*review copy*
The Isle of Wight is perhaps best known for its connection to Queen Victoria but it also lies at the heart of the relationship between Russia and Britain. From Peter the Great to Nicholas II and his family, the island is linked to many generations of the Romanovs. Osborne House, now a former royal residence, is located on the Isle of Wight, and it was here that Queen Victoria died in 1901. Just eight years later, the island played host to the Tsar and his family during Cowes week, one of the longest-running regular regattas in the world, with the intent of sealing a new alliance.
Isle and Empires: Romanov Russia, Britain and the Isle of Wight is an unexpected and surprisingly look at the Romanovs and their relationship with the British through the eyes of an island. It is very well-researched and quite in-depth, especially the parts about 1909 Cowes Week. The author really manages to make the atmosphere come alive and you can almost feel yourself walking with the Grand Duchesses. I already wanted to visit the Isle of Wight, but now it just makes me want to visit even more.
Isle and Empires: Romanov Russia, Britain and the Isle of Wight by Stephan Roman is available now in the UK and will be released in the US on 7 October 2021.
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