SECRET LIVES OF THE TSARS Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia

Opulence, power, intrigue, and ultimately, tragedy: Those Romanovs were quite the royal family. And Enn Reitel is quite the narrator. His rich, dignified voice and well-timed pacing are befitting of the imperial family, whose antics never fail to astound. The tsars’ secret lives include stories of astounding cruelty over sometimes (or often) frivolous matters, voracious sexual appetites, and lavish excess in almost all areas, generally culminating in conflict on all fronts. Reitel’s British accent is appropriate for the portrayal of this imperial family, and he adds touches of whimsy and wry astonishment in recounting the incredible stories of the Romanov dynasty, which spanned 300 years. S.E.G. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2014]