Publishers Weekly
11/22/2021
Turnbull (The Woman Before Wallis) again successfully humanizes a family of powerful historical figures in this look at the end of the Romanov dynasty from the vantage point of Olga Nikolaevna, oldest daughter of last czar Nicholas. The knowledge that almost every reader will have—that Olga, her siblings, and parents will be executed in 1917 after the Russian Revolution—gives the novel a tragic patina from the outset (the ending is previewed by a prologue recounting a prophecy, made at Olga’s birth in 1896, that she would die before the age of 30). Turnbull begins in 1907 with a health scare that demonstrates the limits of royal lineage and power, as Olga’s hemophiliac brother Alexei’s severe illness prompts a fear that he will die young, a tragedy their mother believes was averted by the intercession of mystic Grigori Rasputin. Each chapter brings Olga closer to her doom, as the Romanovs are eventually imprisoned in the ironically named Freedom House. Though the tragic story has been fictionalized effectively in novels such as Carolyn Meyer’s Anastasia and Her Sisters, Turnbull adds to the lore by focusing on a more obscure Romanov, with a gift at making Olga’s situation painfully tangible. This amply justifies taking another look at the lives of the condemned royals. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
When The Last Grand Duchess opens in March 1917, we are witness to the collapse of a world: the privileged existence of the Romanov czarist family. . . I loved this novel, chiefly because of its deft characterizations. . . Even the most flawed characters have their redeeming points: there’s not a cardboard villain to be found. Superbly written and researched, this is a novel that I will be reading again.” —Historical Novels Society (Editor’s Pick)
“The Last Grand Duchess depicts a real family, with all their eccentricities and dynamics, while weaving in key details of the real Romanovs, their friends, and their families. Complete with an authorʼs note and a bibliography that would charm any librarian, this historical fiction depicts the final years of the Romanovs in a way that feels both inspired and truthful.” —Booklist (starred)
“Turnbull pries off the veneer that masked Olga as a blue-blooded victim of the Bolshevik Revolution; instead she gives Olga a three-dimensional personhood with a verve that evokes Scarlett O’Hara... An entrancing tribute to a Victorian lass of tragic grace.” —Library Journal
“Turnbull again successfully humanizes a family of powerful historical figures…Though the tragic story has been fictionalized effectively in novels such as Carolyn Meyer’s Anastasia and Her Sisters, Turnbull adds to the lore by focusing on a more obscure Romanov, with a gift at making Olga’s situation painfully tangible. This amply justifies taking another look at the lives of the condemned royals.” —Publishers Weekly
“The Last Grand Duchess is a powerful and haunting ode to the tragic life of Olga Romanov. Turnbull’s sweeping novel illuminates the fall of the Romanovs in an intimate and unforgettable tale that transports the reader to the heart of Imperial Russia. A poignant, engrossing story that historical fiction readers will love!” —Chanel Cleeton, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba
"From Saint Petersburg to Siberia, sweeping back and forth in time, Bryn expertly weaves together an all-consuming story of The Russian Revolution and the fall of the House of Romanovs. The Last Grand Duchess features a true heroine who displays courage and grace in the face of war, making sacrifices of the heart in the name of family and country loyalty. Historical fiction fans will devour this one!” —Renée Rosen, USA TODAY bestselling author of Park Avenue Summer
“Olga proves time and again that she was a woman ahead of her time, a woman who, heartbreakingly, could have given so much to Russia, her family and the man she loved if only she was given the chance. A gorgeously told tale.” —Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Secret
“The Last Grand Duchess is a masterful work of historical fiction. . . . Turnbull depicts the fault lines of human frailty in all families, as well as the strong bonds of emotion and sacrifice that underpin them. A clear-eyed, compassionate, and heartrending story that skillfully uses fiction to further our understanding of the Romanov dynasty, its fascinating players, and its tragic end.” —Natalie Jenner, USA Today bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society
“From glittering palaces to field hospitals, privilege to prison life, Bryn Turnbull portrays the downfall of a royal family with clarity, empathy, and intimacy. THE LAST GRAND DUCHESS reads like a symphony, the last notes of the Romanovs vanishing with a staggering and tragic beauty.” —Erika Robuck, National bestselling author of The Invisible Woman
“Haunting and beautiful. Turnbull’s take on the Olga Romanov story will leave you hopeful that love does triumph over all.” —Kaia Alderson, author of Sisters in Arms
“Ambitious and intimate, violent and tender, Bryn Turnbull’s The Last Grand Duchess pulls aside some heavy curtains on Russia’s history, spotlighting the tragically human characters in this royal drama. Olga Romanov is seared into my heart as the best kind of tragic heroine, one who fights and loves with every fiber of her being, even in the face of mortal danger. A deeply absorbing read.” —Kerri Maher, author of The Paris Bookseller
“The Last Grand Duchess is the enthralling, beautifully written account of the fall of one of the world’s most powerful dynasties. As Grand Duchess Olga Romanov is torn from the glittering excess of St. Petersburg ballrooms and thrust into the tragedy and hardship of war, she finds a strength and courage that few possess. A complex, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting story that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.” —Christine Wells, author of Sisters of the Resistance
“Bryn Turnbull brings the Romanov family to vivid life, weaving a captivating, tragic tale that is at once sweeping and intimate. Deeply researched and beautifully written, this story humanizes Olga Romanov as she navigates the mounting tensions wrought between family and country, faith and politics, fate and free will. I found myself reading this novel long into the night, spellbound, the pages all but turning themselves. A must read!” —Kristin Beck, author of Courage, My Love
Library Journal - Audio
06/01/2022
Rasputin and Anastasia have long captured the world's imagination and are often the first two figures thought of in the doomed Romanov family. Turnbull (The Woman Before Wallis) flips the script, however, and focuses instead on the eldest Romanov child, Grand Duchess Olga Romanov, in this moving historical drama. Olga comes of age during a tumultuous time in Russia. Her family's way of life is on the way out, and she is struggling to come to terms with it. As war looms, Olga and her sisters trade the glittering palace life for nursing and do what they can to help the wounded soldiers, but they question whether it is enough for the Russian people. Equal parts gleaming and romantic, listeners will cheer for Olga's romantic exploits, and they will hope that she somehow escapes her fate. Yet the story slowly gets darker and gloomier as the end creeps closer. Expertly narrated by Mary Jane Wells, whose cadence and accent lend well to the esteemed Romanov court. VERDICT A new take on an overtold and tragic story.—Erin Cataldi
Library Journal
11/01/2021
This second historical novel by Turnbull (who earned plaudits and delight with The Woman Before Wallis, about the woman loved by Edward VIII before Mrs. Simpson) traces the final decade in the life of Grand Duchess Olga, the oldest of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra's five children. Turnbull uses primary sources from the Romanov historical record (including Olga's diaries, first published in English in 2013) to portray Olga as the girl next door. Modest, smart, and compassionate, she is the role model for her three sisters and a protector of her afflicted brother, the heir. Yet there is a raging romantic streak in Olga's soul that her stern, imperial mother cannot quench. Turnbull pries off the veneer that masked Olga as a blue-blooded victim of the Bolshevik Revolution; instead she gives Olga a three-dimensional personhood with a verve that evokes Scarlett O'Hara. Judiciously, Turnbull also tracks profound fault lines in the Romanov ruling couple and in Russian culture that led to the assassination of all seven Romanovs in 1918. VERDICT Compared to the huge trove of books about the Romanovs and their pretenders, Turnbull's novel is an entrancing tribute to a Victorian lass of tragic grace.—Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA
