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Dramatic,
Dark,
Interesting

2 reviews

The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar

by Robert Alexander

Published: 2004-01-27
Paperback : 229 pages

8 members reading this now
27 clubs reading this now
5 members have read this book

Recommended to book clubs by 2 of 2 members

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Introduction

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient), directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky (The Counterfeiters)

Drawing from decades of work, travel, and research in Russia, Robert Alexander re-creates the tragic, perennially fascinating story of the final days of Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov as seen through the eyes of their young kitchen boy, Leonka. Now an ancient Russian immigrant, Leonka claims to be the last living witness to the Romanovs’ brutal murders and sets down the dark secrets of his past with the imperial family. Does he hold the key to the many questions surrounding the family’s murder? Historically vivid and compelling, The Kitchen Boy is also a touching portrait of a loving family that was in many ways similar, yet so different, from any other.

"Ingenious...Keeps readers guessing through the final pages." —USA Today

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Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 2 of 2 members.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:

by Chris B. (see profile) 06/29/15

"the kitchen boy"by Amy E. (see profile) 02/01/11

loved it, and actually thought i'd hate it! full of suspense, twists and turns.

"An interesting take on Russian history..."by Patrice C. (see profile) 11/14/10

This was an interesting take on what happened to the last tsar as told thru the eyes of the kitchen boy. It made me want to find out more about that period of Russian history. The end had many twists... (read more)

"Historically interesting with great plot twist"by cyndy c. (see profile) 03/05/09

Alexander does a great job of describing the last days of the Romanov's, especially their familial devotion. I was so caught up with the details of their day to day life and with hints of a rescue attempt,... (read more)

"Most of the group loved this book"by Betsy B. (see profile) 05/24/08

Great historical details wrapped up with a lot of twists and turns at the end. A few of us felt the end was a bit contrived, but everyone agreed that we loved the history. We had a great discussion about... (read more)

"Using a tape recording, the wealthy, elderly, Misa tells the story of the last days of the Romanov family and solves the mystery of why Alexi and Maria Romanov were not buried with the family and what"by Laura M. (see profile) 05/09/08

While I knew the story about the last Tszar of Russia, Nicholas Romanov, Alexander tells the facinating story as if he had witnessed all the events the last weeks of the Romanov family in captivity and... (read more)

"Seven of ten of our members rated this book "thumbs up"."by Lynn W. (see profile) 01/10/08

Much of the discussion centered on Misha....the secret he kept for all those years, his inability to tell Kate the complete truth, and his burden of guilt.

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