Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia was born on 15 July 1895 as the daughter of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia, making her the niece of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia. She married the very wealthy Prince Felix Yusupov in 1914. He would later become best known for his role in the killing of Grigori Rasputin, a healer who had considerable influence on Nicolas II and his family. For this, he was put under house arrest.
Rasputin’s Killer and his Romanov Princess by Coryne Hall covers the lives of this fascinating couple as they navigate through the scandal of Rasputin’s killing and the eventual downfall of the empire built by the Romanovs. During their time in exile, they were plagued by financial difficulties and lawsuits. Despite these financial difficulties, they were known for their generosity. Their marriage had its ups and downs, but they remained married until Felix’s death in 1967. Irina survived him for three years. Their only child, also named Irinia, married Count Nikolai Dmitrievich Sheremetev, and their only child is still living today.
Rasputin’s Killer and his Romanov Princess is an excellent read for those interested in the Romanovs. This couple witnessed the downfall and lived through the aftershocks. The book has a nice flow and is easy to follow. I’d highly recommend it.
Rasputin’s Killer and his Romanov Princess by Coryne Hall is available now in the UK and the US.
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