My thanks to both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advance copy of a look at the event filled life of a woman who though royal in blood, was set for an arranged life of disappointment and fear, and how she made a fate of her own, scandalizing many, but inspiring others.

My father tell my brother and I when we complained about not getting something that some of the most powerful and richest people who ever lived never had air conditioning nor indoor plumbing. Well my father would be a little cruder about the indoor plumbing, but we got the point. Also unlike most powerful people my father and mother were married out of love, and not to seal some deal. This idea of the sanctity of marriage is novel, as children and marriages were no different than signatures. A prince or a princess married for property, prosperity. A pact of politics, not passion or pleasure. Courtships were conducted by court couriers, the happy couple not ever seeing each other sometimes until the wedding or even being married by proxy. This was the norm. Women would be trapped in loveless relationships, only needed to create heirs to keep a line of succession clear, the rest of the time husbands would have courtesans, wives would have to be careful. Few could escape loveless and sometimes dangerous relationships. Unless they tried very hard. The Rebel Romanov: Julie of Saxe-Coburg, the Empress Russia Never Had by historian and writer Helen Rappaport is a biography and history of a young woman who fled her husband and the scandals and tribulations that followed.

Catherine the Great was the ruler of Russia and in the year 1795 began to plan for a time that she might not be around to control things. On her list was to find a bride for Catherine's grandson Konstantin, who was the second in line of succession, but already had a reputation for trouble. Catherine dispatched one of her generals to tour Europe to find a bride. The general didn't get far, becoming sick in the town of Coburg in Germany. Becoming aware that the Duke, who had more name than wealth, had three daughters, the general wrote to Saint Petersburg saying he had found the perfect candidates. Soon Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and her sisters were off to Russia, a 40 day trip across dangerous roads, filled with bandits, disease and inns that wouldn't be even one-star. There the three were studied and deliberated on, with Julie becoming the winner. Konstantin was no real catch, a man of moods and violence, leaving Julie alone, a trapped in a marriage far, far from home. Until she found a way to get out.

I never had a sister so I don't know why so many young ladies want to be princesses. A casual reading of history shows how miserable and sad these lives must be. Even Disney Princesses have a high mortality rate. This was a really fascinating read, about a time I thought I knew, but turned out I knew from the male point of view and not from the women's. This is the second book by Rappaport I have read, and is a book that kept me far more engaged than I thought. There is a lot of history, and explanation of how people were connected to each other. However Rappaport is a really good writer and keeps everything straight for the reader. Rappaport is also very good at setting the scene, the inns the sisters stopped in, the coldness of Russia. The freedom that Julie had when she got some distance. A really excellent history.

Fans of Rappaport's other books will enjoy this, as well as people who love to read books on royalty. I must say this person was unfamiliar to me, and I learned quite a lot about which I always enjoy.

Book Review: The Rebel Romanov, Julie of Saxe-Coburg, The Empress Russia Never Had
By Dr. Helen Rappaport

Dr. Helen Rappaport, a noted specialist in Imperial Russian and Victorian history, brings to life the fascinating but largely forgotten story of Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld—later known as Grand Duchess Anna Fyodorovna of Russia. In The Rebel Romanov, Rappaport masterfully explores the tumultuous life of this royal figure who was briefly part of the Russian imperial family but ultimately rejected the role fate had assigned her.

Born in 1781 in Coburg, Juliane was married off at a young age to Grand Duke Constantine of Russia, a union that quickly turned disastrous. While Constantine’s volatile and cruel nature made their marriage unbearable, Juliane’s independent spirit and determination to break free set her apart from many royal women of her time. She eventually left Russia in 1813 and settled in Switzerland, securing an annulment in 1820. Despite her brief and unhappy connection to the Romanovs, Juliane’s story had lasting repercussions—Queen Victoria herself remained wary of the Russian imperial family, in part because of her aunt’s experience.

Rappaport’s clear, engaging writing brings depth to this forgotten historical figure, weaving together personal drama with the broader political landscape of 19th-century Europe. Her meticulous research shines through, making The Rebel Romanov not just a compelling biography but also a valuable exploration of the often-overlooked women of European dynastic history.

For readers interested in Imperial Russia, royal history, or untold stories of remarkable women, The Rebel Romanov is a must-read. Rappaport once again proves why she is one of the leading historians of her field, offering a rich and nuanced portrait of a woman who defied expectations and left her mark on history—even if she never became an empress.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.