disappointing
This a very badly written book about a fascinating woman. The author's sources are not very thorough and he uses a lot of blanket statements. I was shocked by his condescending manner of the cultures with "the Tartar population in gaudy oriental dress" (267) and "the gaudy St. Basil Cathedral."(103n) He was completely patronizing and elitist in his view of Russian history and in particular the peasant and working class. He seems more interested in the frivolous details (the horror! they couldn't find Alexandra's hairdresser!)and fancy balls then real history.