Preface to the Fourth Edition
This book, the official biography of Grand Duchess Olga, youngest sister of the ill-fated Tsar Nicholas II, was first published in England in 1964 and in the United States in 1965. It enjoyed worldwide acclaim. It was written while the Grand Duchess was still alive with her full consent and cooperation. She died in exile in Toronto, Canada, on December 16, 1960.
Much has been written on the last imperial reign of Russia by members of the court, by tutors of the imperial children, by foreign diplomats serving in St. Petersburg at the time and by numerous relatives of the doomed family. The unique historic value of this book, however, lies in the fact that it is the first and only official biography ever released by a direct member of the ruling imperial family itself. Grand Duchess Olga was also the last surviving member of the family. This book has served, and is still serving, as an authoritative source for several biographies on the last Romanovs written in recent years. This is understandable because Grand Duchess Olga was particularly close to her brother, the Emperor, and her reclusive sister-in-law, Empress Alexandra, and was allowed to live with them in the Alexandra Palace in Tsarskoe Selo up to the bitter end. This book is based on the many intimate conversations I had with the Grand Duchess, over a a year-and-a-half, in her home near Toronto.
This book has also been used as conclusive proof against Mrs. Anna Anderson who attempted to pass herself off as Grand Duchess Anastasia, Grand Duchess Olga's beloved niece. Mrs. Anderson eventually took her case before the Supreme Court of Germany, though her claim to the tide was ultimately rejected. I am indeed satisfied that this official biography helped render historical truth and justice.
A multitude of irresponsible and historically biased publications dealing with the last imperial family of Russia make it increasingly difficult today sift fact from fiction. "It is legend that ultimately creates history," Jean Cocteau once said. Unfortunately, the Romanov legend continues to inspire new publications even today, including most recently a superfluous biography on Grand Duchess Olga based mostly on hearsay. The reissuing of a fourth edition will help, I hope, restore historical truth.
Judged today, the life of the Tsar's sister personifies an ancient Greek tragedy in which its heroes are led to their downfall by superior forces they cannot control, despite their determined actions of courage and compassion. Grand Duchess Olga's life, in fact, constituted a double tragedy. She was not only haunted by the real drama of her family, but also by the constant appearances, all during her lifetime, of numerous imposters claiming to be members of the doomed family, especially Grand Duchess Anastasia and the young Tsarevich.
When writing this book, I recall meeting two other women claiming to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia, besides Mrs. Anderson. I also met two men claiming to be the Tsarevich and numerous individuals personifying a variety of Russian Grand Dukes, Grand Duchesses and Countesses, all of whom purported to be relatives of the ill-fated family. All of them profited financially and socially from their assumed roles and added, needless to say, to the courage and discomfort of the Grand Duchess Olga.
"People simply want to believe all the tales written about my family, especially about my beloved Anastasia, and that repulsive Rasputin. I often feel it doesn't help what I have to say," I recall the Grand Duchess telling me once in despair. She has, however, patiently dwelt on both in length for this book.
"History has made our lives difficult," the late President John Kennedy once declared in an address to the American people. In Grand Duchess Olga's case, history succeeded in making her life more unbearable than most. "If I ever start crying, I will never stop" she once told me. It is to her everlasting credit that she kept smiling to the bitter end.
Ian Vorres
Canada, 2000
