▪️I’ve read numerous books about Tsar Nicholas, his family, and even Rasputin. That period of Russian history has always fascinated me, especially the tragic end of the Romanov dynasty. However, I had never really delved beyond that era – until today’s book.

▪️This book offers a detailed account of what happened to the Russian aristocrats after the 1917 Russian Revolution. To literally save their lives, many fled to Paris. The social decline they experienced was staggering; formerly wealthy and privileged individuals suddenly found themselves driving taxis and sewing just to survive. But it wasn’t only the rich aristocrats who fled. Other refugees included artists, poets, dancers, composers, and the like. A few adapted to their new lives, but many did not and experienced extreme homesickness while living in abject poverty.

▪️This book tracks numerous individuals and provides a wealth of information, showcasing the author’s extensive research and knowledge of the topic.

▪️As a history enthusiast, I appreciated the insights into the tumultuous period I had not explored previously.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily!

"After the Romanovs: Russian Exiles in Paris from the Belle Époque Through Revolution and War" by Helen Rappaport is an undeniably well-researched book that sheds light on an often overlooked chapter of Russian history. The author meticulously explores the lives of Russian aristocrats, artists, and intellectuals who sought refuge in Paris before and after the Russian Revolution, offering a detailed account of their struggles and adaptations in a foreign land.

Rappaport’s narrative is rich with historical anecdotes and cultural context, painting a vivid picture of Paris as a city of both opulence and hardship for the exiles. While the book provides an extensive look at the Russian émigrés' experiences, it occasionally feels overwhelming due to the sheer number of figures and events covered. The flow of the story can be disjointed at times, making it difficult to stay fully engaged.

For readers with a deep interest in Russian history and the aftermath of the Revolution, *After the Romanovs* is likely to be an informative read. However, those who are less familiar with the historical context might find the book a bit dense and challenging to follow, particularly with the numerous characters and intricate details presented.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Helen Rappaport's research skills are second to none, and it remains clear in After the Romanovs. This is an incredibly well-researched and well-written history that pulls the reader into a diverse, dramatic, and daring group of historical figures that are not really discussed. This book focuses more on the Paris side of things, rather than the Romanovs earlier histories, which I think makes complete sense given that Rappaport has written other books on the Romanovs in Russia. While I would say it is certainly helpful to have a slight working knowledge of the Romanovs in general, Rappaport does provide you with all of that information! A must-read for anyone interested in the Romanov family.

After the Romanovs: Russian Exiles in Paris from the Belle Époque Through Revolution and War by Helen Rappaport is a captivating read for anyone who loves history, culture, and the human story, as it masterfully weaves together the tales of Russian aristocrats, artists, and intellectuals who found refuge in Paris, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the power of art and culture to transcend adversity.

Always love reading about the Romanov family, and this book was no exception. Helen Rappaport does an incredible job of bringing the past to life. This was an informative and interesting addition to her other books dealing with the Romanovs.

I like Russian history and grew up watching Anastasia, so this book about Russian exiles after the Romanovs was interesting. Definitely learned some stuff.

Very well-written intellectual assessment of the aftermath of the Russian Revolution. The new lives of many of the aristocrats changed after they were forced to flee their homeland. Very well-researched and cited.

If you are interested in Russian history and the Romanovs, you will truly enjoy this nonfiction novel. Ms. Rappaport books are always so throughly researched too.
Thank you #St.Martin’sPress, #HelenRappaport and #AfterheRomanovs for the book for my honest review.

I’ve read all the books written about the Romanovs, and this is right up there with the best. A horrifying tale, a true story, this is an incredibly written book. So sad, I still think no matter how awful the Last Tzar was, his family did not deserve what happened to them. I could read this book again. It is fascinating!

Well researched and presented. After the Romanovs: Russian Exiles in Paris from the Belle Époque through Revolution and War by Helen Rappaport reads like a work of fiction, yet it is a true account of what happened before, during and after the Russian Revolution. The contrast between the luxury they enjoyed in Paris previously and the impoverished existence they now endured is striking. Life in exile was difficult and many worked at menial labor to keep the wolf from the door. Many people really showed their resolve to survive during this very tremulant time. Interesting to see the posh be able to work hard and persist to live no matter where they ended up. The dignity of those who were killed shows the true character of these people.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

An interesting look at who was who in Russia and what became of them during this historical period in Paris. This was not my personal favourite of all the Romanov books by Helen Rappaport, but it was entertaining. It's hard to read this book and not feel a bit of sympathy for those who used to be someone and then had to give up that lifestyle in order to survive and adapt to their new surroundings.

This author is a fantastic researcher and this book contains many historical anecdotes and interesting facts, but I didn't feel that it had the same kind of flow as her previous books did. This one felt a bit more like it was glued together from excerpts.

Overall, I thought this was a fascinating look at a part of society that we normally think of as having it all, and what happens when the world around us changes. I'd recommend it to those interested in Russian History and Paris.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really really enjoyed this narrative nonfiction, and I thought Rappaport did an excellent job pulling many stories together. I found it fascinating to hear about the Belle Epoque, the White Russians, the consequences of a war, and various Russians' stories. It's rare to find a historian who writes history, as most today write how the reader should think or feel about the story. Yet Rappaport stated the stories of famous, infamous, and unknown Russians and their time in Paris, and she allowed the reader to interpret the information. I listened on audio which I found helpful with all the foreign pronunciations.

This was a well-organized and insightful history. i enjoyed the detail of learning how post-Bolshevik revolution refugees of such substantial wealth adjusted and rebuilt their standings in Europe. Seeing how these families managed to forge connections within their own community and the Parisians, maintain a tremendous work ethic and rekindle the need to return to mother Russia. Their hope and determination were felt in the writing. The names are hard to follow but you still understand the story and the struggle of their adjustment to a very different life from their ultra-rich standing. I will definitely be recommending this to friends, students with a history interest and colleagues in our literature department.

This is a very good book with lots of interesting history. There are lots of people that you have to keep track of but there is listings in the front for reference. Thank you for writing such a great book

Tried reading it but just couldn’t get into it. Too much like a history textbook. I think it just wasn’t the right type of book for me

History is one of my favorite subjects to learn about so I was thrilled to have been able to read this book. I enjoyed reading all of the facts and how men and women from all backgrounds had to adapt.

This was an exhaustive and very detailed historical perspective of the Romanovs. If you are a very detailed history buff then this book is for you! I learned a lot and very much enjoyed it!

Very interesting nonfiction about the Russian émigrés to Paris before and after the Russian Revolution. The people can be hard to keep track of with so many with similar names (the list at the beginning was very helpful!), but I found their decadent lives before the Revolution utterly fascinating! The change in circumstances as war and political upheaval took their toll on their finances and their lives was challenging, but they showed resilience in surprising ways. I enjoyed learning more about the aristocracy who fled Russia with their lives and not much else. A needed follow up to the plethora of books about the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution.

It was an interesting read but since I don't know much about Russian history I was missing something. At times it read like a college research paper and if that was the case the professor would know a lot of the back story that I didn't. The chapters were really quite long. Obviously there were a lot of "characters" with really long names and the story flowed from one time line to another, back and forth between Paris and Russia and from one person to another. I think I would have liked it more if it was about one person or even one family.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press giving me the opportunity to read a digital copy.

After the Romanovs is a compelling read, and the type of book you will want to purchase solely for continual reading and reference. Well known for her research and attention to history, Helen Rappaport details the context and flavour of early Paris society, and how the Romanovs fit in, shaped and changed societal culture, and also how that culture was translated back in life and style.

This is the type of read that is rich in information and very well foot noted if you wish to delve into certain aspects of what happened when Russian elite fled the Bolshevik Revolution and came to Paris to rebuild and renew. It ties in some surprising cultural events and how they were received. Russian influence in fashion, music and culture permeated style houses and theatre.

A pithy book that brings historical context and revelations of the Belle Epoque of Paris, and how the Russian elite adapted to life in a new homeland: some well, some not so well. A beautifully composed and well written book.