THE ROMANOVS The Final Chapter

The title says it all about Massie's summary of the Romanov mystery. He covers every aspect—from the 1918 murder of the Russian royal family to the enigma of Grand Duchess Anastasia and her multiple imposters. It takes a special performer to keep the listener interested when the bulk of the story is made up of facts, multiple genealogies, and details of court proceedings; however, Geoffrey Howard fits that description very well. His deep, melodic voice and precise intonation keep one poised for the juicy tidbits of information hidden among the drier stuff. Howard also skillfully conveys Massie’s respect for each facet of this complex story. K.O. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2011]