'Elizabeth Grand Duchess of Russia' by Hugo Mager

[Katherine]

Hi everyone! Has anyone read the above book, "Elizabeth Grand Duchess of Russia" by Hugo Mager? I was wondering what were your thoughts, and if it's worth reading. Last week I read, "Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia" by Lubov Millar and found this a very beautiful portrayal of St Elizabeth. Actually, this book was recommended to me by a friend who said it was the best one out there. So, should I bother with reading the book by Hugo Mager - is this book more of a worldly portrayal of the Duchess, rather than from a Christian perspective?

Thanks!

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Hi everyone! Has anyone read the above book, "Elizabeth Grand Duchess of Russia" by Hugo Mager? I was wondering what were your thoughts, and if it's worth reading. Last week I read, "Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia" by Lubov Millar and found this a very beautiful portrayal of St Elizabeth. Actually, this book was recommended to me by a friend who said it was the best one out there. So, should I bother with reading the book by Hugo Mager - is this book more of a worldly portrayal of the Duchess, rather than from a Christian perspective?

Thanks!

I don't know this book at all. Basically I think it much better to start with what the Church has written about these saints as up until recently these saints epecially were treated (as in their life times) with a lot of suspicion and even hostility.

The problem is that up until recently the Royal Family and all those connected with them were almost inevitably seen through the lens of political and jurisdictional antagonisms. It seems that few (except for those saints like St John of Shanghai & San Francisco) could allow these people to speak for themselves as it were. Only very recently has this begun to change especially with the greater changes in Russia and the larger Orthodox world.

In any case by starting with the Church's vision of these particular saints you'll first off notice the respect offered compared to the unyielding cynicism of most secular scholars.

After this some secular studies can add to our understanding. Even Edvard Radzinsky who is more a sensationalist at times than a historian has some interesting original sources that are not available in English elsewhere. These throw some light if read with care on the controversy surrounding the Royal Family.

For example on the Alexander Palace website there is a lot of original and old material on the Royal Family much of it unknown by our own Orthodox people. One piece is an interview with the Grand Duchess Elizabeth where as the head of the Sts Mary & Martha Covent she gives an interview to an English journalist. (The Grand duchess spoke perfect English). This interview brings to life in a very powerful way the way the Grand Duchess thought (a lot more 'open-minded' then we'd think from most portrayals- she was obviously extremely thoughtful and willing to be creative with the resources to hand) and also goes into the reasoning behind her convent in a way rarely encountered.

Anyway- I guess that adds up to reading Church lives first- then accounts from the perspective of the secular world.

In Christ- Fr Raphael