historical biography – Reading & Writing

In this very interesting work of biographical historical fiction, Susan Appleyard re-creates the adult life of the Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, youngest sister of Tsar Nicholas II. We follow Olga’s difficult life from her very restricted youth into womanhood, and then the terrors of the Russian Revolution. Olga avoided the dire fate of Romanovs and aristocrats, but survived at a huge cost.

The early part of the novel shows how the Tsar, his family and ministers were largely to blame for their own downfall. Appleyard’s young Olga tries to live an independent life within the small, stifling world of the Romanov court, where protocol rests on a long-established, rigid social ranking . Strict rules define what Olga may and may not do, what she must wear and when, how she must behave on all occasions, and limits any access to the outside world. Olga may never enter a shop, for example. Nor may she choose her own husband. That is decided by the respective mothers, and in this case the bridegroom is a compulsive gambler who can offer Olga nothing but his inherited family title; no love, no companionship, and definitely no children. Trapped in this appalling marriage, Olga turns to a dashing but very upright and formal army officer, far beneath her in status. Gradually, their mutual affection gives her the courage to find her own way in life. Unfortunately, the break Olga so desires comes with the Great War, when her beau is sent to the battle front and she becomes a nurse, facing the blood and suffering in some of the worst of ‘man’s inhumanity to man’.

As Appleyard reveals what happens to Olga, she deftly feeds in some of the history and politics leading up to the decline of the Russian Empire. We see how the Tsar’s weak character and wavering undermine anything his best ministers can advise, and even his mother’s sound advice. We also see how the very dubious Siberian mystic who became known to the world as Rasputin (the debaucher) is brought in to ‘heal’ the Tsar’s haemophiliac heir, and shows how this man’s power over the Tsar and Tsarina hastens their sad fate.

The book comes to a close, when the Bolsheviks finally seize power and, Olga has to make a heart-rending decision, whether to stay with the family, her brothers and their children, or escape into a frightening world with her lover and their children.

After a necessarial slow beginning that shows the minutiae of court life, this book becomes an informative, immersive read. If you are looking for a good long book for a summer read or a winter fireside Susan Appleyard’s Grand Duchess definitely fits the bill.

JGH

Málaga, May, 2026

In the post below, author Susan Appleyard describes a vital part of the historical novel writer’s craft: how she went about her research before, during, and after writing the first draft of her new historical biography of a Russian Grand Duchess. JGH

One of the best things about writing a book set in the past is the research. Others have described it as ‘going down a rabbit hole’, which is apt because researching one thing often piques an interest in another. Such gems are found at the bottom, which not only help to make the story authentic but are useful for a Trivia player like me.

We have to delve into fields far from our own experience. I had to research what effect opium had on its users, suicide rates, and syphilis. Not that any of those subjects are likely to come up in a Trivia game.

Research is vitally important, not least because a reader out there might know more about something than the author. In one of my early books set in fifteenth century England I mentioned a town my characters were passing by, merely to show the route they took. In a review, a reader pointed out that that town didn’t exist in the fifteenth century and accused me of not doing my research. He/she was right, and I was determined never to let that happen again. Now I research all proper nouns and every article mentioned, e.g. when was the hypodermic first used in whatever country my story is set? When were balloons invented? Did that building exist in the year I mentioned it. What was a character’s favourite brand of tea/ tobacco/ perfume? Nothing escapes my eagle eye that might catch me out – I hope!

My method is to obtain books relevant to the story and read. Mostly these will be biographies of the main character/s. But when the background story is relevant, such as the Russian Revolution or the Crimean War, it becomes necessary to learn more about it. When I write the story, I do a little research along the way if it’s necessary to move the paragraph along.

Where deeper research is required, I simply put (TBR) in that place, meaning to-be-researched. When I’ve finished the first draft, I begin doing the research before the first read-through. I love that part.

Susan Appleyard

May, 2026

Tag: historical biography

Review of ‘Escape of the Grand Duchess’ by Susan Appleyard

Reading and Research for ‘Escape of the Grand Duchess’