While sifting through pictures of the Romanovs, I was saddened by their fate. Beautiful daughters who loved their parents, who became nurses to help in the field hospitals, a father who did not really wish to be an Emperor, the sickly little brother with the huge Russian sailor for a nanny. Have read quite a few books about the last royal family and never saw any justification for their deaths. Again, I bought the book because of the pictures; does not mean I cannot read. You are aware I am a voracious reader, but mostly enjoy western propaganda.  

In the years from 1917 until 1991, history reveals many harsh stories regarding the empire that followed the Romanov dynasty...of course, that would be world history...perhaps not your own personal perspective. How would I know if I was not there, but it will probably be what history remembers. By the way, Charles Goodyear is credited with the first modern rubber vulcanization process in 1839 in an Ohio town near here, but James Hancock was actually awarded a British patent in 1844. Back when you mentioned that, I searched Yaroslavl and rubber vulcanization but was unable to find any information. Do you have a link?