Books | Nicholas II

Recommended reading: 10 books on the life and reign of Nicholas II

One of the questions I am asked most is “can you recommend a good book on Nicholas II?”

Putting aside the numerous beautiful pictorials which have been published over the years, I have compiled the following *list of 10 books, which for the most part, present an honest assessment on the life and reign of Russia’s last Emperor and Tsar.

In addition, are the following honourable mentions: Nicholas and Alexandra byRobert K. Massie (1967); Last Years of the Court at Tsarskoe Selo Volume I – 1906-1910 (2010) and Volume II – 1910-1914 (2017) by General Alexandre Spiridovitch; Thirteen Years at the Russian Court (1921/2025) by Pierre Gilliard; At the Court of the Last Tsar (1935) by Alexander Mossolov; and The Coronation of Tsar Nicholas II (2012) edited by Paul Gilbert.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

*NOTE: all of the books listed here are in English and listed in order of the year they were published. With the exception of Oldenburg’s 4-volume study, all the remaining titles are available from your favourite bookseller. Second hand copies can also be found on eBay, aLibris, Biblio, etc.

Teokratia: The Theocratic Principle in Russia, 1917 and Today
Author: Matthew dal Santo
Published in 2025 by Angelico Press
546 pages

NOTE: I have selected this title for my ‘Romanov Book of the Year 2025’

Part travelogue, part history, and part theological reflection, Matthew Dal Santo’s new book is a “MUST READ” for any one who shares an interest in the life and reign of Russia’s last Tsar. Dal Santo brilliantly connects themes of contemporary relevance with ‘old Russia’ by unfolding a journey in which he explores the rise and fall of the Romanov family. He investigates how the family is perceived by the Russian people today, in light of their canonization by the Moscow Patriarchate in 2000.

At the heart of his reflections stand two figures, Nicholas II and the theologian Sergei Bulgakov (1871-1944): the tsar represents the fate of Teokratia in Russia, the idea that political rule is a sacred office. It is a scholarly life of Nicholas II set against its background in the history of imperial Russia. It is a journalist’s investigation of attitudes to the martyrs of the Romanov family among ordinary Russians today. It is a travelogue of descriptions, often astonishingly beautiful, of the places associated with Nicholas II and his family, and where the final drama of the dynasty unfolded.

The book serves simultaneously as a spiritual biography of Russia’s last (now sainted) tsar, Nicholas II (1894–1917),exploring the theological sources of Nicholas’s unwillingness, even inability, to grant Russia a constitution as a matter of faith and conscience—questioning as it does so the tensions in not only Bulgakov’s political theology but also the meaning of the place of the emperor/tsar in Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

It is also—and this will not easily be found among other accounts of the coming of the revolutions of 1917—a plea to re-examine the significance of ‘sacral’ monarchy, understood as the symbolization of a Christ-centered order in which ultimate norms and values are raised above the simple adjudication, whether democratic or bureaucratic, of practical affairs.

Last year, after the author sent me a review copy of his book, he sent the following note: “I hope you will feel I have done Nicholas II’s inner, spiritual life justice. That was one of my chief aims.” He did indeed!

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

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Tsar Nicholas II: Unveiling the Holy Tsar
Author: Alexander Egger
Published Independently in 2024
493 pages

San Francisco based author Alexander Egger’s groundbreaking book is a must for those who wish to understand better the spiritual journey of Nicholas II.

Explore the captivating life of Tsar Nicholas II, in a profound journey through his tumultuous yet spiritually rich reign (1894-1917), torn between the duties of rulership and a deep yearning for spiritual enlightenment, navigated a realm fraught with political intrigue and societal upheaval. Despite these challenges, he emerged as a steadfast champion of the Orthodox faith, dedicated to preserving Russia’s sacred traditions.

This book vividly portrays Nicholas II’s unwavering devotion to God amidst the trials of governance. It delves into his inner conflict, portraying a leader grappling with faith, fate, and destiny. Nicholas II’s spiritual odyssey unfolds as a timeless tale of personal transformation, resonating with those who seek deeper meaning beyond earthly power.

Witness the poignant journey of a ruler who strove to reconcile his role as sovereign with his desire for piety and humble devotion. Through rich narrative and historical insight, this book offers an unforgettable portrait of Nicholas II’s unwavering loyalty to tradition and his quest for solace and salvation.

Tragically, Tsar Nicholas and his beloved family ultimately met their deaths in a gloomy basement in Ekaterinburg. Throughout their lives, they embodied the values of family, humility, nobility, duty, the Russian people, and, above all, the holy Orthodox faith. In the end, they sacrificed their lives for their nation and the Orthodox faith, standing as the early martyrs did before the lions. Having given their lives for Christ, they now intercede on our behalf before Christ.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

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The Last Tsar:
The Abdication of Nicholas II and the Fall of the Romanovs
Author: Tsuyoshi Hasegawa
Published in 2024 by Basic Books
560 pages

In April 2024, I shared some thoughts on The Last Tsar, which were based on the publisher’s summary of the book. My article was published on this blog some 8 months prior to the book’s release in December 2024. Click HERE to read it.

I had some hesitation including this book to my Top 10 recommended reading list, but after some deliberation I decided to include it. First of all, I found Hasegawa’s book very biased against Nicholas II. The author does not hold back from revealing what he thinks of Nicholas II as a ruler, regurgating the same old nasty euphemisms which have existed since the early 20th century, the same ones which were allowed to germinate during the Bolshevik and later Soviet years.

As one reviewer on Amazon wrote: “Humans are all bias to some degree. Historians need to be mindful of our own human nature and try to stick to factual representations of history.” The reviewer then adds: “It is difficult to find real history presented through unbiased factual lens . . when discussing the last Russian Tsar.”

In addition, Hasegawa makes some outrageous statements, the most ridiculous being found on pages 32-33, in which he compares Rasputin’s followers to that of cult leader and mass murderer Charles Manson or Jim Jones and even Donald Trumo’s MAGA movement. I wonder if Hasegawa has met some of the “Kirillists” – aka as “Legitimists”? This is just one example, and certainly not the type of “research” one expects from a “professor emeritus in history”. Perhaps he drank too much sake?

Then there are the sources for his book. While Hasegawa has utilized the vast resources of the Russian archives, presenting many new documents, he also cites some rather dubious sources. In particular, when discussing Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich’s treasonous actions following the February 1917 Revolution, he refers to a series of emails from a well-known American social media troll and “Kirillist/Legitimist”, who goes out of his way to present the Kirillovich branch of the Romanov dynasty in any way but truthful!

Having pointed out the negatives of this book, I still recommend this book to those who share an interest in the reign of Russia’s last Tsar. Hasegawae has produced an intimate and highly absorbing account of Russia’s last hereditary autocrat. Hasegawa’s book is like a slow-motion vintage newsreel of Russia approaching the edge. He literally “dissects” the events leading up to the Tsar’s abdication on 15th March (O.S. 2nd March) 1917, which reveal many new details, thus making this book a compelling read.

This book which is based on a trove of new archival discoveries, narrates how the factions of scheming nobles, ruthless legislators, pragmatic generals and even members of the Russian Imperial Family – ALL in one way or another helped to bring about the destruction of the monarchy and the Russian Empire. Nicholas II’s famous words “All around me I see treason, cowardice and deceit!”, ring loud and clear, as Hasegawa reveals the identities of those who betrayed their sovereign.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

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The True Story of the Romanov Family
Published in 2024 by the Diaconești Monastery (Moldavia)
68 pages, richly illustrated

A new graphic novel, featuring exceptional illustrations and content that evoke the true story of the last Russian Imperial Family. This books is a labour of love by the nuns of the Diaconești Monastery in Moldavia, motivated by their deep reverence for the Holy Tsar Nicholas II and his family.

Drawing from numerous historical sources—studies, memoirs, and diaries—the nuns have meticulously reconstructed key moments in the life of the Imperial Family and presented them in a visually captivating format suitable for readers of all ages.

From the love story between Nicholas and Alix to the children’s education in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo, from the tragedy of the Otsu Incident to the prophetic meeting with the Blessed Pasha Ivanovna of Diveevo, all are captured in exceptional illustrations, crowned with artistic refinement by the eleven Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs—famous jewels from the Romanov collection—depicted on the book’s title page.

This graphic novel aims not only to captivate Romanov history enthusiasts but also to offer a model of family, faith, and dignity in a world where these values are increasingly under threat. This book is a must read for all dedicated ‘Romanovphiles’.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

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The Last of the Tsars: Nicholas II and the Russian Revolution
Author: Robert Service
Published in 2017 by Pan Macmillan (UK)
382 pages, illustrated

The Last of the Tsars was published just before the 150th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Nicholas II in 1868, and the 100th anniversary of his murder in 1918. I have to say that I was reluctant at first to read this book, however, once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down!

This book was researched and written by the well known British historian and Sovietologist Robert Service. Wile the author is clearly not one of Nicholas II’s adherents – he rehashes the negative Bolshevik assessment of the Tsar – this book is still worth a read.

Service’s meticulous research offers some very interesting new details about the last eighteen months of Nicholas II’s life. What sets Service’s book a cut above those previously written, is that he avoids the details of the murder and burial of the Tsar and his family, and instead, explains in intricate detail the events between the Tsar’s abdication in February 1917 and his death in July 1918.

Drawing on Nicholas II’s own diaries and other hitherto unexamined contemporary documents, The Last of the Tsars reveals a compelling account of the social, economic and political foment in Russia in the aftermath of Alexander Kerensky’s February Revolution, the Bolshevik seizure of power in October 1917 and the beginnings of Lenin’s Soviet republic.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

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The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal
Published in 2019 by Mesa Potamos Publications (Cyprus)
508 pages, illustrated

The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal draws on letters, testimonies, diaries, memoirs, and other texts never before published in English to present a unique biography of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. A lively portrait of the Imperial Family emerges from their own personal writings and in the writings of those who lived very close to them. Based strictly on primary sources, the book also brings to light a multitude of unknown and unrevealed facts, which evince that many truths in regard to the life and martyrdom of the Royal Martyrs remain silenced or distorted to this day. The result is a psychographic biography that explores the essential character of the royal family in a deeper and inspiring way.

This voluminous book includes nearly 200 black and white photographs, and also features a 56-page photo insert, of more than 80 high-quality images of the tsar and his family, all of which have been colourised by the acclaimed Russian artist Olga Shirnina (aka Klimbim), and appear here in print for the first time.

The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal was my personal choice for Romanov Book of the Year in 2019. Click HERE to read my review, published on 18th November 2019.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

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The Court of the Last Tsar: Pomp, Power and Pageantry in the Reign of Nicholas II
Author: Greg King
Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (US)
559 pages, illustrated

While a massive body of work has been devoted to the last of the Romanovs, The Court of the Last Tsar is the first book to examine the people, mysteries, traditions, scandals, rivalries, and riches that were part of everyday life during 22+ year reign of Nicholas II.

This richly illustrated volume includes 24-pages of colour photographs; more than 80 black-and-white photos; floor plans of the Winter Palace (St. Petersburg), the Alexander Palace (Tsarskoye Selo), the Grand Kremlin Palace (Moscow), among others.

King’s study draws on hundreds of previously unpublished primary sources, including memoirs, personal letters, diary entries, and official documents. His research invites you to experience dozens of extravagant ceremonies and entertainments attended by members of the Imperial Court, which numbered more than fifteen thousand individuals.

Chief among these, of course, was Nicholas II, Emperor and Tsar who ruled an empire that stretched over one-sixth of the earth’s land surface. His marriage to Princess Alix of Hesse in 1894 and their Coronation in 1896 are two of the most spectacular ceremonies described in this lavish volume.

The Court of the Last Tsar brings the people, places, and events of this doomed but unforgettable wonderland to vivid and sparkling life.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

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A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra, Their Own Story
Authors: Sergei Mironenko and Andrei Maylenas
Published in 1997 by Doubleday (US); Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd (UK)
559 pages, illustrated.

These letters, most of which are published here for the first time, offer an intimate look at some of the most momentous events of the early 1900s, including Russia’s participation in World War I and the fall of the Romanov dynasty in the October 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Among the correspondents are Alexandra’s beloved but domineering grandmother, Queen Victoria of Great Britain, and Nicholas’ cousin, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. Most poignant, though, are the letters and diaries of the last Tsar and Tsarina, which stand as eloquent expressions of one of the great love affairs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A Lifelong Passion begins in 1884 with the couple’s first childhood meeting and chronicles their intense courtship and first joyful years of marriage. Their happiness, however, was not to last, as they were quickly overtaken by the forces of war and revolution. The discovery that their only son and heir Alexei was stricken with hemophilia opened the family to the formidable and perhaps malign influence of the monk Rasputin, whose gory death is here recounted by one of the murderers. Though unshaken in their love for one another, Nicholas and Alexandra could not hold their country together, and their story ends with a chilling account of their murder by the Bolshevik revolutionaries.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

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Nicholas II: Twilight of the Empire
Author: Dominic Lieven
Published in 1993 by St. Martin’s Press (US); Pimlico (UK)
292 pages, illustrated

What is there new to say about Russia’s last monarch? Almost everything. Previous biographies have told of the shy family man, the father of the hemophiliac heir, the victim of the infamous murder at Ekaterinburg in 1918. This book provides new insights into those parts of the story, but it looks above all at Nicholas as political leader and emperor, as it portrays the Old Regime’s collapse and the origins of Bolshevik Russia in a way that will surprise readers.

Nicholas II was not stupid. Nor was he weak as is commonly thought. The dilemmas of ruling Russia were vast and contradictory, and it was an illusion to think that simply by agreeing to become a constitutional monarch Nicholas could have preserved his dynasty and empire. Drawing many eerie parallels to events unfolding in Russia today, Lieven shows that social and technological change had far outstripped the existing political and executive structures. Lieven argues that the inability of the Tsar and his government to recognize these growing anachronisms and to devise new systems constructively helped lead to the devastating chaos out of which the new order arose.

Drawing on his fifteen-year study of Imperial Russia and using archival material and other sources all over the world, Cambridge Research Professor Dominic Lieven shows that the downfall of both the Imperial and Soviet Regimes fit into a pattern of ongoing Russian history, one that bears close scrutiny if we are to understand the turmoil of the post-Cold War period.

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

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Last Tsar: Nicholas II, His Reign and His Russia – 4 Volumes
Author: Sergei S. Oldenburg
Published in 1975 by Academic International Press (US)
228 pages (Vol. I), 315 pages (Vol. 2), 224 pages (Vol. 3), 356 pages (Vol. 4)

The 4-volume Last Tsar. Nicholas II, His Reign & His Russia by the noted Russian historian and journalist Sergei Sergeiivich Oldenburg (1888-1940), remains the most comprehensive and definitive English language study of Nicholas II’s 22+ year reign to date. Originally published in 1939 in Russian, the first English edition was not published until 1975.

It is a major document in modern Russian historiography. The final contribution of a Russian nationalist historian, it provides uniquely sensitive insights into the character, personality, and policies of Russia’s last tsar. It has no rival as a political biography of Nicholas II and is without peer as a comprehensive history of his reign.

Click HERE to read my article about this highly sought after set and its’ author Sergei Sergeiivich Oldenburg

Click HERE to download, print and save a copy of my 22-page
Nicholas II Bibliography of Books (2026). It’s FREE!

Two NEW books on the Alexander Palace

Posted on 27 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

I am pleased to a nnounce the release of a NEW edition of The Empress’s Balcony (published in 2026) and it’s companion volume The Empress’s Chair (published in 2023).

I have compiled two unique pictorials dedicated to two of the most iconic spots in the Alexander Palace – the former residence of Russia’s last Imperial Family at Tsarskoye Selo – both of them favourite spots for the rest and relaxation of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

The Empress’s famous balcony and the corner chair in her Mauve Boudoir served as the settings for hundreds of iconic photographs of herself, the Tsar, their children, as well as extended family members and those close to the Imperial Family.

Each of these pictorials feature more than 100 full-page black-and-white photos. The accompanying text explores the history of both the balcony and chair, as well as the history and recreation of the Maple Drawing Room and Mauve Boudoir. While the balcony was demolished during the Soviet years, the Empress’s chair has recently been recreated for the restored interior of her Mauve Boudoir, which opened to the public in 2021.

Each of these charming pictorials will be a welcome addition to any one who shares an interest in the Alexander Palace and its Imperial residents during the late 19th to early 20th centuries.

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*This title is available from AMAZON in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia,
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Japan

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE PAPERBACK EDITION @ $13.99 USD

English. 112 pages, 100 black & white photos

Originally published in 2023, this NEW 2026 edition features a NEW cover, plus two additional pages and NEW photographs

Between 1896-1898 – the Court architect Silvio Danini carried out the reconstruction of the eastern wing of the Alexander Palace, which included the personal apartments of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna.

In addition, he installed the famous L-shaped iron balcony for the Empress, which was accessed via the Maple Drawing Room.

The Empress’s balcony became a favourite setting for taking family photographs, taken by the Empress and her children, all of whom were avid amateur photographers. More than a century later, these iconic images provide us with a rare glimpse into the private world of the Imperial Family.

The photographs presented in this pictorial, have all been selected from the private albums of the Empress and her children, and that of Alexandra’s friend and lady-in-waiting Anna Vyrubova.

Read why the balcony was dismantled between 1947-49, and why the palace-museum have no plans to restore it. In the meantime, we have to content ourselves with the selection of vintage photographs which have survived to this day, and are presented in this pictorial.

*This title is available from AMAZON in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia,
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Japan

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE PAPERBACK EDITION @ $13.99 USD

English. 120 pages, 107 black & white photos

Among the Empress’s quarters was the Mauve Boudoir, which would become her favourite room. According to legend, the Empress gave Alexnder Meltzer a lilac branch, her favourite flower, so that he could choose the colour scheme for the decoration of the room.

Among the most notable pieces of furniture in this room was a corner chair, which became a popular spot for family photographs, taken by the Empress and her children, all of whom were avid amateur photographers. More than a century later, these iconic images provide us with a rare glimpse into the private world of the Imperial Family.

Like many other rooms in the Alexander Palace, the Mauve Boudoir suffered a sad fate – the decoration and the interior were lost during the Great Patriotic War. The room has since been reconstructed and restored to its original historic look, as has the Empress’s famous chair.

Sovereign: The Life and Reign of Emperor Nicholas II

Posted on January 7 by Paul Gilbert

BACK ISSUES OF SOVEREIGN

CLICK on the LINK below for more details, including a full list of the articles found
in each issue + links to ORDER copies of the issues which interest you most:

No. 16 Winter 2026

No. 15 Summer 2025

No. 14 Winter 2025

No. 13 Summer 2024

No. 12 Winter 2024

*You can order SOVEREIGN from most AMAZON outlets, including the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico and Japan – *Note: prices are quoted in local currencies

SOVEREIGN was launched in 2015, by Paul Gilbert, a British-born historian and writer, who has dedicated more than 35 years to researching and writing about Emperor Nicholas II, his family, the Romanov Dynasty and Imperial Russia. Now retired, he focuses his work on clearing the name of Russia’s much slandered Tsar.

He is able to achieve this through his blog, social media, conferences and SOVEREIGN. It is through these venues that he challenges the negative myths and lies about Nicholas II, which have existed for more than a century. He is the author of more than a dozen books, which explore the life and reign of Nicholas II, based on research from Russian archival and media sources.

From 1986 to 2018, he travelled to Russia 29 times, visiting St. Petersburg, Moscow, Ekaterinburg and Crimea. In the 1990s, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, Gilbert organized annual Romanov Tours, which offered visits to the Imperial Palaces, palaces of the grand dukes and grand duchesses in and around St. Petersburg, museums, among others.

PHOTO: SOVEREIGN publisher and editor Paul Gilbert. Ekaterinburg. July 2018

These tours featured lectures by leading authors and Romanov historians and museum curators. Several tours included visits to the State Archives of the Russian Federation (GARF) in Moscow, to view photo albums, letters, diaries and personal items of Nicholas II and his family.

Some of the highlights of these tours included the Alexander Palace in 1996 – one of the first groups from the West to explore the interiors of Nicholas and Alexandra’s private apartments; the Grand Kremlin Museum in Moscow; Livadia Palace in Crimea, among others.

One of the highlights of his career, was organizing and hosting the 1st International Nicholas II Conference, held on 27th October 2018, in Colchester, England. It was a memorable event, which brought together more than 100 people from almost a dozen countries. A second conference is in the works.

About SOVEREIGN

There are few monarchs in history about whom opinion has been more divided than the last Emperor and Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II (1868-1918).

Myths and lies about the “weak-willed”, “incompetent”, “bloody” tsar, were created on the basis of gossip, slanderous fabrications and Bolshevik propaganda in the early 20th century. For more than 70 years, the Bolsheviks and the Soviets were perfectly content to allow these myths and lies to stand. Sadly, they remain deeply rooted in the minds of both Westerners and the Russian people to this day.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Nicholas II has undergone nothing short of a renaissance in modern-day Russia. Much of this is thanks to the efforts of the Russian Orthodox Church and monarchist groups. He has been the subject of hundreds of new biographies and historical studies, documentaries, exhibitions, discussion forums, etc. In 2002, Tsar’s Days was revived in Ekaterinburg, an annual event which draws tens of thousands from across Russia and abroad to honour the memory of Nicholas II and his family.

Sadly, many of today’s academically lazy, British and American historians and biographers, prefer to rehash the popular negative myths and lies of Nicholas II’s early 20th century detractors. Few – if any of these “experts” – have traveled to Russia to utilize the vast archival sources now available to researchers. Instead they focus on Nicholas II’s failures, and seldom reflect on the many accomplishments he made during his 22+ year reign.

It was these very myths and lies, which compelled Gilbert to launch SOVEREIGN in 2015.

In 2024, SOVEREIGN was relaunched with a new format, which now features articles researched and written by Paul Gilbert and published on this blog. Gilbert has researched these works from Russian archival and media sources. Beginning with the No. 12 Winter 2024 issue of SOVEREIGN, these articles are now available in a printed format for the first time!

In addition, are a number of First English language works by Russian historians and experts, based on new archival documents discovered since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Thanks to this new generation of post-Soviet historian, we can now review the life and reign of Russia’s last Emperor and Tsar through Russian eyes, instead of Soviet ones! They challenge and put to rest many of the lies and myths presented over the past century by their Western counterparts. Their works are based on facts and information from reliable Russian sources.

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SOVEREIGN was launched in 2015, and has published a total of 15 issues. Please note, that issues No. 1 through 11 are now out of print, although used and second-hand copies are available on eBay and Amazon.

Issues No. 12 to 16 are available exclusively from Amazon – please refer to the links below. The No. 17 Sunner 2026 issue will be published in June 2026.

Current issues of SOVEREIGN

– CLICK on the LINK below for more details, including a full list of the articles found in each issue + links to ORDER copies of the issues which interest you most:

No. 16 Winter 2026

No. 15 Summer 2025

No. 14 Winter 2025

No. 13 Summer 2024

No. 12 Winter 2024

Nicholas II Bibliography – FREE 22-page booklet

Posted on January 2 by Paul Gilbert

Click HERE to download, print and/or save booklet
Please note that this file is only available in a PDF file

Russia’s last emperor and tsar remains one of the most documented persons in history. He has been the subject of countless books, and articles for scholarly periodicals, magazines and newspapers.

I have UPDATED the 2024 edition of this booklet with 4 additional pages. My 2026 edition features a NEW article about Nicholas II’s libraries and his vast book collection; 8 black and white photos; and I have added even more titles to the bibliography. The highlight of my NEW 2026 edition is a list of more than 125 English-language books on the life and reign of Nicholas II.

My UPDATED 22-page booklet, is now available to download, print and/or save. It’s FREE!

The bibliography provides a comprehensive list of both scholarly and popular works. Many are generally of limited value and even mislead readers, however, they have been included because they played a significant role in shaping Western opinion of the last Tsar. In some instances, these works have been responsible for the creation and perpetuation of widely subscribed to generalizations, stereotypical images, and myths. In a sense, then, the fact that many of these sources contain inaccuracies, exaggerations, and oversimplifications, and are sometimes guilty of tendentiousness, does not lessen but rather constitutes their historical value.

I trust that this booklet will be a useful research tool for scholars, historians, teachers, writers and the general reader. It includes titles which are current, out of print, as well as a number of titles which have yet to be published.

As new books are published, this booklet will be updated accordingly. If you know of any other titles which are not listed in this bibliography, please feel free to bring them to my attention. You can e-mail me at royalrussia@yahoo.com

PAUL GILBERT

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I am committed to clearing the name of Russia’s much slandered Tsar. In exchange for this NEW UPDATED 22-page booklet, please consider making a small $5 or $10 donation in aid of my research. These donations are of great assistance in helping me offset the cost of obtaining and translating documents from Russian archival and media sources, which are often paid for out of my own pocket. It is these documents which help present new facts and information on the life and reign of Nicholas II. In addition, my research continues to debunking many of the myths and lies which exist more than a century after his death and martyrdom.

Please note, that there is NO obligation, the booklet is FREE to every one! ENJOY!

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

Unique catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms has been published

Posted on January 1 by Paul Gilbert

The Tsarskoye Selo State Museum has published the first volume of a unique catalog of the wardrobe of Emperor Nicholas II and his family. The first volume is dedicated to the uniforms of Nicholas II.

The Tsarskoye Selo State museum houses the world’s largest collection of uniforms of the last Russian Tsar and clothes of members of his family – more than 800 items. The collection comes from the Alexander Palace, the last and favorite residence of Nicholas II.

The catalog contains photographs and descriptions of more than 350 items. The author of the catalog is the curator of the Men’s Costume Collection, senior researcher at the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum-Reserve, Alexei Rogatnev. [Note: the link features a 10-minute video of Rognatnev talking about the Alecander Palace’s collection of Nicholas II’s uniforms]

“During the reign of Nicholas I, there was a rule without exceptions: the Emperor was an officer of the Russian Empire. Therefore, he was obliged to wear a military uniform, and only on trips abroad could he wear civilian dress. Even when he was not engaged in affairs related to the management of a huge empire, Nicholas II wore a uniform: in photographs from the Romanov family albums, we see him playing tennis in the summer jacket of a naval officer and shoveling snow near the Alexander Palace in the uniform of a colonel of the 4th Imperial Family Life Guards Rifle Regiment,” he notes.

“In the last few decades of the 19th century, thanks to the passion of Alexander III and Nicholas II for hunting, the rule was somewhat relaxed – when hunting, members of the Imperial Family wore comfortable, specially tailored suits. Thus, most of the wardrobe of both the emperor and the grand dukes was a collection of uniforms of the various units of the regiments of the Russian Empire and European countries,” Rogatnev added.

PHOTOS: pages from the 296-page catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms
© Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

PHOTOS: pages from the 296-page catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms
© Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

PHOTOS: pages from the 296-page catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms
© Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

PHOTOS: pages from the 296-page catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms
© Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

The catalog is based on documents from the museum collection, the most valuable are from the inventory lists of the Alexander Palace Museum, which were compiled in 1938-1939. They contain a complete list of the wardrobe of the Imperial Family as of 22nd June 1941, and make it possible to recreate the composition of the pre-war collection, the method and place of evacuation, and to identify lost items.

Among the numerous sources that were used in researching for the catalog, the wardrobe records of Nicholas II, in particular, which uniform he wore. Entries in these books were made only on the days the Emperor participated at official events held in St. Petersburg and mirrored those of the Chamber Fourier journal. They do not contain records of the Emperor’s foreign travels, while traveling on the Imperial Train, and under other similar circumstances. These records also contain factual inaccuracies that can be identified by cross-referencing several sources.

Thanks to the study of the annual reports, which are stored in the Russian State Historical Archive, we can see the expenditures for the manufacture of most of the uniforms of Nicholas II, Alexandra Feodorovna, Tsesarevich Alexei and the Grand Duchesses. These accounts make it possible to determine the amount spent on uniforms by year, to systematize the internal structure of the wardrobe by military units, to determine the main and secondary suppliers of uniforms, military accessories, and shoes.

Emperor Nicholas II and his family made the Alexander Palace their permanent residence rom 1905. Personal items, including their respective wardrobes, were not tied to a certain place, but accompanied them, wherever they stayed, be it the Winter Palace, Peterhof, Livadia, Spala, Moscow or abroad. But most of the Emperor’s wardrobe invariably remained in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo.

The catalog of Nicholas II’s uniforms will be of interest to historians, specialists in Russian military costume, art historians, museum employees and everyone who is interested in the reign of Russia’s last Tsar.

The catalog is currently only available in the Tsarskoye Selo museum shops in the Catherine and Alexander Palaces, in the Russia in the Great War Museum (located in the Sovereign Military Chamber), as well as book kiosks found in the Catherine Park.

NOTE: this catalog is ONLY available in Russian, there is NO English language edition available, nor does the museum have any plans on issuing such. 296 pages, richly illustrated throughout.

FURTHER READING

Nicholas II’ s uniforms on display in Tula from the Collection of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum + 21 COLOUR PHOTOS

Wardrobe of Emperor Nicholas II in the Alexander Palace + PHOTOS and VIDEO

1896 Coronation uniform of Emperor Nicholas II + PHOTOS

New book on Charles Sydney Gibbes on the horizon

Posted on December 26 by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: Charles Sydney Gibbes / Father Nicholas Gibbes (1876-1963)

Romanov historian and author Helen Rappaport has announced that she plans on writing a new book about Charles Sydney Gibbes (1876-1963). This is indeed welcome news, as a fresh and more comprehensive study of the British academic, who from 1908 to 1917 served as the English tutor to the children of Emperor Nicholas II, is long overdue.

In early December, Rappaport wrote on social media:

“I’ve been very focused for the last few months or so in filling in the complete void of Sydney Gibbes’s early life in Rotherham and Cambridge pre 1900 – about which he said virtually nothing and Benagh[1], Trewin[2] and Welch[3] added very little. You have to dig very hard to get to things but I have had a few lucky breaks and some info from helpful Rotherham locals. I have now written chapter 1 about those lost years. One thing I can confirm – alas – is that the Blue Plaque on the Old Bank in Rotherham is wrong. Sydney Gibbes did NOT attend Rotherham Grammar School …..

“Now that I have the bit between my teeth, I am going to write this book, do or die, deal or no deal. The Sydney Gibbes of Welch[1], Benagh[2], Trewin[3] and chocolate-box Romanov legend is but one side of the story and of the complex and elusive personality at the heart of it. But it needs a publisher!!!”

While Helen Rappaport and I do not see eye to eye on Nicholas II, I believe that she will do an admirable job at telling Gibbes story. She lives in the UK, and will have access to Gibbes’ surviving archive of letters, photos and other memorabilia relating to the last Imperial family of Russia which are now kept in Oxford University: Bodleian Library, Special Collections.

It is generally believed that Gibbes did not write his memoirs, however, it is now known that among the documents stored at the University of Leeds Special Collections, is his typescript Ten Years with the Russian Imperial Family (unpublished). I regret that I do not know the number of pages, nor can I confirm if it was ever completed.

In addition, Helen wrote a very sad and sympatheic article of the last days Charles Sudney Gibbes / Father Nikolai, which I hope she will incorporate into her book.

In the early 1990s, I had the pleasure of corresponding with George Gibbs [1906-1993] in whose letters he shared numerous anecdotes about his father [while it is only a few letters, I have preserved them to this day]. The regular exchange of letters came to a stop, and it was only after making enquiries that I learned of George’s death on 11th May 1993.

In April 2023, I visited Headington Cemetery in Oxford, to lay flowers and offer prayers at the grave of Charles Sydney Gibbes (later Father Nikolai).

Given Helen Rappaport’s enormous popularity, I have no doubt that she will find a publisher for her book. I look forward to reading it, and will most certainly be writing a book review for this blog. In the meantime, I will keep readers posted on any new developments with this exciting new publishing project.

NOTES:

[1] Benagh, Christine (2000) An Englishman in the Court of the Tsar. Ben Lomond, California: Conciliar Press.

[2] Trewin, J. C. (1975) Tutor to the Tsarecvich – An Intimate Portrait of the Last Days of the Russian Imperial Family compiled from the papers of Charles Sydney Gibbes. London: Macmillan

[3] Welch, Frances (2005) The Romanovs & Mr Gibbes: The Story of the Englishman Who Taught the Children of the Last Tsar. UK: Short Books

NEW BOOK – Sovereign No. 16 (Winter 2026)

Posted on December 1 by Paul Gilbert

*You can order this title from most AMAZON outlets, including
the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia,
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Sweden,
Brazil, Mexico and Japan
*Note: prices are quoted in local currencies

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE PAPERBACK EDITION @ $20.00 USD

English. Large format 8-1/2″ x 11-1/2″. 132 pages. 124 Black & White photos

The No. 16 Winter 2026 issue of SOVEREIGN features 28 articles about Russia’s last Tsar, his family, the Romanov dynasty and the history of Imperial Russia. These articles have been researched and written by independent historian and author Paul Gilbert. His works are based on new research from Russian archival and media sources.

Please note, that this issue features 3 articles researched and written by Russian historians (see list below). These articles have been translated and published and published in English for the first time.

In an effort to preserve his 30+ years of research, the author has reproduced a selection of the more than 950 articles he has written for his blog. They are made available in a printed format for the first time. The author has updated many of the articles in this issue with additional information and photos. In addition, this issue features one new First English translation.

The No. 15 issue features the following 28 articles:

[1] Nicholas II’s visits to the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow – 1912, 1913 and 1914

[2] 25th anniversary of the canonization of Nicholas II by the Moscow Patriarchate

[3] Empress Alexandra Feodorovna’s photo album sells at St. Petersburg auction

[4] Lord Mountbatten’s letter regarding Anna Anderson

[5] Monument to Nicholas II and his family to be installed in Mogilev

[6] New monument to Nicholas II installed in Krasnodar

[7] The fate of the kokshniks presented to OTMA in Kostroma (1913)

[8] Divine Liturgy for the Imperial Family performed in the Winter Palace

[9] Thousands of items at Pavlovsk, have not been return to the Alexander Palace

[10] Faithful to the End: Prince Vasily Alexandrovich Dolgorukov

[11] The Great Imperial Crown Of the Russian Empire

[12] The Imperial Legacy of Carl Fabergé (1846-1920)

[13] In 2007, General Wrangel’s grandson decrid Bolshevism, Lenin and Stalin

[14] Nicholas II wanted reforms, Lenin wanted recolutions: who was right?

[15] Obituary: Maria Dmitrievna Ivanova-Tatishcheva (1930-2025)

[16] Tsar’s Days in Ekaterinburg 16/17 July 2025

[17] Chinese Theater at Tsarskoye Selo to be restored

[18] State Halls in the Alexander Palace reopened after restoration

[19] The marriage that shocked The Russian Empire

[20] The fate of four faithful retainers of the Imperial Family

[21] Nicholas II visits the Iverskaya Chapel in Moscow

[22] “They did not betray their oath” —The fate of the generals who reamained loyal to Nicholas II

[23] Nicholas II’s menu: culinary preferences of Russia’s last Tsar

[24] Carpet from Governor’s House in Tobolsk preserved in United States ,museum

[25] Russia honours the Romanovs

SPECIAL TO THIS ISSUE OF SOVEREIGN

[26] Confession of a regicide Pyotr Ermakov’s deathbed confession 1952

[27] Trotsky’s version of the murder of the Imperial Family

[28] Attempts at Church Reform bythe Holy Emperor Nicholas IIAL TO THIS ISSUE OF

***

Back issues of SOVEREIGN

No. 15 Summer 2025

No. 14 Winter 2025

No. 13 Summer 2024

No. 12 Winter 2024

NOTE: back issues of Nos. 1 to 12 are now out of print.
Second-hand copies are available on AMAZON and eBay.

Why are so few Russian language books on the Romanovs not available in English?

Posted on October 20 by Paul Gilbert

Earlier this month, a new book Персидский дневник. 1917–1918 / Persian Diary. 1917–1918, was published in Russia. The 688-page, Russian language title presents the diaries of Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich (1891-1942), who was exiled to Persia as punishment for his involvement in the murder of Grigorii Rasputin in November 1916. Ironically, the Tsar’s punishment, actually saved Dmitri from sharing the same fate as that of many of his relatives.

The publication of Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich’s Persian diaries, is just the latest in a plethora of books about Nicholas II, the Romanovs and Imperial Russia, which Russian publishers have issued over the past 30+ years. These titles are prominently displayed in bookshops, such as Dom Knigi (House of Books) in Mosocw and St. Petersburg. Sadly, none of these books will ever be translated into English.

These include biographies and studies, collections of letters, diaries, exhibition catalogues and high-quality coffee table books, many of them richly illustrated with vintage black and white or full colour photographs.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the publication of books on the Romanovs by Russian publishers has resulted in hundreds of new titles. These books are based primarily on research made by a new generation of Russian historian, who now have access to the Romanov Archives, which were sealed during the Soviet years.

But, why are none of these books translated into English? Well, there are currently two main reasons, that I will address in this post . . . .

Foreign rights and translation costs

First, and probably most importantly, are the translation and production costs, but also a limited readership in the West. Despite the success of Robert K. Massie‘s classic bestseller Nicholas and Alexandra in 1967, books on the Romanov’s has a very limited audience in the West, particularly with books on the more obscure members of the Imperial Family.

In the first few decades after the murder of Russia’s last Tsar in 1918, Western publishers were anxious to publish the first English-lanaguage translations, written by members of the Imperial Family, their retinue, and others, who escaped Bolshevik Russia. These days, however, are long gone, I am afraid.

The publishing world has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Having worked in the publishing industry in both Canada and the UK, for many years, I have been witness to these changes, and the interest and demand for books on the Romanov’s and Imperial Russia. During my years in the industry, I have seen many of the old traditional publishing houses fold, or swallowed up by competitors.

Academic publishing houses, i.e. university presses, publish new titles on the Romanov’s and Imperial Russia, especially historical, social and political studies during the era of Emperor Nicholas II, during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. These titles, usually have limited print runs of several hundred or several thousand copies, which is one of the reasons why, they are so expensive to purchase.

If we are to see any of the books (seen on this page) ever published in English, it is going to take one of the larger, more established publishing houses, such as Weidenfeld & Nicolson (UK) – who translated and published A Lifelong Passion (1996), to step up to the plate, and take the risk of offering the small, but demanding readership, who are hungry for anything new on the subject’s.

Probably the number one reason is simply the translation costs involved, the diaries and letters in particular. First of all, the author would have to receive an advance, then legal fees would have to be dispensed, then the actual translation itself – we are talking thousands of dollars. All these combined, make such projects economically prohibitive.

Given the current economic sanctions imposed by the West against Russia, there could be no financial transactions, such as royalties to the author, etc., whatsoever.

Western economic and cultural sanctions

Secondly, following Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022, Russia was hit with sweeping sanctions from the European Union, Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, among other countries. While these sanctions have had little impact on Russia’s economy, they have dealt a heavy blow to the exchange of cultural events.

These sanctions have had a devastating effect on cultural events, which we have enjoyed over the years, including ballet, opera, symphonies, exhibitions, films and even the publishing industry. At the present moment, no Western publisher would dare enter into negotiation with a Russian publisher for foreign rights and translation of a book, written by a Russian author.

In addition, the cost to import books from Russia has become more expensive, this in part is due to former President Joe Biden, who in June 2022, imposed a 35% U.S. tariff rate on certain Russian imports, which include book.

New Book – Thirteen Years at the Russian Court

Posted on September 29 by Paul Gilbert

*This title is available from AMAZON in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia,
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Japan

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE HARD COVER EDITION @ $25.00 USD

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Available in Hard cover and Paperback edtions.
294 pages. With photographs and Notes

Originally published in 1921, this new edition of ‘Thirteen Years at the Russian Court’, features a new 32-page introduction by Romanov historian Paul Gilbert

A Personal Record of the Last Years and Death
of the Emperor Nicholas II. and his Family

Thirteen Years at the Russian Court is a personal record by Pierre Gilliard, a Swiss author and academic who served as the French language tutor to Russian Emperor Nicholas II’s five children.

The book, first published in 1921, offers a unique perspective on the final years of the Romanov dynasty through Gilliard’s personal experiences as a tutor to the August children of Russia’s last Tsar.

The memoir blends historical narrative with personal eye-witness anecdotes, providing an intimate look into the opulence and decline of Imperial Russia. Gilliard’s recollections are not merely memoirs but vital historical documents that bridge the gap between the glamour of Court life and the impending doom of a centuries-old regime.

Gilliard’s memoir serves as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Russia’s last Tsar, Russian history, monarchy, or the complexities of life at the Russian Imperial Court during the early 20th century.

PIERRE GILLIARD (1879-1962)

Pierre Gilliard was a Swiss academic and author, best known as the French language tutor to the five children of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia from 1905 to 1918. In 1920, he returned to his native Switzerland, where he wrote his memoirs, Thirteen Years at the Russian Court, about his time with the Russian Imperial Family.

New Book – Memories of Russia 1916-1919

Posted on September 1 by Paul Gilbert

*This title is available from AMAZON in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia,
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Japan

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE PAPERBACK EDITION @ $20.00 USD

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Paperback and eBook editions. 304 pages

Originally published in 1924, this new edition of ‘Memories of Russia 1916-1919’, features a new introduction by Romanov historian Paul Gilbert

Every victim of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 had a story to tell. One of the most tragic was that of Princess Olga Valerianovna Paley (1865-1929) the morganatic second wife of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich (1860-1919).

Born in 1865, she married an officer of the Russian Imperial Guard, Erich Augustinovitch von Pistohlkors, the couple had four children.

Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich, a long-time friend of Pistohlkors, often spent his evenings with the Pistohlkors couple in Tsarskoye Selo; where he became smitten with Olga’s beauty, elegance, and her worldly and lively spirit. Their affair resulted in the birth of a son, Vladimir

Their affair created a scandal at Court and the Emperor forbid his uncle to marry Olga. Following her divorce from Pistolkors, Olga and Paul defied Nicholas II, resulting in their expulsion from Russia. They married in Livorno, Italy, and settled in an elegant mansion built in Boulogne-sur-Seine, France for several years. It was here that Olga gave birth to two more daughters,

In 1904, Prince-Regent Leopold of Bavaria titled Olga Countess of Hohenfelsen, and upon their return to Russia, the Tsar created the title of Princess Paley for her and their children.

During the revolution, her husband the Grand Duke and their son Vladimir were arrested and subsequently murdered by the Bolsheviks. Olga and her daughters escaped to Finland and then returned to Paris, where she died in 1929.