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Carolly Erickson Message Board


Bob: History Buff posts on 9/12/2008 1:31:10 PM I've just read " The Tsarina's Daughter." It was a fun read and full of page turning events. It expresses in many ways the life we all would have wished for Tatiana Romanov, which was not possible under the historical circumstances-- love and longevity. The story is truly playing loose with the facts of history regarding Tatiana Nicholaevna, more a romantic fantasy than close to the record historical fiction. Some of the characters in the novel seem to me to be quite one-dimensional, especially Tatiana's(aka Tania's) sisters. I wonder if a gifted writer like Carolly Erickson ever considered writing a story for young readers in a close to the historical record style that would have as its subject Tatiana and her sisters: a young person's perspective on the fate of the Romanovs. The memoirs and bios of the period have information about the grand-duchesses which the author is only too familiar with, however there are gaps in these accounts. To me it would be an opportunity for a historical fiction writer to fill in those gaps with plausible as opposed to far-fetched scenarios like some of the ones found in the historical fantasy just published. There is so much drama in the real story. Why invent impossible scenarios?
Wanda posts on 8/4/2008 4:01:13 PM On page 4 of the novel The Secret Life of Josephine there is a paragraph that states "My grandmother Catherine des Sannois, who was born plain Cathering Brown on a farm in Dundreary, had the fiery temper of her Irish ancestors ..." Is any of this true? Was her grandmother Catherine Brown from Dundreary, Ireland? If so, where is or was Dundreary, Ireland. Also do you know any more about Catherine Brown? Thank you for any information you can give or maybe a direction to go to find the information.
JJones posts on 7/31/2007 2:08:47 PM As usual Ms Erickson delivers a very readable,quite entertaining book, one about a Tudor queen, whom we really do not know a lot about. I am only on the third chapter but I am already "hooked". Like her historical bios she knows her subject well and is able to bring it forth in a lively interesting (also informative)way. This makes for a good read for the everyday person who likes to read for enjoyment because that is what it is-enjoyable.. I have one suggestion. Carolly, get out of Northern Europe, give us a work on other historical persons. How about Cleopatra? There is royal that would lend well to your talents and keen sense of history. Keep up with your wonderful books - your great. JJJ



posts on 7/24/2006 3:55:30 PM On page 18, Erickson writes that 12 year old Nicholas Romanov watched with horror when his grandfather, Alexander II, was brought to the Winter Palace to die. She notes he also was pained by the agony of his "hysterical grandmother." That is impossible as his Russian grandmother had died nearly a year earlier and his grandfather had remarried (his mistress and mother of his second family).
kell posts on 11/14/2005 4:37:26 PM anyone know anything about this book? Any critiqes?
James Milton posts on 10/5/2005 9:52:04 PM Carolly, I am so much enjoying your biography on BPC. There are certain moments in history where decisions have a tumultuous effect on what follows. That surely must have been the case when the Clan Chiefs decided to retreat back to Scotland. If James 3rd had been crowned, would the American War of Independence have even happened? Would the 2 world wars have even happened? James comes across as far more in touch with the hopes and fears of the ordinary Englishman than George II. How differant it all might have been!


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the posters.
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