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In this novel of vivid historical detail and intrigue, an ancient Russian immigrant sits down to record the dark secrets of his life, for he claims to be the last living witness to the brutal murders of Nicholas and Alexandra.
Penguin
February 2004
On Sale: January 27, 2004
320 pages
ISBN: 0142003816
EAN: 9780142003817
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Historical | Fiction
With haunting prose, Robert Alexander brings to life the Romanovs' kitchen boy, Leonka, who the Bolsheviks mysteriously spared and who in turn vanished into the bloody tides of the Russian revolution. But what did the young boy see in those final days of the Imperial Family? Would he know the truth of the secret letters smuggled to the Tsar? Where thirty-eight pounds of tsarist jewels are to be found? Why two bodies of the Romanov children are missing from the secret grave that was finally discovered in 1991? And most important of all, will the now-ancient man reveal what he knows before he dies? Inspired by actual events and people, Robert Alexander recreates not only the last days of the Romanovs during their imprisonment in The House of Special Purpose, but also their gruesome end. Through the eyes of their kitchen boy, we see Nicholas and Alexandra's humble faith, their intense love for one another, and their five devoted children. We also see how bravely they suffered. In this heart-breaking tale readers will be absorbed by the tragic story of a family so much different and yet so similar to any other. Drawing from decades of work, travel, and research in Russia, Alexander has created a fascinating and chilling story that explores the mysteries of the last days of Nicholas and Alexandra. This is historical fiction at its best - a tale based in fact but with all the atmosphere and surprise of an incredible novel.
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