Christopher Warwick (1949–2022)

The value of this fairly short biography rests mainly in the detailed account of the childhood and younger years of the Anglo-German woman once known as the most beautiful princess in Europe, who went on to be murdered in 1918 after the Russian Revolution despite her charitable works and lack of dynastic significance.

It would have been better had it been possible to give more information on the years when she was married, but many relevant letters and papers were destroyed.

The book does not gain from the author's unreasonable bias against Elisabeth's sister Alix, who comes out of this book worse than Lenin and the Bolsheviks who actually killed Elisabeth. The author also seems to be prejudiced against bisexuals, given many of his comments about various members of the Imperial family.… (meer)

Much more on Marina than George.

Discreet to the point of distraction. I was hoping for more discussion/description/analysis of George's bisexuality and addictions, and also about Marina's later relationship with acclaimed conductor Malcolm Sargent.

There are probably some gossipy revelations about George and Marina in the complete, uncensored diaries of Sir Henry "Chips" Channon - they were friends and next-door neighbors in Belgravia. The first of two volumes of the "unexpurgated" Channon diaries - covering 1918 to 1938 - are due to be published in September 2020. They should make for juicy, fun reading.… (meer)