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Title details for I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon - Available

I Was Anastasia

A Novel

by Ariel Lawhon
Jane Collingwood
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of The Frozen River, this enthralling feat of historical suspense unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson’s claim to be Anastasia Romanov. Is she the Russian Grand Duchess or the thief of another woman's legacy?
"Tantalizing, surprising, compelling, and utterly fascinating."—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours
Russia, July 17, 1918: Under direct orders from Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik secret police force Anastasia Romanov, along with the entire imperial family, into a damp basement in Siberia, where they face a merciless firing squad. None survive. At least that is what the executioners have always claimed.
Germany, February 17, 1920: A young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia Romanov is pulled shivering and senseless from a canal. Refusing to explain her presence in the freezing water or even acknowledge her rescuers, she is taken to the hospital where an examination reveals that her body is riddled with countless horrific scars. When she finally does speak, this frightened, mysterious young woman claims to be the Russian grand duchess.
The questions swirling around Anna Anderson’s past and the mystery of Anastasia Romanov’s fate chart a saga that spans half a century and touches three continents. Every bit as vivid and climactic as it is poignant and enchanting, this novel brings a piece of legendary history to life.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    March 27, 2018

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780525496236
      • File size: 376249 KB
      • Duration: 13:03:51

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      January 29, 2018
      Lawhon’s spectacular, emotionally rich third historical thoroughly imagines the events leading up to the execution of Russia’s royal family in 1918, after the October Revolution by the Bolsheviks. In a dual narrative, Lawhon also tackles the life of Anna Anderson, a woman who claimed to be Anastasia Romanov in Berlin in 1920. She has what look like scars from old bullet wounds, consistent with the manner in which the Romanovs were murdered. Anna’s claims spread fast, and she’s wooed by a long list of wealthy patrons who jump at the chance to be near possible royalty. Using material from the correspondence of the Romanov servants, Lawhon (Flight of Dreams) fleshes out the minutiae of the life of young Anastasia, a vibrant young lady confronting the loss of everything she’s ever known. The tragic story of Anastasia is an enduring one, and the woman who laid claim to her birthright is a testament to the world’s desire to believe in Anastasia’s survival. This sprawling, immersive tale travels from revolutionary Russia to interwar France and Germany, bringing its characters to sparkling life.

    • Good Reading Magazine
      Whether you believe it or not, mystery surrounds whether Anastasia Romanov was the only survivor from the assassination of her Imperial family in 1917. Lawhon has written a detailed account of the days leading up to the event. She has also given a plausible account of the life of Anastasia afterwards. In 1920, a young woman is pulled from a canal in Berlin after attempting suicide. She bears a striking resemblance to Anastasia and refuses to explain who she is. Her body is riddled with scars and she has stretch marks from a recent birth. Eventually, she claims she is Anastasia and thus a 50-year mystery begins. In a saga that spans three continents she is given places to live, and is feted by society, but there are the cynics, especially the relatives of the Imperial family. There is also a Polish family who claim she is their sister. As Anna Anderson, she enters the USA and is looked after by an heiress, supported by the composer Rachmaninoff, and gets herself a lawyer who starts a corporation to raise funds to fight the many court cases she must endure. Her life is not a happy one. She has times of living in luxury, and other episodes of being committed to various mental asylums. Lawhon’s tale is gripping, and well researched, but the timelines are a bit confusing. For most readers, I think we’d like to believe that a little girl survived such a horrendous end. Reviewed by Sue Stanbridge   Read a book review of The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon   ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ariel Lawhon is a critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Good Morning America Book Club, Library Reads, One Book One County, Indie Next, Costco, Amazon Spotlight, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons. She splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field. Visit Ariel Lawhon's website

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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