EKATERINBURG. Ultimele zile ale Romanovilor

Helen Rappaport tells of the Romanov family's last days as prisoners. The former tsar Nicholas faces death in Ekaterinburg. So do his wife Alexandra and their five children. They are Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei.

On 4 July 1918, Iacov Iurovski takes charge of their guards. They hold the family at Ipatiev House. Thirteen days later, his men shoot them in a basement room. His men act at his command, on direct orders from Moscow. These murders mark the end of three centuries of Romanov rule. They also mark the start of an age of terror. The state uses force to crush those who oppose it.

This book tells history as a story for general readers. It suits those keen to learn about Russia's royal family. Rappaport shows the dull routine of life under guard. She sets it against the growing chaos in the country. She uses sources from the time to build this picture. She links the family's fate to their world and its strains.

Ioana Iepureanu translated this edition from English. The book is part of the Corint Istorie series.