Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna of Russia was married to the future King William II of the Netherlands in 1816. Their primary residence was in Brussels, and it was there in 1829 that someone broke in and stole several precious jewels. Rumours quickly focused on how her husband must be involved, as he was known to be in debt and mixing with people his wife found questionable.
However, the story turned out to be different.
The Hunt for Anna Pavlovna’s Stolen Jewels by Jenni Wiltz reveals the story of the true thief while crossing several borders. It’s an interesting angle for a book, but it focuses a little less on the royal side of things than I would have liked. However, it is well-written and thoroughly researched. My only gripe would be the use of William’s title; he is referred to as “Prince Willem of Orange”, while he is the Prince of Orange.
If you’d like to step outside of the royal circle but not too much, this is the book for you.
The Hunt for Anna Pavlovna’s Stolen Jewels by Jenni Wiltz is available now in the US and the UK.
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