Book reviews

Imperial Dancer
Coryne Hall Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Coryne Hall Books
New book search
Coryne Hall Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Imperial Dancer
"Imperial Dancer: Mathilde Kschessinska and the Romanovs
Coryne Hall
Sutton, 2005
ISBN: 075093557X

Mathilde Kschessinska (1872-1971) is well-remembered for two things – as the first great Russian Prima Ballerina, and for her affair with the future Tsar Nicholas II. As a young ballerina she caught the eye of the young Nicholas, and it was rumoured that he had a secret passage built linking her house to the Winter Palace in St Petersburg so he could visit her without being noticed. The affair ended when he announced his betrothal to Princess Alix of Hesse, though her days with the Romanov dynasty were not yet over. Some years later she became the mistress of the Tsar's cousin, Grand Duke Andrei, whom she married in Paris in 1921 after they escaped from the horrors of the Bolshevik revolution.

Having made a new life for herself in France, her career continued to prosper, and she opened a school there in 1929. She remained active well beyond middle age, and at the age of 64 she performed for a charity event at London's Covent Garden Opera House.

Until now, most of the information on her life has been taken from her memoirs, ‘Dancing in Petersburg'.
"

John Van der Kiste, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Imperial Dancer
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Story of entertainer? - Singer/Dancer
Royalty bio Yes
Period of greatest activity? - 1900+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - artist
Age: - long lived adults
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - Russian
How sensitive is this person? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other people
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 ()
Europe Yes
European country: - France - Russian
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion
Century: - 1900-1920's

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful
Writer's slant towards subject: - favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of set of events during life
Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - little dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book
Most similar books to Imperial Dancer
Hank Williams: The Biography by Colin Escott
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
In the Shadow of the King: Priscilla, Elvis, and Me by Michael Edwards
Coming Home To Myself by Wynonna Judd
With a Little Help From My Friends: the Making of Sergeant Pepper by George Martin


Click here for more information about this book


Coryne Hall Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
John Van der Kiste  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Biography books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal story?

Big Business story?

Disaster Story

Ethnic/regional/gender

Family, hate

Family, ill

Family, love

Food

Job/profession/poverty story

Kids growing up/acting up?

Life in an institution

Outdoors story

Pal/friendship story

Phys disability/mental struggle?

Political/social rights fight

Road trip

Romance

Royalty bio

Sports story

Taboo Sex Story?

War/Spying



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
James Patterson 12:08:13 PM
George W. Bush 2:32:02 AM
Anonymous 2:03:39 AM
Erin Hunters 9:00:01 PM
Betty Mahmoody 6:00:22 PM
Judith McNaught 11:55:44 AM
Iris Johansen 9:03:43 PM
Norah Lofts 1:11:37 PM
Jane Rubino 9:32:45 AM
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky 11:28:51 PM
Faye Kellerman 12:37:41 AM
LaVyrle Spencer 7:25:23 PM
Robert James Waller 8:30:15 PM
Suzanne Weyn 12:50:03 AM
Deric Longden 2:54:11 PM
Wilma Counts 1:23:32 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM

More message boards