The Romanov Brides by Claire McHugh

July 20, 2024

The Romanov Brides by Claire McHugh

Sisters Elisabeth and Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, two princesses from a minor German principality, marry two princes of the imperial house of Romanov: Elisabeth marries the effete Serge, while Alix marries his nephew Nicky, destined to become the next Russian tsar.

Rather a long drawn out saga about the youth of two minor German princesses who end up married to two imperial Russian princes, uncle and nephew. All are descendants of Queen Victoria, and all carry the gene for hemophilia. But at the time that this historical novel is set, the consequences are far in the future. Nicky, later Tsar Nicholas II, is the best character. Alix is perpetually glum - today, she would probably be diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder. Her family recognizes that she suffers from melancholia. Even her cousin Kaiser Wilhelm (who isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer) thinks she's damp and can't understand why Nicky is so set on marrying her. The story is rather slow moving and would have benefitted from about 50 or so pages being edited out. Recommended if you're a real fan of the Romanovs or Russian history.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine, believed to be one of the most beautiful princesses in Europe

Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine before her marriage - not even all that pretty as a girl and definitely not happy

A Most English Princess by Claire McHugh

 September 18, 2020

A Most English Princess by Claire McHugh

Victoria, Princess Royal, was the first-born child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.  Intelligent and outspoken, at age 17, she married the Prussian prince who would later become Emperor Frederick III and went to live with him in Prussia.  Although their married life was happy and they had eight children together, the political climate was tense and Vicky found the court etiquette to be restrictive.  From the beginning, the aristocracy and their Prussian subjects did not trust Vicky, feeling she was too English and would always support causes that benefited the land of her birth.  Vicky and her husband Fritz favored a parliamentary government based on the English system and backed progressive causes, but were strongly opposed by Fritz's father and his chancellor Bismarck.

Extensively researched, this is a very well-written historical novel about a lesser known historical figure.  You can see the roots of the wars to come in the 20th century.  However, I have to say that I would have preferred more about Vicky and less about the politics of the time.  The constant infighting in the Prussian royal family and the wars grew repetitious after awhile.  There were also a lot of guys named Frederick and nicknamed Fritz!  Unfortunately, the novel ends when Vicky is 30, before her husband even becomes emperor.  Personally, I would rather have heard more about the last 30 years of Vicky's life rather than to have them very briefly glossed over in the epilogue.  

Victoria, Princess Royal, as a young woman