While I enjoy reading about the downfall of the Romanovs and the dissolution of the Russian monarchy, I was constantly distracted by reference to past passages and foreshadowing of events in later chapters.

We have long established the only house I’m interested in is the Romanovs. So, a biography by Tsuyoshi Hasegawa about Nicholas II, I put it on my “must read” list. Hasegawa is clear in his writing that he does not hold Nicholas II in high regard (rightfully so). After decades of researching and writing about Russia/Soviet history he brought us new research about the Tsar, his family, and the people he had surrounded himself with. Too many times I found myself shaking my head and saying “dude, don’t do that” and even more so wanting to shake Alexandra. Anyone who is intrigued by the Romanovs or the time period will enjoy this read. Be prepared to highlight and make notes!

Thank you, Basic Books, and NetGalley. #TheLastTsar #NetGalley

I thought I knew the story of the end of the Romonovs, but this book proved to me I knew nothing. The Last Tsar was well researched and well written and provides an informative and interesting breakdown of the monarchy in Russia. The political and military decisions made in combination with the Tsar’s pride and incompetence all led to the fall of the monarchy. I now have a much better understanding of what all lead up to the death of Nicholas and his family and the revolution that changed Russia.

Dr. Hasegawa at eighty three years old had produced a very good Biography of Tsar Nicholas II after decades of study and writing about Russian/Soviet History. I learned new information and have become more educated because of this book and author.

This is an absolutely masterful forensic look at the last days and hours of the tsarist regime. I was riveted and couldn’t put it down, the care and research here was tremendous and it provides a much needed lens into the most pivotal hours of a drama that has been discussed at length but never in this depth. Really wonderful achievement

As someone who's read a good deal on the Russian Revolution and the fall of the Romanov dynasty, I was particularly eager to pick up Tsuyoshi Hasegawa's The Last Tsar: The Abdication of Nicholas II and the Fall of the Romanovs. I went in expecting yet another retelling of those fateful months that ended an empire, but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and approach that Hasegawa brought to the table.

First, Hasegawa’s work excels in setting the historical context. His narrative places the events of 1917 in the broader geopolitical shifts happening during World War I. The author meticulously paints the picture of how both internal discontent and external pressures worked in tandem to bring down the Romanov dynasty. Rather than just focusing on Nicholas II, Hasegawa draws attention to the wider cast of characters—his ministers, generals, and even the revolutionaries on the streets—making it clear that the Tsar was far from the only actor in this grand historical tragedy.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book is Hasegawa’s analysis of Nicholas II himself. The portrayal of Nicholas isn't one-dimensional. Hasegawa provides a nuanced and almost empathetic perspective on the Tsar, who comes across as a man caught in a web of indecision and increasingly isolated from the realities of his country. It’s fascinating how Hasegawa traces the personal weaknesses of Nicholas—his refusal to adapt to changing political circumstances and his reliance on outdated autocratic principles—as key factors leading to his abdication. The book doesn’t vilify Nicholas, but it also doesn't excuse his failures, providing a balanced view of a monarch who was in over his head.

The abdication scene itself is vividly described, and one of the standout aspects of the book. Hasegawa reconstructs the moment with an almost cinematic quality, making it easy for readers to feel the weight of the momentous decision. I found the descriptions of the Tsar's emotional state and the reactions of his advisors particularly compelling. This attention to detail helps humanize the often remote figure of Nicholas II.

Hasegawa also provides fresh insight into the Romanovs’ downfall by emphasizing the role of the military. While many accounts focus heavily on the political and social upheaval, Hasegawa carefully examines the crumbling support of the Russian army for the Tsar. It’s this combination of mutinies at the front, the lack of faith in the Tsar's leadership, and the logistical chaos of the war that finally pushed Nicholas to the brink. For readers interested in military history, this focus will be a welcome addition to the usual fare of palace intrigue and political maneuvering.

One potential downside for casual readers might be the density of detail. Hasegawa is thorough—sometimes to a fault—and those who are unfamiliar with the key figures or the broader historical context might find themselves lost in the names and events. However, for history buffs or those already familiar with the basics of the Russian Revolution, this attention to detail is a bonus, adding layers of depth and clarity to an often overly simplified narrative.

In conclusion, The Last Tsar is a powerful and comprehensive account of one of the most significant moments in 20th-century history. Hasegawa’s careful research and engaging writing style make it a must-read for anyone interested in the fall of imperial Russia. It doesn’t just tell the story of Nicholas II’s abdication, but explains why the Romanovs were doomed, balancing both political and personal dimensions. It’s a detailed, insightful look into the tragic end of a dynasty and the turbulent forces that shaped the modern world.

The Last Tsar

This book takes you deep into the world of Russia and the Tsar, his family and all the mistakes that were made by him and others around him that lead to the execution of the Romanov family.

As new research has been uncovered, Last Tsar feels as though you are watching the events happen. There is a lot of detail and would certainly appeal to anyone interested in understanding the facts on a deeper level with new insights about telegrams that were not delivered and missing facts that could have diverted their deaths.

I would not say this is an easy read as there is much to follow and keep organized as a reader as there are many players, but it is worth the deeper perspective.

This was nkt the most engaging book to read, and focused more on what was happening surrounding the Tsar and his family. The context of the wider social and political climate was interesting enough, and not necessarily what a lot of books on the Romanovs tend to focus on, but the end result of this book is a lot of names and concepts getting thrown about and an overall dull writing style that made it hard to want to finish.

If you love reading about the Romanov’s, you will love this book. The era fascinates me. The book didn’t fail my love of them. This is a new author to me.

If there is one thing I am absolutely sure of about author Tsuyoshi Hasegawa after reading his book The Last Tsar, it is that he is not very impressed with Nicholas II. I was able to arrive at this very insightful conclusion mainly because he says so in the preface of the book. Hasegawa wants this book to be the definitive account of Nicholas II's abdication and how it was not the foregone conclusion many other scholars make it out to be. Hasegawa believes a better leader could have changed the ending, but Nicholas was not that guy.

There is no question of scholarship when it comes to Hasegawa. He is a recognized expert on the topic of the February Revolution and it shows in the book. No detail is overlooked and his conclusions come with a significant amount of sources. No, I didn't actually check them (ain't nobody got time for that), but his reputation precedes him.

Ultimately, two things kept me from enjoying this as much as I had hoped. First, Hasegawa's negative views of Nicholas and Alexandra are so bluntly stated that I was turned off by it. It's not that I disagree with his characterization. It is a small minority (if anyone at all) who would argue that Nicholas was a great ruler or that Alexandra was a positive overall influence. I personally feel that an eminent historian like Hasegawa doesn't need to put so fine a point on it. Give the reader the story with the sources and let them make their conclusions based on your presentation. The other problem was length. This book is too long. In trying to tell the whole story, Hasegawa doesn't leave out any names or actions once the abdication drama starts. It bogs down the narrative horribly. Part I was great and part II was a slog. I found myself thinking about all the cuts which could have been made to knock off 100 pages. Hasegawa could have made his points without belaboring them and chronicling every action no matter how frivolous.

There is such thing as too much of a good thing and Hasegawa goes a bit too far in showing off his scholarship. I certainly would not warn off anyone from The Last Tsar, but it might only be for true nerds of the time period.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Basic Books.)

"The Last Tsar: The Abdication of Nicholas II and the Fall of the Romanovs," by Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, a well known scholar in this field, is a refreshing breath of air in an area very much in need of it. I am working from an ARC published by Basic Books, and my first reaction to this well-documented and very detailed work of revisionist scholarship is deep satisfaction. It is not by any means a conventional biography, or worse, hagiography, but is, instead, a very tightly focused look at the last Tsar's failure as an Autocrat and the consequences of his actions. The familiar cast of characters seen in so many works are present here: the hemophiliac heir to the throne, the overbearing foreign princess who became Tsarina, and of course the seriously disturbing "holy man" known as Rasputin. What makes this read so valuable is the author's ability to look at the events leading up to and through the February Revolution with a fresh set of eyes unburdened by the sort of romanticism that too often substitutes for objectivity in many books on this subject that tend to examine it more broadly and paint a word picture which often overlooks important details and the consequences attached to them.. Here, the actions of the Stavka (the Russian Imperial High Command charged with conducting Russian operations against the Central Powers during World War I) and the extended Imperial family (almost always overlooked in conventional biographies) offer startling insights into the Tsar's psychology and the pressures on him. No student of the fall of the Romanov Dynasty and the long term consequences for the rest of us should overlook this book. The scholarship is impressive; the writing is sharp and on point, and it is abundantly clear that the author is the master of his material. I recommend acquisition for any serious collection.