute icon of her time—choosing personal freedom over royal duty—but I just wanted more sass in telling her story. More side-eye at Constantine’s Jekyll-and-Hyde routine. More exclamation points when discussing her multiple love affairs. More gasp-worthy revelations instead of measured analysis.

If you’re looking for a meticulously documented history lesson, this book delivers. If you were hoping for a delightfully scandalous royal tell-all, you might want to lower your expectations…or at least come prepared with a cup of tea and a shot of vodka.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the the opportunity to read this fabulous book. I learned so much from reading this fabulous book. I learned so much- I didn’t realize i hadn’t seen this connections before. The history of the Romanovs is so interesting and tragic. Helen Rappaport always does such a fabulous job in telling their stories.

I am a big fan of Helen Rappaport’s writing. I found this one of her books to have a slower start, likely because most of Rappaport’s other books that I have read were about the family and political situation surrounding Tsar Nicholas II and his family. However, once I got into it, I fell in love with Julie of Saxe-Cobourg. As always, Rappaport’s writing is informative and entertaining, making you excited to learn more about her subject.

Very interesting story of Julie Romanov. I learned a lot about this Romanov that I didn't know exist. Relatively quick read and well researched.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I’ve read a few of Rappaport’s books and really enjoyed them, but this one was a (teensy) bit of a miss for me. I applaud her for finding as much as she did in her research about Julie, as the “empress that never was” wanted to deliberately fade from view. However, there were a few long tangents that made it feel like padding to get this book to an acceptable length based on the small amount of first-hand documents available; the lengthy recap of her trip from Saxe-Coburg to Russia sticks out in particular.

That being said, I enjoy reading about this period of history and its remarkable women (right at the end of Catherine the Great, and the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign), and so I am glad to have read this and to have learned a little more about Julie, who was both Catherine’s granddaughter-in-law and Victoria’s aunt. I did enjoy that Rappaport framed Julie in the context of the strong women in her orbit, as she herself was a strong woman who outlasted an unhappy marriage.

The Rebel Romanov
By Helen Rappaport

This is the story of Julie of Saxe-Coburg, a Germanic princess destined to be sold off in marriage to Konstantin, the grandson of Catherine the Great of Russia. This was common practice in the early 1800s. The sons of royal families were expected to make financially advantageous marriages. The daughters were paraded like cattle at auction on the marriage market to benefit their financially strapped families or to boost the prospects of their brothers.

Julie was only 14 years old when she was escorted, together with her two sisters, for the inspection by Konstantin (and Catherine, of course) as a possible wife. Konstantin chose Julie. She was then deserted by her mother and sisters and left to the Russians, who required her to renounce her Lutheran faith in favor of the Russian Orthodox Church. The fact that she knew next to nothing about her prospective bridegroom was not important – she had a duty to perform.

Unfortunately Konstantin apparently had mental health issues as did his father. He was cruel and violent. And Julie had no recourse. But she was not alone in this predicament. As this book makes clear, women from noble families had no say in these situations.

Julie's story is at once heartbreaking and horrifying. The book presents a well-researched picture of life for those thought of as privileged during those years. A very interesting history!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Helen Rappaport's "The Rebel Romanov: Julie of Saxe-Coburg, the Empress Russia Never Had" presents a fascinating glimpse into Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg's life, a figure entangled in European and Russian aristocratic power dynamics.

Betrothed to Konstantin Romanov, grandson of Catherine the Great, at the age of 14, Julie faced emotional and psychological turmoil in her diplomatic marriage. Through meticulous research and clear storytelling, Rappaport portrays Julie's journey of political ambition, personal tragedy, and fierce independence, skillfully capturing her transition from a naive princess to a defiant and independent woman. Julie's divorce in 1820, a rare act of agency in an era dominated by patriarchal norms, highlights her courage and resilience.

The biography does not shy away from the controversial aspects of Julie's story, humanizing her amidst the backdrop of royal expectations. Rappaport integrates historical context seamlessly, immersing readers in the political intrigues and societal constraints of the era, although the depth of detail may be challenging for those less familiar with Russian history.

This is a well-paced biography that balances historical rigor with an emotionally compelling narrative. Rappaport's portrayal of Julie is sympathetic and vivid, shedding light on a woman who defied expectations and sought autonomy. "The Rebel Romanov" is a tribute to a life shaped by resilience and defiance, and a must-read for lovers of Russian history and European royalty.