There is a continuing fascination with the Romanov dynasty that ruled Russia for over 300 years. Charlotte Zeepvat seeks to widen the picture by looking at the lives of members of the family during the last century of imperial rule, a time of contrasts and a period in which the Tsars reached the peak of their wealth, prestige and power, yet also faced the growth of forces which would destroy them. Zeepvat's subjects are the first Nicholas and Alexandra who ruled 100 years before the Revolution; Alexander II; Alexander III; and on to the last Tsar, Nicholas II. The book also looks at the lives of their sisters and brothers, revealing the detail of their daily lives in the palaces which were their homes including Gatchina, Ilinskoie and Alexander Palace, all visited by the author in her role as a tour-leader. Illustrated with her own drawings and photographs, the text provides a wealth of information for anyone interested in the tragic history of the Russian Imperial family.